{
  "id": 5769673,
  "title": "I don't volunteer at my daughter's school. It's better for both of us.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/i-dont-volunteer-at-my-daughters-school-its-better-for-both-of-us",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-05T11:19:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/mom-doesnt-volunteer-kids-school-2026-9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The author of this article explains that not volunteering at her daughter's school does not make her a bad mother. The 9-year-old daughter attends 4th grade, and the school actively encourages parental involvement in various activities, such as classroom assistance, field trips, and special events. The author, originally from France, found the American school system's emphasis on volunteerism to be different from her previous experience, where schools were seen as professional environments for trained individuals only.\n\nAfter realizing that volunteering wasn't the right fit for her daughter or herself, the author decided not to participate in any school activities. She felt useless during a field day event, where she was just standing by and cheering for the children, which made her uncomfortable. The author also noted that not everyone can be a good volunteer, as the best volunteers know how to engage with all the children, not just their own, and do so patiently, even if the children behave poorly.\n\nThe author believes that school should be her daughter's territory, not hers. She views giving her child independence as essential for fostering self-confidence and resilience. Since she is not a volunteer, her daughter knows that she won't be physically present to help her navigate her school life. The author emphasizes that relationships with her peers and teachers are her daughter's responsibility. By allowing the school to be her personal space, she shows her daughter that she trusts her to handle things independently, which makes her proud, confident, and happy.\n\nNot volunteering doesn't mean that the author doesn't care about her child's education. In fact, she believes in education and has a master's degree from a renowned French institution. She has high expectations for her child but prefers to step back and let the school do its job. The author participates in parent-teacher conferences and open houses and tries to maintain a positive relationship with the teacher for the rest of the year. She also ensures that her daughter knows that education is a priority by discussing school daily, providing a quiet place for homework, and being involved in her education through other means.",
  "summary": "I don't volunteer at my kid's school, but that doesn't make me a bad mom. I see school as her territory to gain independence from me.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}