Lifestyle | volunteer School Volunteering Stresses Parents Out Pressure to help out a source of anxiety for moms and dads By Nick McMaster Posted Oct 15, 2009 7:00 PM CDT Copied Hayward Jean, 27, center, works with his fourth grade single gender students during a math lesson on patterns Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, at Marshall Elementary School in Orangeburg, S. C. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain) With school budgets slashed because of the weak economy, parents are feeling more pressure than ever to volunteer. About 64% of parents surveyed by Harris Interactive say they believe it's more important than ever to pitch in, with 53%—far more than last year— saying they planned to do just that. But this self-inflicted pressure also seems to be a huge source of stress. “I want to want to,” one mom tells the Boston Globe. “It would make me a better person.” Many worry they’ll get a bad reputation if they don’t do their part—and fret over being compared to über-volunteers—those parents who seem to do everything. “I volunteer and of course I feel guilty that I don’t do it enough, and of course I’m resentful that there’s always someone who’s doing more,’’ one parent said. Read These Next Gavin Newsom has filed a massive lawsuit against Fox News. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. New York Times ranks the best movies of the 21st century. Report an error