Sunday, February 14, 2016

Out of the Mouths of Babes - Mugs

During my entire childhood my parents, who were both teachers, drank cups of coffee each morning out of mugs they received as gifts from their students.  Our cupboards overflowed with teacher mugs. It was always a joke among their friends - How many teacher mugs did you get this year?  It's kind of a joke among most teachers - we as a people get a lot of teacher mugs.
The duration of my career has been the exception to this rule, however.  The gifts at sites like mine are few and far between, and most of the time they are student made or used.  But this winter, I received a very nice Starbucks' travel mug for a gift the day before we went on break.  Like I do with all student gifts, I showed my appreciation my thanking the child profusely and letting him know how much I loved it.  The next day, the last day before winter break, I received two ceramic coffee mugs.  Between those and the travel mug, that was more coffee cups than I'd received in my entire career, all because I overdid it on the thank yous.
The gift giving continued on Thursday during our Valentine exchange.  The crayon hearts were a hit, by the way.  Valentine's Day is always a favorite with the kids.  More so than our Christmas or even Halloween parties.  They all arrived with their Valentines for their classmatess and some brought gifts for me.  At the end of the exchange, I opened the gifts brought in for me which ranged from handwritten notes and pictures to a rock to flowers.  And yes, more coffee mugs.  After opening the first one, the kids ooooooed and ahhhhed over it.  Reminding me it was like the ones I got for Christmas.  When I got to the second one, their exasperation over "Another one!?!?!" was smoothed over by my response of, "Now I have one for both hands!".  By the time I got to the final mug, one particularly concerned boy asked, "How many coffee mugs does one person need?"  
Exactly.

10 comments:

  1. What nice little kids. But can you imagine the conversations at home. And the consternation of the parents -probably of a different culture- casting about for an appropriate gift. Those darn mugs must've been god sent. It's like those fecking flowers for you women. Men would be lost altogether without flowers as a go-to buy. And of course it's a blessing and a curse. As with those mugs. Still it seems you might have a hiatus with this lot, but there's nothing more certain than one of the little tykes has a brother or sister in the class who will soon be needing a gifting idea for Miss D.

    I'm wondering how you deal with the inter kid gifting. A sort of secret santa ?. Or a lotto where a hat is used/bingo-ball machine. You couldn't have a free for all. Not least because in the nature of things someone would miss out.
    Delighted the hearts worked out.

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    1. Actually, we don't have the kids do "gifts" for each other, gifts per say. All we ask, is if they want to participate in the exchange (which isn't required of course) is that they bring something for each student. And when I say something, that is just a paper valentine. Kids can make them or they can be bought at the 99cent store or any grocery store, even printed off the internet. Do kids do that there? They look a little like this?http://i2.wp.com/www.goodnola.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/valentines-day-cards-for-kids-1.png
      Anyhow, some bring nothing, some bring just the cards, some bring a treat to go with it (pencil, piece of candy, etc), some bring more to share. But it's always to share with everyone. Culturally, I think the sharing is the best part for them. They love to bring in stuff for everyone. And the exchange is just a group of kids passing things out while the others look at their loot and wait to pass theirs out. So no one really knows who is and isn't passing out. I don't think anyone feels left out because everyone is receiving. This year I think all but one or two brought something in, and I can't even pinpoint who didn't. So it ends up just being fun. As I said, V-day is the most excited they get of all our "celebrations". I was ready for them to all go home afterwards because they were climbing the walls all day.
      I think the most frustrating thing about the teacher gifts is that the parents mostly let the kids pick them out, which of course is great, but that's when I get things like stuffed animals and little knick knacks, all of which I will never use and I hate for the families to waste the money on it. They need it more than I do. I end up giving it away to an elderly care facility, because they are not things they I want or need. The gifts to me always make feel bad. Even though, the thought is appreciated. I'd much prefer they be student made. Now some of my colleagues on the other side of town who come home with Nordstrom or Tiffany's gift cards, I'd feel less bad about that. :)

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  2. Awww... you can always tell them that you now have a variety to choose from!

    I honestly don't remember what, if anything, I gave my teachers when I was growing up. Our kids attended a tiny rural school, so there were always presents for the teachers (and principal and bus drivers!). Our go-to gift was little bags of those "hidden valley ranch seasoned oyster crackers". Everyone knew everyone, so there was never any hesitation to give/consume food items. In fact, they were always so well-received they came to be expected! I still make those things each Christmas for certain people!

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    1. The homemade food items can be tricky. I've had some things brought in in the past that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole, but others have been amazing - especially the tamales. :) But it does depend on the family and how well I know them. We are really limited on food items being brought in anymore. There's a mile long policy due to all the allergies and wellness issues. So food items for parties and even gifts have been greatly reduced, just because it's easier. I will say though, that those allergies are not really an issue on my side of town. I've had one peanut allergy in my entire career, where on the more affluent side of town teachers have several in a class each year....which is interesting.
      Anyhow, the gifts are never expected, but when they are, they are appreciated.

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  3. Such an excellent post. I myself am a mug aficionado. Sounds like you have a great class. // ▲ conundrumofcoitus.com ▲

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    1. :) yes, they are a nice group. The mugs are cute, I just don't have anymore room in my cupboard for more.

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  4. My daughter teaches second grade in a Title I school and she receives some interesting and heartfelt gifts, many of which are, of necessity, homemade. One of her little boys was sick Valentines Day and his mom showed up at 6:30 a.m. with a little stuffed bear he had picked out for her. On her birthday a little girl gave her a couple of avocados she and her mother bought at the grocery store because my daughter had told her class that's her favorite food. Great stories.

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    1. Yes, teaching can always be counted on for good stories. Title I schools have their challenges, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Such sweet, respectful families.

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