Being the mother of a toddler puts much of life into perspective. All the little worries you had in the past suddenly lack importance in the face of taking care of your little one. While your kiddo is your No. 1 focus, life still finds a way to challenge you. So, my motto is to beat life to it and challenge myself through growth opportunities and by giving back.

Being a working mom adds more chaos into the mix. Like many parents, I was like a NASCAR driver — in automated and high-achieving go, go, GO mode, every day. I raced to maintain the household, keep my career on the up and make my family happy. Moms are both the engine and driver, and I often wonder how the heck maintenance gets managed. It’s not during sleep — that ran away when the munchkin was born. It’s through giving back.

Taking on another big commitment feels lack a slap in the face of common sense, but it’s not. Volunteering made me a better mom because it kept my eye on the bigger picture and my heart wide open, far away from the typical life antics that never matter in the end.

Volunteering Can Improve Parenthood and the Self

Every family has its struggles, and you feel driven by survival to protect your own when it comes down to it. You shamefully look away from the guy on the street with the cardboard sign asking for a handout. Money’s tight, and you only have your credit card on you, anyway. You try to quickly forget that you wondered if this person was really homeless or not.

When you come close to a crisis, like being potentially homeless, it reminds you not to judge another’s circumstances. That was something my parents instilled in me from a young age. I remember helping to walk the dogs at the shelter and filling bags at the food pantry during my teen years. A roof was kept over my head, and food was on the table — still, I remember my family struggling financially. I never wanted the same for my child, but life happens. What I do want for my child is to see that kindness without judgment matters.

Over the years, volunteering fell by the wayside as life got busier and busier. When a stranger bought me a coffee, I passed it on or would offer the odd dollar — not much else. Constantly on the go, I knew I was due to burn out soon, and something had to give. I had to make the time and see the bigger picture.

I stayed away from volunteering because I didn’t think I could commit. I was wrong. Volunteering enriches your life and other lives, and one day, a volunteer and mother informed me that volunteer centers will work with your schedule. The image of my family volunteering came to mind, and I realized I could offer my professional talents as a volunteer. Volunteers can work in a gift shop or library, offer rides or share their artistic talents. Volunteering also opens up new skillsets because you get trained for the tasks you provide.

What You Can Do Opens Your World Up

It’s a matter of being honest about your time and what you can and can’t do. In doing that, you find you can personally do more in your own life. I slowed down and breathed more. Volunteering kept a smile on my face and my stress levels down — hello, lowered blood pressure and longer life. I gave and got more back. Time with my family and accomplishing my goals felt more empowering because of my experience as a volunteer.

I cut out what I didn’t need in my life to offer so much more and appreciate what I have. I want my child to see me this way. I want my kid to learn the importance of giving back to others and see how positive and big the world can be in a caring way.

Volunteering made me a better mom, and I believe more parents need to make the time to volunteer solo and with their families.

Start small. Donate clothes and money, of course, but donate your time as well. You don’t have to volunteer alone. Do it with your family, and approach the people you work with to integrate volunteering into the workplace as a social effort. Challenge yourself to see, be and do more than live life on autopilot, and give from a place that holds meaning within you. That positive feeling is contagious and will ripple throughout your life and the lives of others.