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.

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. I photographed the yearbook, was a Girl Scout leader, organized teacher appreciation events, and became the parent you could count on when someone needed to send an email, make a sign-up sheet, or figure out how to get 30 kids to participate in something.

My husband rarely volunteered beyond grilling burgers at the annual carnival, which was more…