Presents/flowers after concerts etc

[shinysparklybubbles]

Someone posted on a local mommy blogger site about flowers/gift ideas to give their preschooler after their Christmas concert/program at school. My son is in preschool and I never even thought I needed to give him something for singing a few songs with his class. A ton of people responded with what they do. Am I missing something here??

 

[mickeyboat]

Gotta love it! I remember one time a girl getting a huge bouquet of balloons at her 5th grade end of school assembly. The same girls whose parents brought her to school in a limo one day. Look at me, look at me!

Reminds me of the thread not too long ago about parents who try to make special occasions more special. At some point enough is enough.

That being said, we have bought flowers to our kids' (7th graders) performances a couple of times - the talent shows when they did an act and last year's honors night ceremony. I might bring flowers to a concert if they were doing a solo, but I would not bring them to their band or chorus concerts.

 

[LuLuO]

My kids were in dance class together and parents and grandparents brought flowers for the kids at the end of the session recital. Cute for them but I'm not going to do it. A hug, an "I love you!" and a "You did a great job!" is enough.

 

[marcyinPA]

I have boys who are involved in chorus, theatre, band, orchestra, jazz band, a capella, etc. If I got them a "gift" every time they performed, I'd be broke!

For the theatre shows, they always have "candy grams" set up in the lobby as a fundraiser, so I do that- I write them each a note and they get it along with some candy, at the end of the show. Otherwise- No- I don't bring them flowers or anything like that. I know a lot of parents do- but I just give mine a hug and tell them "great job"!

 

[shoney]

I have 2 in middle school and have been to many events. Yes, many people do bring flowers, balloons, etc....

When my ds13 was in 3rd grade, I did by a bouquet of blue and orange flowers (Mets colors). I'll admit, I felt pressured!

Last year, my younger son was the lead in the 5th grade play. I realized once I was in the audience, I didn't buy anything. He really didn't even notice, probably wouldn't have wanted flowers anyway!

He deserved much more for his performance anyway....Can you buy a Tony award?

 

[lovesmurfs]

I have boys who are involved in chorus, theatre, band, orchestra, jazz band, a capella, etc. If I got them a "gift" every time they performed, I'd be broke!

Ditto.

 

[mjkacmom]

I think a little something is appropriate for something like a dance recital, or a lead in a play (that they auditioned for). One parent brought flowers to the elementary school holiday musicale - give me a break.

My older two have done a lot of musical theater - I usually get them a candy bar for opening night (I usually only attend one performance - can get expensive!).

 

[wiigirl]

I have done that with my girls a few times after dance or singing performances....I think it really depends on the situation.

 

[Ginny Favers]

For my daughter's first ballet recital, I realized everyone was bringing flowers for the kids. My daughter was heartbroken that she received nothing, so for the next recital, I brought her them (reluctantly).

I would never even think of doing it for a school Christmas concert, though! Nobody did at our school concert this year. If someone did, I think perhaps all of the parents might get together and whip her with a wet noodle in the parking lot.

 

[minkydog]

Seriously, a preschool concert? What's she going to do for HS graduation, a 3 month trek through Europe? It seems to me that when you start this sort of tradition, it really snowballs and then parents feel they HAVE to keep doing it for every little thing. We only gave my Dd flowers after a couple important dance shows and her major theater performances(only one per show, though.) And of course, HS graduation.

 

[okeydokey]

Seriously, a preschool concert? What's she going to do for HS graduation, a 3 month trek through Europe? It seems to me that when you start this sort of tradition, it really snowballs and then parents feel they HAVE to keep doing it for every little thing. We only gave my Dd flowers after a couple important dance shows and her major theater performances(only one per show, though.) And of course, HS graduation.

I totally agree. My cousin started small with her daughter, but it grew to limos to pick up from school on birthdays and ended with a second mortgage to pay for a wedding.

 

[mamacatnv]

I brought flowers for season ending ballet recitals when DD was younger - that is it in regards to performance awards.

Last night I was at the middle school band Christmas program at DD's school - several hundred kids between the 3 levels of band. I didn't see a single flower, gift or balloon in the place!

 

[Fire14]

I never recall getting anything from my parents for anything including hs and college graduation. Yes I got the hugs and Good jobs, but no flowers or balloons. I do recall getting candy hearts from music Teacher after Valentines Music program but that could have just been his Valentine to the students too, as I got them weather I was at show or not.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

DD gets flowers (usually) for her dance recital. That's it. Her old school always did a Christmas concert that all kids participated in (Catholic school). I never brought anything, nor do I remember her classmates ever getting anything.

 

[luvmy3]

Seriously, a preschool concert? What's she going to do for HS graduation, a 3 month trek through Europe? It seems to me that when you start this sort of tradition, it really snowballs and then parents feel they HAVE to keep doing it for every little thing. We only gave my Dd flowers after a couple important dance shows and her major theater performances(only one per show, though.) And of course, HS graduation.

I'll never understand the argument that because a parent does X means that they will have to top it the next year and so on and so on. I honestly don't know a single person who started with flowers in pre-school and ended up giving a trip to Europe by the time their kid was in HS. Sure some people do, but that has nothing to do with that first act of giving flowers, it has everything to do with the type of person they are. They were going to be that way regardless.
Giving flowers to someone after a "show" has been a tradition for a long time. If you choose not to participate because you don't think the "show" is worth it, fine, but why knock people who do. Don't you have anything better to do at a concert or recital than keep track of who does what. MYOB and don't give flowers

 

[KennesawNemo]

Someone posted on a local mommy blogger site about flowers/gift ideas to give their preschooler after their Christmas concert/program at school. My son is in preschool and I never even thought I needed to give him something for singing a few songs with his class. A ton of people responded with what they do. Am I missing something here??

I personally don't see the need to do so. But it's just the way I treat my kid.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

I personally don't see the need to do so. But it's just the way I treat my kid.

My kid isn't getting anything more than an I love you, proud of you, good job. He's almost 4, who knows if he will even sing or just stand up there. I am interested to see if anyone brings anything.

The post on the site I was on had over 60 responses with people saying what they give. I don't get it.

 

[scrapquitler]

Someone posted on a local mommy blogger site about flowers/gift ideas to give their preschooler after their Christmas concert/program at school. My son is in preschool and I never even thought I needed to give him something for singing a few songs with his class. A ton of people responded with what they do. Am I missing something here??

For a regular school assembly, no. But for the annual dance recital, piano recital or high school musical, yes.

 

[jen0610]

DD15 is a dancer. There has been two times that she got flowers after one of her shows. Both times were when the recital fell on the day of her birthday. It was a way for us to celebrate her birthday in some way on her actually birthday, because with a dance recital there was no time for really anything else.

 

[mnrose]

My DD, 13, has been in dance and/or musical theater for almost a decade. I most definitely do not buy flowers/gifts for every little performance that comes along. I do tend to do it ONCE for a run of performances or at the end of the season. I buy one flower (they sell roses as a fund raiser at her current school) or bouquet. To give you an example, last weekend, we had the winter showcase at her school. There were 4 different shows, and because she is a relatively senior performer, she was in all 4 shows. The family attended one show, and gave her a single rose at the conclusion of that show. It cost me $2.

I think it's nice to do something small, but if I did it for every little show or concert, I would be broke. I certainly never did it for concerts, etc that were done as part of their regular schooling.