To Me, Being Childfree Means… I can invest time in volunteer work!

Written by LoveChildfree Tuesday, 09 June 2009 07:22

I love animals. A lot. Initially as an informal requirement for my job, I decided to put this love to good use by signing on as a volunteer at the local humane society. But what began as something I “needed” to do soon became something that I loved to do. Over the years, my work at the shelter has evolved and my responsibilities have grown in ways that I believe would not have been possible if I had children.

There are plenty of parents who volunteer with their children, and the shelter appreciates their service. We can use all the hands that we get! But I have seen them come and go over the years. The kids become bored. Life becomes so busy with the children's sports activities and band practices that the volunteer work needs to be put on the back burner. I have had some parents say to me, “I don’t know how you find the time to do all of the things you do for the shelter!” Well, if I had children, I probably would not be able to make the time. If all of my evenings and weekends were spent shuttling the kids from one event to another, shopping for a houseful of people, helping kids with homework, breaking up sibling rivalries and so on, when would I have the time or energy to give to the community?

Instead, I have the flexibility in my schedule to devote a significant amount of time to participating in something that is so much bigger than myself and my own little world. What began with just a couple of hours each weekend doing odd tasks around the shelter has grown into fostering animals in my home, training new volunteers, writing for the shelter newsletter, assisting with special events, and looking for new ways to serve. I am humbled and honored to be a part of the humane society’s work. It is eternally rewarding to know that I am a part of reducing pet overpopulation, that I can make the animals’ stay at the shelter more comfortable, and that I am helping to place pets into loving homes. I must also admit that there is immense pleasure in working with the animals… socializing with the cats, bathing puppies, nurturing adorable kittens in my home.

Some people say that the childfree are selfish. I suppose it is somewhat selfish to be filled with satisfaction and blessing from doing volunteer work. I suppose it is selfish to enjoy doing something because I feel like I am making a difference. But it cannot possibly be any more selfish than choosing not to give to the community because you are too busy yelling at your child’s soccer coach.

 

 

Do you have time for volunteering because you are childfree?  Let us know in The Childfree Life forums!

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