What work can only you do?

Of late, this is the question that drives me. Because as long as I am doing stuff that only I can do then I think that I am on track. And this isn’t just about delegating or about learning to say “no” to the opportunities that float my way that turn out to only be appealing upon first blush. Let’s break it down.

Work

Only my husband and I can provide for ourselves and our children. That is work that only we can do. It is up to us to pay our bills and feed our kids. So work – regular work – gets a solid check mark. Actually, I am work-obsessed right now. But that’s another post entirely.

Volunteerism

I like to volunteer. I like to be involved in projects and sometimes I like to be in charge. Right now I am into face-time and only accept committee positions after very careful consideration.  Over the years, I have been a board member, an event chairperson, and a fundraiser chairperson many times over.

As far as being a parent volunteer, I want to do what gives me face time with my youngest son and his classmates. My other two boys are a lot older so I am down to one kid who likes to have his mom show up at school.  My son likes for me to be there and I like getting to know all of the little people that he spends time with. Therefore, once a month I help him and his classmates check out their library books. And once a month I sit with them, one-on-one, and help them review their multiplication tables. Sometimes I drive on field trips and help with classroom parties. With one exception (one fundraiser) I am not in charge of anything and I am not on any committees.

I also volunteer for several cancer-related organizations (currently a team captain for a fundraising walk, active in a support group, and speak one-on-one with newly diagnosed breast cancer patients)  and one professional organization (on one committee) so I think that has to be enough. But I like all of it– and I don’t want to give any of it up– so I guess that it is OK.

Working Out

Can’t delegate that one!

Truly Free Time

Free time is good for the soul. Reading, hanging out with friends, and going to the movies all rank high on my priority list so don’t get the wrong idea – I am SO not above relaxation and guilty pleasures. But I like to work on things, too. I want to work on organizing my photos and writing my family stories and I keep telling myself that this is work that only I can do (and it is…no one else could or would do this except me) and I still don’t get around to it. I used to do a lot of scrapbooking but I kind of lost interest once it became such an industry.  I used to do genealogy research but I think that I need to just focus on the memories and stories inside my head. After all, “anyone ” can pick up my genealogy where I left off. It’s just a research project. But no one can write my stories except me.