I was a super-volunteer when my kids were in elementary school. Once they reached high school, I turned that role over to my husband.

The author's husband (right) frequently volunteers his time now that their kids are in high school. Courtesy of Kate Loweth. After 12 years of volunteering frequently at my kids' school, I was ready to take a step back. When my youngest reached high school, my husband unexpectedly stepped up. His roles look different, proving that being involved doesn't have to mean showing up at school every day. When we moved to California at the start of my oldest child's kindergarten year, I figured volunteering at school would be an easy way to meet people and get to know our new school. I was right — and then some. Pretty much every year for the next 12 years, I was a room parent for one or more classes.