If you are a parent with school-age children and/or children involved in extra-curricular activities then you can probably relate to the statement above!
I have 3 children and each one of them brings home so many requests for fundraising activities that the neighbors actually turn off their porch lights when they see my kids coming-afraid of how much the glossy brochures they are clutching in their hands are going to cost them this time! Trust me, I understand what they are feeling and the kids are very careful to place the latest money drive campaign for their activity in an obvious spot in my room and then run for their lives before they can see me weep!
For the parents who have yet to experience this unavoidable phenomenon, I hope the following information will help prepare you for the barrage of requests to part you from your hard-earned cash; all in the name of a good and worthy cause: your child. From the day the new school year begins until approximately mid-February each year, plan on spending your week-ends selling over-priced pies, cookie dough, "fun shaped" pasta, popcorn, nuts, girl scout cookies, wrapping paper, jewelry, candles and many other items that you are told you can't live without. Please notice that I did say that YOU will be selling these items-not your children-because, as you will discover, even though the person in charge of the fundraising effort for their particular group will do their best to fill your children's heads with images of all the GREAT PRIZES that they will receive if they only sell 35 items, your children will only remain motivated for 2 days or until they have visited the neighbors on your street-and then they will promptly forget all about it until the day it is due. You, on the other hand, will receive e-mails, text messages and reminders at each meeting or ballgame that the fate of the PTA or league is in your hands and that without the fundraiser profits they would have to double your registration fees or your children would go without the proper learning aids they need in school.
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