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Are You the Bake Sale Mom?
I received an email this week that caught me off guard. The subject line simply read “Bake Sale,” and while I’ve been inundated with countless messages about bake sales, plant sales, and all sorts of fundraising events in the five years since my kids started elementary school, I’ve never been the one to lead the charge. I’m the mom who usually volunteers for creative school projects that allow me to work from my desk, not the one who organizes the gathering of Rice Krispie treats and baked goods.
This year, however, is different. My eldest is in fifth grade—the final year at our cherished elementary school—and this transition marks a significant time for both of us. We’ll navigate homework, tests, and after-school activities, while also planning spirit nights, a big fifth-grade field trip, graduation, and, yes, a whole lot of fundraising to support it all.
That brings me to the bake sale email, which may seem ordinary to some, but for me, it’s a moment of reflection. It recalls my own childhood and the memories of my mom, who was often busy and not part of that quintessential bake sale brigade.
At around 7 or 8 years old, I joined the cheerleading squad for our local pee-wee football team. Dressed in our red skirts and white sweaters, we were adorable. This was Pennsylvania in the early ’80s, where bake sale moms arrived with homemade goodies in tow. I can still smell the sweet aroma of those treats wafting through the autumn air. Yet, my mom was seldom there, busy with work or other errands, never fully immersed in PTA activities.
My mother was a unique kind of feminist—a political activist and medical professional—who often questioned the system that relied on educated women to volunteer their time. This legacy weighs on me when I mention PTA meetings or bake sales to her. I can almost hear her asking, “Don’t you have better things to do? A book to write? A meal to prepare?” And she’s right; I have a lot on my plate. Many of us do. We juggle full-time jobs, family responsibilities, and the demands of school life. Some parents attend every event, while others send substitutes in their place—each navigating the balance in their own way.
But when schools call for help, we all pitch in however we can, whether it’s manning a table, sending an email, or tossing a few bucks into our kids’ pockets for popcorn Fridays. Some can contribute more, while others might opt for store-bought cookies when life gets hectic. It makes me wonder about those cheerleading moms from my childhood. Did they have jobs I didn’t know about or personal battles beneath their cheerful exteriors?
What I’ve realized is that I’m actually okay with being labeled the Bake Sale Mom. I enjoy being present at my children’s school, immersed in the environment—the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and cafeteria food. It’s a privilege to have the flexibility to wear this hat, and the joy it brings my kids when they see me volunteering is immeasurable. Plus, the funds we raise benefit our schools and community, making it all worthwhile.
So yes, this is who I am now, and I embrace it wholeheartedly. By the way, I also love to bake!
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Summary
This piece reflects on the complexities of being a “Bake Sale Mom” while juggling a busy life. It explores how childhood experiences shape our roles today and how each parent contributes to school community efforts in their own way. Embracing this identity can bring joy and connection to our children’s lives.