It's officially 'the Holiday Season', and as a busy, working mom, 'the Holiday Season' always sparks a mix of emotions -- excitement and anxiety. I'm so looking forward to sharing the joys of Christmas with my kids. I want to make wondrous memories and instill longtime family traditions of baking, tree trimming, and making snow angels with cousins. I want to share our good tidings and foster Helping Others as an important family value. I want to pick out just the right gifts -- for everyone on my list. And, I want to get it all done without losing my mind and actually getting some sleep. To complicate things, let's add a dash of economic stress and the challenge of doing it all, on a budget.
If you're feeling like me, even just a little bit. Consider these 5 Ways VolunteerSpot can save you time and money, save your sanity, and help you give back.
House Full of Relatives Causing Stress? Schedule Cooking & Chores What to Get Older Relatives that Have Everything? Schedule Visits, Meals & Helping Hands How To Keep Your Kids Entertained All Winter Vacation? Schedule Play Date Adventures Want to Help a Family in Need? Organize a Giving Tree or Adopt-a-Family What to Give The Teacher in a Tough Economy? Sign up to Bring Lunches and Free Time
1) House Full of Relatives? Schedule Cooking & Chores: Our family vacation includes a week of 9 adults and 5 small kids under one roof at my in-law's house, with 4 more joining for Christmas dinner. It used to seem like all I did was cook, clean and entertain kids - not much of a vacation. Now, thanks to VolunteerSpot, we set up a family schedule before the big week and invite each adult to sign up for a few shifts - cooking lunch, cooking dinner, cleaning up, and kid-adventure duty. I know when it's my turn to help; and when it's not, I can read a book or go for a walk - guilt free!! Signing up for chore duty also got the guys more involved in the kitchen - which I welcome (and my mother-in-law is still getting used to).
2) What to Get Older Relatives that Have Everything? Schedule Visits, Meals & Helping Hands: My Aunt is 87 and still lives on her own. Rather than another bathrobe, hand cream, or a food basket, this Christmas, we're presenting her with a VolunteerSpot schedule of visits, meals, and help around the house. All us cousins are going to sign up taking turns bringing her a nice meal once a week, driving her to the beauty parlor, and helping in the yard. She feels good because she doesn't need to ask us for help or call for us to visit and we feel good because we're giving her something she really needs - and we're doing it together. Scheduling a caring calendar is also great for friends and family that just had a baby or have special health needs.
3) How To Keep Your Kids Entertained All Vacation? Schedule Play Date Adventures: If you're a little anxious about how to keep your children busy (and don't want to plug them into TV and video games more than half-the-day), consider scheduling special play dates with friends and neighbors. Setup a VolunteerSpot calendar of special adventures like building a snow fort, ice skating, making a puppet show, decorating cookies, throwing a dance party, etc. Invite a small group of friends to each sign up for a spot to host the play date adventure (2-4 hours). The kids have a blast - the more the merrier! The day you host, you plan. Your scheduled day may seem downright chaotic; but on the other days, you get to sit back and relax! Bonus - you don't need to pay a sitter!
4) Want to Help a Family in Need? Organize a Giving Tree or Adopt-a-Family: Gather a group of your friends, coworkers, or neighbors and Adopt a Family in need - bringing them joy and necessities this holiday season. Create a VolunteerSpot automated sign up sheet posting all the things the family needs (no clipboard to pass around). Get specific, listing each item as it's own 'To Bring': (e.g. Girls play outfit - size 6, Men's L work shirt, 2 toys for 7 yr old boy). Add to the list gift-cards for Grocery Stores and large retailers like Target and Walmart, and wrapping paper to make the gifts festive and extra special. Involve your children in making cards and holiday decorations to share. Need to find a family to help? Many local nonprofits and social service agencies will be able to connect you with a family in need this holiday season - a good start is the Salvation Army and United Way. It's also likely your school, church or congregation is participating in an Adopt-A-Family program. Just ask.
5) What to Give the Teacher in a Tough Economy? Sign up to Bring Lunches and Free Time: At our school, we typically recognize and thank our teachers this time of year by taking up a class collection and presenting them with gift cards, spa treatments, or restaurant certificates. This year, given the economic crisis, our PTO has directed homeroom moms to be sensitive to family budgets and NOT to collect money for teacher gifts. One thing the class CAN do together is set up a Free Lunch schedule. Parents sign up to bring their child's teacher lunch each Friday. If the parent is available, (s)he can also offer to supervise the class for 30 minutes while the teacher gets a well-deserved break. At our school, we also set up a recess monitor schedule. Parents take turns supervising kids on the playground each day so our teachers can have some quiet time. It turns out to be about one day a month per family, moms and dads both participate - and our teachers LOVE their free time! (So you don't forget, VolunteerSpot sends automated reminder messages two days before it's your turn.)
What a great idea! I love the thought of making a cooking and chore schedule for my family reunion this Christmas! I like to cook - but not for so many people, EVERY night!
Posted by: Julia | November 27, 2008 at 12:37 PM
We've got a lot of laid off parents at my school. Giving time as a teacher gift might be just the postive boost we all need this Christmas.
Posted by: GMmom | November 27, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Congratulations! I have finished reviewing VolunteerSpot and I'm excited to let you know that your blog has been added to the Blogging Women directory.
A big pat on the back for you for the wonderful job you are doing. Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Fay | November 27, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Love it! I'm going to use it for our Sunday School Giving Tree. I especially like that my families will get a REMINDER about the gift they sign-up to bring. Last year I did a bunch of last-minute shopping to cover for missed gifts.
Posted by: Wendy | November 28, 2008 at 08:14 PM
This would have been perfect for my church's giving tree program. I'll be sure to encourage the team to use this. Now I don't have to feel guilty about forgetting the deadline.
Posted by: IJ | December 04, 2008 at 10:48 AM