Sucker!

I have learned in my short experience as a grade school mom that PTA is a relentless marketing machine. Their strategy: remind kids of upcoming events and announce them the day of with special take-home stickers! That way, each child comes home announcing "It's Culver's Night!" or "It's skating night!" or whatever, with such triumph and jubilation, that your brief, but firm explanation of why you weren't planning on attending has the impact of a sledgehammer. As a mom, I picture their little dreams of popularity and camaraderie dashed upon the shoreline like waves upon the rocks. And I, am the dreamsmasher.

No longer can I think of myself as the fun parent. Or imagine myself as a staunch supporter of the school and its many programs, for I refuse to engage my child in every possible marketing scheme, I mean, school outing that comes along. I've suddenly become a hater.

So, I caved. We went. You know what? We were one of maybe 10 families there. No exaggeration. Of the hundreds of students in the school, only 10 of us succombed to the marketing machine. Drat.

What do you do? Do you feel like you have to attend every school function? How do you say no to the tears welling up in their little eyes as you insist that they will not be the only one of their classmates not attending? I'm open to suggestions. Perhaps the fact that none of his classmates attended tonight will help with future outings. Wishful thinking, I know.