A Little Tip for Y'all
For the most part, I am in charge of the gift buying around our house. Mr. Husband takes care of a few family members and we consult on some others, but I'm always responsible for all the hard people. You know, the people that we don't know very well but that are pretty important--relatives we almost never see and service providers. The toughest one for me has been Alexis' daycare teachers. They are very important people to us, but there are some whose name I don't even know because our conversations essentially revolve around Alexis (as well they should).
Last year I kind of sucked at figuring out what to do. I ended up giving the three teachers that she spent the most time with a candle each. It seemed sort of crappy since there were other people that worked with her, but I simply didn't have the foresight or budget to come up with something better. This year, however, I struck gold. My brain may be stressed by all things Toddler, but I had an idea that I still am happy with, and I had it in time to execute:
Oh yes, I planted paperwhites for each and every teacher at the center. I found the paperwhite bulbs at a garden center for 55 cents each, stuck them in ceramic containers from the dollar store, and filled them with aquarium gravel. The total cost per gift was under $3.00, which meant it was no problem to make one for every teacher. That saved me from having to pick out who works with her the most, which is pretty much like picking favorites. Plus I didn't have to feel guilty about not recognizing the teacher that worked with her when she was in the one-year old room earlier in the year and the ones that handle drop-off duty every morning.
Of course I did a little extra for our favorite teacher and the others that work in Alexis' assigned room. It seemed like the right thing to do for the people that spend nearly as much time with the Crazy One as we do.
Now I just have to figure out what to do next year. After seeing just how much food the teachers got this year, I think it's safe to say cookies and fruit baskets might not be the best of ideas.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Reader Comments (17)
We haven't got to the teacher gift part of life yet, but this year I baked a million shortbread cookies, and wrapped them up all pritty...they're on standby for any time someone shows up with a gift for us...and we didn't get them one! They worked for the day care lady too - this being our first year in daycare, the thought never even entered my mind to get her a present...until my friend asked what we got for our daycare lady...oops! Good thing she mentioned it, since the daycare lady had a gift for US on Friday!
That was brilliant! If my thumb wasn't decidedly brown I would definitely try that. But I can say that I'd love to be on the receiving end of one of those awesomely inexpensive gifts!
that's a great gift...and so reasonably priced!!! good going!
have an awesome holiday. looking forward to hearing all about it!
I LOVE that idea! MERRY CHRISTMAS, and I promise to punctuate in 2008 :)
I've found that some of the best gifts we've given to the boys' teachers have been gift cards to book stores. Unimaginative, sure. But highly appreciated! Especially in a state with an incredibly low classroom budgeting ability!
Good job! I think you did a great job saying thanks to everyone! Being a teacher....I can tell you, most of the cookies get thrown away in my house (shh! don't tell!) I am always grateful and I appreciate the thought, but if I ate all the food I am given - I would look like Santa Claus! Not that you can do this in day care with all the teachers--but once she is in school, gift certificates are my favorite or donations for the classroom (inside recess games, books, supplies, craft supplies, etc.)
My go-to inexpensive Martha Stewart-esque stroke of semi-genius has always been Land O' Lakes hot chocolate. I get four packs - 2 mint chocolate in the green package, and 2 cinnamon or raspberry chocolate in the red package, tie all four together and curl the ribbon, and place in a cheap red mug from - where else? - the Dollar Store. Depending on how much grief I give the person throughout the year I'll include a mini-bottle of Baileys. Hot chocolate is AWESOME with Baileys!
I like your idea better. As soon as I learn how to grow things I'll be stealing it!
I told the hubs that Alexis likes to stroke Troy's "pretty hair." He's still giggling...
As a former daycare teacher myself, I always loved getting giftcards to bookstores. Those are good for the most important teachers. An inexpensive gift is to fill a mug with some hot chocolate mix and add a candy cane. So far, my employers gave me nada for my "christmas bonus". Unfreakinbelievable!
(PS You gotta learn their names - that always drove me nuts when the parents would just call me "teacher" and I spent more time with their kids than they did).
Those are very cool! I may have to try that for myself ;) That's a great idea.
Yeah, we did the baking thing this year because it was pretty much all that fit in my budget, but I'm definitely stealing your idea for next year! That's awesome.
My husband was complaining that I never bake cookies from scratch for him and I reminded him that he doesn't spend 8 hours a day, 5 days a week with our kids. I mean seriously, those ladies deserve WAAYYYY more than I could ever get them.
OH! and I forgot to say this: One thing I'm very thankful for this year are all my new friends. And that includes you!!
Way to work it! I'm really proud of your efforts. I just went, "Oh, shite!" at the grocery while buying the lunch for MDO (five minutes before it started) & grabbed a gift card. Yah. Don't judge me!
Merry Christmas to you and your precious family. I hope that sweet Alexis gets everything she wants from Santa. Take care and I will see you soon. Kellan
Happy Christmas! :)
Very cute...how long ahead did you plant them because life has a span of about 8 days in my house (excluding humans, cats and dogs)?
8 days would do it. There are some in my window now that were planted on Christmas Eve and they are already about 8 inches tall. They'll probably bloom for New Year's.
oh, since I live several hours from you, I am TOTALLY using your idea for next year.
I did what I always do...get the names of all the teachers in my kids' rooms (each kid has 6 or 7 teachers assigned) and got them $5 Starbucks cards. I'd do higher amounts, but geez...when you're buying for 12 or 14 teachers it certainly gets expensive. They seem to like it...but your idea is really nice and different and is the gift that keeps giving well after Christmas. :)