Last May, my three year old was nearing the end of his first year of preschool when, seemingly worn out by nine months of twice weekly two hour play and snack fests, he declared himself ready for summer vacation.
I was slightly less than ready and almost forgot to buy his terrific teacher an end-of-the-year gift. I remembered just in time, though, and sent my son off for his last day of school with his teacher’s present nicely wrapped.
Upon arriving at school, my son handed his gift to his teacher enthusiastically exclaiming, “This is something Mommy picked up last minute at CVS!”
Ahh, out of the mouths of babes.
My son’s awkward announcement made me think back to several of the gifts I received during my years of teaching. I thought it might be fun – and even educational – to share some of them with you as you contemplate what you might give your child’s teacher for the holiday season.
Among many gifts large and small, I have received:
- a gift card to a department store that had gone out of business the year before
- a bottle of Glögg, a Scandinavian mulled wine that tasted to me like a cross between an Atomic Fire Ball and a shot of Nyquil
- a copy of The Good Life: The Autobiography of Tony Bennett. Please note this was a decade before Tony Bennett started making duet albums with the likes of Lady Gaga; his stock might be a bit higher nowadays.
- a navy blue polyester negligee (from a third grader)
- a silver necklace with a pendant in the shape of the letter W (W appears in neither my first name nor my last)
- a can of Goya garbanzo beans (it turns out that said can was intended for the school’s canned food drive and, apparently, my present ended up in the collection bin in its place)
- heartfelt letters of thanks from students and/or their parents
Despite the snarky descriptions I offer here, I was grateful for each and every gift, for the effort, expense, and time my students and their parents put into these presents – even if some, admittedly, left me scratching my head.
But would you care to guess which ones I still have today, tied in a ribbon in a wicker box next to my desk?
If in doubt about what to give your child’s teacher this December, go for a nice card from your kid.
Oh, and maybe an (unexpired) Starbucks gift card.
Guest writer Kristen Levithan is a freelance journalist who writes essays, articles, and grocery lists while living in the Midwest with her husband and three kids. She offers cultural commentary and musings on modern motherhood at her blog Motherese.
About Guest Writer
As a teacher, I have also gotten some interesting gifts. One year, I received a ceramic mug for Christmas that is in the shape of the head of a jester–one of the funniest gifts I’ve been given. Another year, I received a lovely church that lights up from the inside. It was an especially touching gift because the giver came from a family who lived in poverty. Tragically, both of the students died in car accidents while they were in high school. I think of both of them fondly when I take out their gifts at Christmas time and am grateful to have those mementos.
Awww..that’s so sad. But very touching that you kept their gifts and think of them at Christmas.
Twitter Name: Izzymom
I can certainly understand why those gifts have taken on such significance for you, and am glad that you have them to help you remember the students you lost. What a sad story.
Twitter Name: Motherese
Oh out of the mouths of babes! Kids have gotten me into so much trouble. They see and hear everything and ALWAYS blab it when you least expect it to happen.
Twitter Name: MsMcMadness
Yes, indeed. For my kids the equation is simple: the more embarrassing an anecdote, the more likely they are to repeat it.
Twitter Name: Motherese
Yeah, we gave gifts to a friend (ok, my husband is totally guilty for this one… I was stuck at the last minute and went along with it knowing better). “Here’s some old DVD’s we don’t use anymore.” Not entirely true. It was a complete set of Veggie Tales and they were pretty awesome. Still, he did not have to announce it to the world! So embarrasing. Can you believe I am STILL friends with that family?
We always match the gift to the teacher. My middle daughter had a teacher who LOVED porterhouse steaks. So we went down to the local butcher and had a special nice thick cut porterhouse cut for him. He said out of all his years of teaching it was his favorite gift because it was something he loved.
Twitter Name: 31_Amber_31
I love it! How thoughtful of you. I would have liked to see that teacher’s face when he opened your gift.
Twitter Name: Motherese
It is nearing the end of the school year in Australia, and I just happened to be wondering what I could get for the two fabulous teachers my boys had this year. This is very timely and great advice thanks.
It’s just too bad we don’t have Starbucks where we are [I know. Gasp horror!]. Now I will still have think of a suitable alternative, but I’m going to get my sons to start composing their letters soon.
I hope this advice applies internationally, Shelly! :)
Twitter Name: Motherese
I almost exclusively give gift cards to bookstores– that way the teachers can buy something for themselves to read for the holiday, gifts for others if they really don’t want to use it, or books for their classrooms that they might need (teachers always seem to have wish lists). Sometimes I put it with a new pillow for the classroom book/reading area since those items get a lot of use.
I did get a laugh out of your bad gifts!
Guess what I bought on Black Friday as a holiday gift for my son’s teacher? A gift certificate to our local bookstore. You and I are on the same wavelength, Lisa!
Twitter Name: Motherese
As a kindergarten teacher of 5 years, among the gifts I have received are:
-a bath towel
-a personalized keychain with “Brittany” on it (that’s not my first or last name
-men’s tube socks
-glasses of all shapes and sizes
and you’re right: it’s the card written by the parents AND the child that I remember — and the dunkin donuts gift card too :)
I think you and I should start an eBay branch specializing in incorrectly personalized merchandise. (My baby daughter recently received monogrammed socks with the wrong initial on them; I’ll add them to our cache to start things off.)
Twitter Name: Motherese
I once received 17, yes, 17 boxes of chocolates. It became soo funny!! I kept a box and put the rest in the donation bin at the supermarket for the food bank.
I’m a huge fan of chocolate, but 17 boxes would be too much even for me. :)
Twitter Name: Motherese
When I was still teaching, we would end up with a boatload of things at Christmas- especially when Hubby was doing band at multiple schools, not just one like he has now. We have more coffee mugs with some variation of “World’s Greatest Teacher!” than we can use. Once I got a black satin evening bag- pretty, but totally useless for me.
I knit scarves for my kids’ teachers or give baked goods. I also like to give a gift card to either a local food place (Panera or the like) or a bookstore/Amazon. I also like when we can get all of the parents together to do a big gift at the end of the year- we can get something nice that is well suited to the teacher, and he or she doesn’t have to carry a bazillion gift bags home on the last day of school!
Twitter Name: MamaKaren
LMAO some of those gifts are pretty funny. I hope my son’s teacher actually appreciated the scented Candle I sent her at Thanksgiving LMAO She said she loved it but yeah :P
Twitter Name: rose3694