PTA Mum acting entitled at school nativity

[nutcrackered]

I've been thinking about this and wondered if AIBU for thinking pta mum is a cf or if she is.

Wednesday morning was my child's first nativity (reception age). It was in the school hall. Ticketed and people had been queuing outside in the bitter cold for a really long time before it started. The school didn't let anybody in until the minute it said on the ticket.

Nativity started at 9.15 which is when people went inside. People were queuing so I'm told from about 8.10am. By 8.25 there was quite a bit of a que already. One of the other mums who I have seen organising a lot of pta things arrived at about 8.30 with her husband and walked right past everybody else in the que and went inside. When we all went in they were sat on the front row and looked like they had been for some time, I don't know what makes them so special that they don't have to wait like the other parents,
AIBU to think this is so rude and entitled?

At my DC’s school, anyone on the PTA who helps with the nativity gets a front seat reserved, as do the governors. YABU

You only have to read the thread about the playgroup that's having to be disbanded because no-one's prepared to even get there 20 minutes early to set up, to see how few people are prepared to give up their time to help something happen.

The PTA woman has put the hours in to help the school and make these things happen. Of course she's likely to be offered a reserved seat.

Que?

Being part of the PTA is largely a thankless task. Organising events, fund raising, setting up, clearing up. Hours of your time.
I think a front row seat is fair enough.

Maybe consider volunteering for the PTA yourself so next year you’ll get a front row seat?

One of the other mums who I have seen organising a lot of pta things ... I don't know what makes them so special that they don't have to wait like the other parents,

I think you just answered your own question.
You know what to do if you want a front row seat. Organise a LOT of PTA things. Give up your time and put in some effort to help.

I love this. There’s always a first year mum that finds it terribly hard to swallow that someone who gives up fucking hours and hours of their time every week chaperoning other people’s kids, making costumes, Manning stalls at bake sales and organizing Christmas fairs to raise money for books for the library/ school trips/ authors to come in, and getting slagged off all year for the temerity of actually getting off their arses to make the school a better place is given the measly perk of perching their arse on a bench in the front row for a desperately uncomfortable hour once a year, drawing daggers from parents whose sole support for the school has been reluctantly handing over 50p for mufti day, along with a good whine about why they should have to.
I mean. Cheeky cah.
You. Not her.
I love PTA mums. God bless their souls.

Possibly the answers aren't going the way you had hoped @nutcrackered ?

I was the chair for our PTA it is completely thankless. I worked and have 3 kids so it was hard to do. I helped out before plays and would get let in a bit early. And too bloody right! I did a lot more than queue for an hour.

Yabvu. What the fuck do you do to contribute to the school? Sweet Fanny Adams I'd guess.

Who does she think she is? She thinks she's the parent who's done most for the school out of all of you lot. And as for queuing for an hour f or a nativity play, that is hilarious!!

Actually am thinking this is a reserve. Surely no one is that entitled!!

Why on Earth did you queue for an hour

In that other thread I referred to, there was a hell of a lot of sneering at the people who give up their time, too. Like 'they don't have lives' etc. When actually I find that PTA people are those who tend to very much have lives. There's a saying "If you want something done, ask a busy person"

(I'm not a PTA person btw - but I've appreciated those who are)

Yabu - I was on the PTA for 6 years. I did not want on it because I had no life. Somebody had to do it and as my DC were at the school I thought I should. It takes up so much time. It's not just the meetings. It's getting all the supplies, begging for raffle prizes, giving up evenings for kids' discos and film nights and events and seeing them up beforehand, tidying up afterwards, making leaflets, posting leaflets through doors, baking and answering all the emails. We didn't get any perks like front row seats. I don't think you should begrudge this woman hers. If you don't help the school you should just be quiet about this one.

'Setting' them up

YABU. PTA mum deserves the best seat for all the work she does for the school. If you want a good seat then help out yourself and quit with the nastiness.

Our PTA don’t even sit on the front row. There are four sofas that get auctioned off to the highest bidders.

One of the other mums who I have seen organising a lot of pta things arrived at about 8.30 with her husband and walked right past everybody else in the que and went inside

If she’s been organising lots of things, fair play to her to have bypassed the queue (not que).

Next year you'll know not to get there so early. If you have bought a ticket, you'll get in but arrive bang on time, not half an hour or so beforehand.

As others have said, the PTA people may have done some organising and perhaps sorted refreshments or something. I doubt anyone would be so rude as to push in front of others for no reason.

What nachthexe said.

I’ve put in hours and hours of time on Pta and as a Governor. Hours of volunteers setting up, clearing away, cleaning, including the toilets after discos. It is a thankless task. She isn’t anymore special than anyone else who is able to prioritise their time for voluntary work to benefit the school.
As a Governor I get a free ticket to all the concerts, but if it isn’t the age group my child is in happy to sit at the back as part of my overall enjoyment of seeing the concerts is also seeing the proud families enjoying the work the school put in.

Bloody hell. Queuing for a nativity? Why would anyone do this? Your kid doesn't care where you sit as long as you make the effort to turn up.

Of course the people who help the school should get the front seats.

We were talking about this the other day at the pta that the governor get reserved front row seats maybe 2 should be for the pta because it is an awful lot of work getting fundraising take the Santa visit our school did. The pta fundraising gave £50 per class the teachers picked gifts the pta bought ordered and wrapped. We set up a grotto and then Santa handed out class presents plus a pencil. None of the others would have a clue

The PTA do loads for the school. You want the perks, then volunteer and put in the hours and hard graft. The PTA always need more help.

Hmmm. I'm torn.

Our school PTA operated for many years without drama, raising money quietly and helping out the school. I would never have begrudged the PTA people the opportunity to jump the queue because they did so much for the school.

The current PTA chair has bullied all the other parents except her best mate out of the PTA and refused to allow anyone else to help out, then acts like a martyr because supposedly they are the only two parents who are willing to help out.

My feelings on the scenario in the OP depend entirely on what the PTA is like.

I volunteered and got free tickets as well as the reserved seats at the front!

They always need volunteers for the PTA because guess what..... it's hard work, lots of time, mostly underappreciated and hardly anyone can be bothered.

Perhaps get involved yourself. Your attitude would totally change and you'd realise how much the few perks don't measure up against all the negatives associated with volunteering.

I'm thinking reverse too..
Op's a PTA mum who got the evil eye or a snidey comment and is feeling aggrieved.