June 3, 2008 8:45 AM
Teacher gifts - with heart and soul
What with six kids in five schools on three buses - and four with IEP teams too - plus voice/piano/sports teachers/coaches, I am completely overwhelmed at all times with even trying to remember the cast of thousands involved in helping my kids reach their potential.
The end of the year means time for presents to acknowledge these contributions. In years past, I've gone to the Dollar Store and found some little tchochke (great Yiddish word which somehow captures what I'm talking about better than knickknack or doodad) which I tried to persuade myself would be potentially useful or meaningful.
But hey, I've been a teacher myself and there are only so many apple/chalkboard/pencil ornaments/pencil holders/notecards one needs to remember that you are a teacher and that you have made a difference in children's lives.
And lately I've been really thinking how much collective wealth we waste on these little gift bags - as I tell my kids: it all adds up - if each member of our family cut down on $1 of waste per day (turning lights off, saving leftovers, saying no to a coke), our family savings would amount to 2920. per year.
Thinking this way, I can't help but think how much good we could do somewhere where it's really needed if we stopped frivolous spending. Right now I have a whole plastic box full of miniature slinkies and bubble jars, rubber bracelets and assorted plastic stuff that's come home in gift bags from birthday parties and school celebrations of every holiday known to man.
Maybe I feel this more than most parents because I actually raised kids back in the days when only the birthday boy or girl got presents and the kids invited to the party were grateful to come and give their friend a present and share ice cream or cake. Also back in the days when party days in school were rare and special.
I know that one lone mom cannot reverse the Gift Bag Explosion that has taken place in our culture. But I do know that if I'm growing tired of all the Little Things cluttering up my life, there must be a few who feel the same way.
So what I'm going to do this year - and probably every year to come - for all the dedicated, patient, kind, and caring people I am blessed to know simply because I have children is go to World Vision's gift catalog and pick out something useful and meaningful for someone who really needs it. Then I'm going to download and print out the cards and enclose a note expressing our gratitude for the work they do to educate/transport/inspire our children.
For $75, which I probably would have easily spent on a multitude of unnecessary items, tissue paper and small bags, we financed a goat for a family that needed milk and cheese. The teachers seemed to love it. Let's face it, most people in teaching have a heart for children - and I'm sure it extends beyond the kids in their class to those on the other side of the globe who may not even have a teacher to call their own.
There. I feel so much better now, knowing how easy this will be - and feeling like it might make a small difference.
We can do no great things, only small things with great love. ~Mother Teresa~
Posted in Opportunities to give, Practical Info, Public schools | Permalink
Comments
Brilliant! We also did something similar last Christmas with the Peanut Butter Project. I know MANY teachers who would think your idea was very meaningful and rewarding.
Posted by: Imajackson | June 3, 2008 11:31 AM
Barbara,
You are so right about all the "stuff!" I really dislike the little gift bags my children receive at birthday parties. They usually consist of useless clutter and sugary treats. (Didn't they just have cake, ice cream, soda and chips?!)
Recently a friend's daughter had a "Webkinz" birthday party. Each child brought a Webkin for exchange. No gifts for the birthday girl (parents, grandparents aunts and uncles supplied those) and no treat bags for the guests--they went home with a new Webkin instead. It seemed all the moms and the girls were happy!
I also agree with you on the teacher gifts. How many mugs can one 4th grade teacher use? We like to pool our resources with other parents and give the teacher a restaurant gift card or a massage. Now that she could use after nine months of nurturing our kiddos.
No matter what we do for our teachers, I always have my child write out how she impacted him/her. My children love their teachers very much and their expression of love and appreciation is a great gift.
Posted by: Elizabeth M. Thompson | June 3, 2008 12:46 PM
I have a bag full of bags. Mostly from when I USED to go shopping and from the kids' bday parties. Another thing you can do to save from buying all this stuff is to reuse the Easter baskets from last year. Do we really need to go buy another one? I have decluttered our home and it feels good!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think the dollar bins have made this easy for moms to bring home stuff. Its everywhere......Target, WAlMart, Joanne fabric.....you name it.
