Stop me before I volunteer again!

Someone asked me the other day how many things i volunteer for at my kid's school and elsewhere.  At first, I thought, "oh, just one or two", but then I actually counted how many, and the number astounded me.  Eight! Eight volunteer positions and that's just at school! Here they are in no particular order: Room parent, golf tournament volunteer coordinator, PSA board member, pizza lunch lady, auction board member, middle school EDGE program, and recently added to the mix, back to school swim party co-chair. To top it all off, I am the 3rd grade Catechist teacher at my church and substitute teach (in all my spare time).  What is wrong with me? Why do I not have the foresight back in September to just say "NO"!? Apparently the word is not in my vocabulary when it comes to helping out at school and beyond.

Why do I feel compelled to sign up for so many events?    Every June, I say the same thing, "I'm going to cut back on volunteer hours next year."  Then I proceed to have a lovely summer, and then September rolls around and there I am, in the school auditorium, signing up to help out at another school event. It's almost like I have amnesia!  Why can't I remember that I have only so much time to give, and things get crazy around the house when mommy does too much volunteering?  As I zip off to yet another school event, I must hide my eyes from the sink with dirty dishes and the pile of laundry that is growing bigger by the minute.

Am I a closet control freak?  Do I feel if I don't do things my way, they won't get done? Why do I feel I have to have a part in almost every event going on at school?  Don't get me wrong, I love helping out my friends and volunteering is a great way to get to know the inner workings of the school and get to see my kids in action, but COME ON. The school will not crumble and dissolve if I do not chair events.  Or maybe, I am a people pleaser and don't like to have anyone not like me.  Whatever the reason, I definitely have an addiction.

I often refer to my inability to say no, as the "phantom hand syndrome".  The phantom hand syndrome strikes any place and anytime.  Most often This happens when I am in a group of women and someone asks for a chairperson, and if not one person volunteers to do it, I will raise my hand against my better judgement. Maybe, I just need to sit quietly and keep my hands in  my lap. :)