As a military spouse I, like many of you, have spent thousands of hours doing volunteer work at various duty stations. While at our last duty station I was involved in 4 different volunteer activities on/ near post. One day my son (age 10) asked me how much I get paid for volunteering...
My response: Nothing. I'm a volunteer.
Son: WHAT!?!?! You do all this work and you don't get paid???!!!
Me: That's why it's called volunteering. I choose to volunteer my time and talents because I want to - not to get paid.
Son: But that's not fair!
So I explained the concept of volunteering and why I (and so many others) do it. He seemed to be a bit more accepting after that.
Now I have a job with a paycheck (YAY!!!). The other night my son asked me how much I get paid - I told him it was none of his concern. Then he asked if I am volunteering or getting paid (not sure why since he just asked how much I got paid). I again told him I get paid for the work I do. And his response:
"Oh. So you are in a paid volunteer position."
Ummm... not exactly.
Cracked me up!
Out of the mouths of babes...