-Shannon in hot Austin
Posted by: Shannon Best | June 3, 2008 1:16 PM
Amen and amen. Church and Grandma are the top contributors to the el cheapo trash we constantly battle around here, but it comes from everywhere. I wish it would just STOP.
A hand-written note or very deliberate, specific word of sincere gratitude can mean so much more to a teacher than another Thing. Sometimes around Thanksgiving I'll make some seasonal, edible thing and give it to them with a card that says I'm thankful for them. The food can easily be shared around the holiday if they don't want to eat it themselves.
Hope you're feeling better.
Posted by: Marian | June 3, 2008 1:42 PM
I couldn't agree more, Barbara! There is just too much STUFF. For teacher/coach gifts, we also pool out money for restaurant gift cards or the like. We have also done donations to various local charities in the teacher/school's name. As a former teacher who received lots of, well, junk, I know these types of gifts are much more meaningful.
We rarely do birthday parties for our kids - again, too much stuff - but last year my daughter who was turning 8 really wanted one (she never had one with friends), I agreed with one condition - no gifts for her and no goody bags for the guests. Instead of gifts, the girls brought things to donate to the local humane society (we'd just gotten a puppy from it). The "party" was at a paint-your-own pottery store so each girl got a plate to paint/decorate and take home to use. It worked out great and the girls were all thrilled.
Posted by: mary | June 3, 2008 1:50 PM
This was so refreshing to read. I do feel like I am waging a one person battle against meaningless plastic junk that is given to my 5 kids constantly by teachers, church, parties etc. I've noticed that the kids can't go on a school field trip without going to the gift shop to buy overpriced doo dads that no one needs. Its so hard to hold back your own kids when every one is involved. I've mentioned this to some moms and the response was "kids will be kids it cost so little and brings so much pleasure". Huh... I'm not seeing real pleasure ....just the momentary rush of getting a piece of junk and then leaving it in the car 30 seconds later.
I really like your idea about the financing of something useful for a family in need instead of teacher gifts. One year instead of holiday gifts for the myriad of teachers and such that service my kids, I wrote handwritten cards that expressed what each person meant to my child and family. Unfortuneately my kids weren't happy to only give a card when other kids had gifts to give. I feel like its a losing battle. Now I usually go with a food item, (candy, cakes etc.)or a gift cert to a book store (gets pricey fast) I figure at least they are consumable or useful.
Love your blog and check it most days.
Posted by: Joy | June 3, 2008 2:09 PM
tchochke *giggle* I love that word. It's something my Mom has always used that she got from my Polish Grandfather.
I completely agree on the Teachers gifts. I have 2 kids and in that 4 teachers! the lil one has one teacher and the older one who is now under 504 has 3. I've always made gifts for the teachers. This year I'm doing baskets with freshly made and canned apple butter and some homemade soaps. Maybe next year I need to talk to the other Mom's about the gift card idea. I'm sure the teachers would really appreciate that!
Barbara I am just catching up on your blog and just read you are in Loudoun County. I will have to grab a copy of that newspaper next time I am up there visiting :)
Posted by: Jessi | June 3, 2008 8:58 PM
I had that catalogue in my home at Christmastime, and I loved the idea.
I chose to 'adopt' a child with Down syndrome institutionalized in a poor nation, through Reeces' Rainbow for my Christmas gift from my parents. Financial aid helps them to get adopted in loving homes here or in Europe.
Posted by: Leticia Velasquez | June 3, 2008 11:16 PM
Oh Amen! I throw party favor bags away, toys candy and all, as soon as I walk in the door. Mine are little enough still to not care. And I would have LOVED a gift in my honor to someone needy when I was teaching. Great Plan!
Posted by: Keri | June 4, 2008 12:15 AM
We do the World Vision Gift Catalog, too. Our children, a 4yo daughter with Ds and a 19-month-old son, are too young to understand. But the therapists, teachers, and our niece and nephew get it!
Posted by: Sadie | June 5, 2008 9:15 AM
