Thank you for all your kind words of support. I do believe that I will take a break next year. I will only volunteer in my children's rooms. I know that nothing will change just by going from a PTO to whatever it is that they are changing it to now. In fact, I think the main reason for the change is because certain board members realized that they wouldn't be able to run next year, so they did this so they could still run it. Oh well. Good Luck to them. I will stay behind the scenes and keep my comments to myself. I have 4 more years there, and I plan on getting a job, so I won't have time to be more active. I know that a lot of people miss me there, but I have to follow my own path. I cannot go through the same headache again! It made me physically ill because of the stress. Who needs that? Thank you all again and good luck in your PTO endevours. I will still be a voice on here and am still willing to help my fellow volunteer anytime he/she needs it.

I vote with everyone else after being in PTO for 4 years, I went from Secretary to President and served 3 years as President and gave someone else a chance in between a term. I had parents asking me to run again because of my ability to get things done and keeping parents informed and being a good leader. I myself got burned out. I got tired of having people complaining and wanting programs but I cannot run PTO alone; or my board members we need parents; and if they want programs then they should assist. I have taken a break from PTO this will be my 3rd year. I still have one more child starting Kinder so I have another 5 years to at the school. I have several more years in front of me to go. I have volunteered only in my daughters classroom. I have stayed behind the scenes. When I am approached by parents on concerns they have about PTO I tell them graciously to please speak to the PTO board members or the administration staff. I apologize to them for not being able to give them advice because I am in the same boat as they are not being informed of what's happening in PTO. If your a parents that wants to continue to volunteer work closely with your childrens teachers. They would love to have you. If your asked to help in something think about it twice before jumping in and saying yes. That's how I have handled it. I have felt a big relief taking time off from PTO. I also have been in your situation as well.

I agree with mykidsmom. I'm burned out from my Presidential duties and it sounds like you may be too. Take a breather. Don't even think about volunteering until next fall, then see how you feel. It's amazing what a little time away can do for your mood and your outlook. Read a book, get a tan, go to the gym. Have some YOU time.

This same sort of action happened to a former co-worker but it was via e-mail that was her issue.

KC said it best but please allow me to add this...take a year off. Be the person you know yourself to be, the parent your kid(s) need, the spouse you always were. This year away (I went to meetings and kept my special projects going) has been great. After a year of being President alone (the others slowly left) and pregnant, it was nice to step away for a year.

You have the summer to think about your involvement but for now you really need to think about how your decions will affect your kid(s)....

Sorry to hear your troubles, ABC. Hyway has it right, alas. While many of us use this forum as a place to vent to like-minded individuals, nothing prevents others from logging in and seeing what we have to say. While IANAL, you may have been humiliated, but it might be a stretch to argue that you have been defamed by people reading the things you wrote. Of course, we have no idea what "stuff was planted" to make you "look even more guilty."

If you feel a need to now be very careful what you say, I might also suggest that those of us who frequent this site can probably produce a fairly short list of candidates for who you might be. And if you were to say something actionable, the logged IP address of your posting could be used against you in an investigation.

So, what do you do now? You know the truth of the situation, and I hope you have friends who know the truth of your situation. Lean on those who love you for support.

Then ask yourself this: if I continue to be a volunteer at the school, will I make things better for my children? That, really, is the only question that matters. Your work may not directly benefit your children, but if it makes the school a better place then all students benefit. But can you do that work without your presence and the situation creating a distraction? And do your children benefit if volunteering makes you physically ill?

And as a final thought, I'll repeat what I've said before: in the end, you will never regret taking the high road.

This is a reminder that the internet has made the world smaller and less private. Never say anything on here that you wouldn't want posted in the school newsletter, because it could very easily happen.

Sorry to hear about your troubles.