Trying to be gracious, but really kind of irked! UPDATE post 99

[dismom2]

I understand how you might feel awkward calling, but you said you won't be seeing this teacher again anyway, so I'd go ahead and call. Hopefully she didn't throw anything away, or donate it. I can recall a couple times when I sent in items to donate and none of it got used. Some teachers send the extra unneeded things back home with the kids, but some don't. Not sure what they do with it.

 

[Mermaid02]

I wonder if she used the OP's stuff for her other classes?

That wouldn't make me very happy.

 

[swanmom]

The odds are still running in your favor
Try something like, "I understand the items our family donated weren't used for the cupcake decorating. Since I sent them specifically for that purpose, I'd like to arrange a convenient appointment to get them back. My son can bring the bag home with him; if it's been unpacked, could you please make sure everything gets back in there? Or can we arrange a time that I or my husband can pick up the materials? Thank you."

I think I'd say: "Can I arrange a time to come and pick it up? I sent SO much stuff that it was difficult for DS to carry." But then, i can be snarky at times.

 

[Shadow Dancer]

I wonder if she used the OP's stuff for her other classes?

That was my thought as well - and I bet that is exactly what happened.

It's not right, if that is what the teacher did.

 

[binny]

Looks like its actually all in your favour. Good luck with the call!~

 

[ajk912]

I bet you were the only one who donated and she spread the stuff out between all the classes. I would still call though! Or email if you would rather.

 

[doxdogy]

Another vote to call her and just politely ask when you can come and get the rest of the items there were not used. Like a previous poster stated, give me her number and I will call her!

 

[Mermaid02]

I bet you were the only one who donated and she spread the stuff out between all the classes. I would still call though! Or email if you would rather.

In that case the teacher ought to send the OP a lovely thank you card and tell her how appreciative all of the students were.

 

[disbridemimi]

I think you need to bite the bullet and make the uncomfortable call. You don't have to sound crabby or mean, just call sweet as pie and say "I didn't realize the supplies were not what they would be using, and I can come by and grab them to save you the trip of dropping them off" It is totally possible that she meant to have your son take them back and just got busy or something, but either way, you will get your stuff back and she will get the point.

 

[MsLeFever]

Another vote for a call - and report back!

 

[laurie31]

Wow- another thread where everyone agrees! Is this a sign of the apocalypse?

I am another crafty mom who will send in tons of stuff like you did, thinking there are kids who don't get to do it at home and wanting them to have a fun experience. But it's not crabby to expect that your own child would get to use the stuff HE BROUGHT for the activity. At least the other kids didn't know what they were missing - he did!

Make the call!

And I second the motion for the follow-up! I can't wait to hear her excuse.

If it's something like no other moms sent much stuff and she had to divide yours over many classes, I'd be more forgiving than if she just thought the stuff was really awesome and kept it for herself (although I doubt she'd be 'fessing up to that, if it were the case ). Maybe she thought it would be too messy/time-consuming or something, but I wouldn't expect that of an art teacher.

At any rate, you sent the supplies for a certain activity, they weren't used for that activity, and you should either get them back or at least get an explanation of why your DS didn't get to use them.

 

[celerystalker]

Be brave, keep it polite, but call.

 

[taylor3297]

I have taught school for 15+ years and if I have anything left over that was donated, I always either send a note home or call and see if the person who donated the item wanted it back. Most parents tell me to keep if for future use if I needed it. If for some reason the OP was one of the few who actually donated items, like others say she may of had to share with other classes. Even if this was the case, the teacher should send a thank you note.

 

[clh2]

I agree with every other poster on this thread. Make the call...and report back!

 

[luvmy2sams]

Another vote to make the call. My initial thought was that maybe the teacher thought the extra material would be more time consuming than she wanted the activity to be. Not that it is, just that maybe this was her line of thinking. This could make for an interesting phone call.

I'm hoping that it was an oversight. Our kids always bring home unused donations (even a half-empty bag of chips once...). Using the donation for other classes would be better than if the teacher was simply keeping the donation for her personal supply, but I'd be annoyed that my child didn't get to use the donation I sent in for his class.

 

[TomLovesBecky]

I would definitely call, and I would not be very happy with this teacher! Now if my son's class had a ball decorating with everything, I probably would have said, keep the rest for your other classes...but NO WAY am I subsidizing everyone else's kids to the tune of $50 when my own kid isn't getting any benefit from my donation! Not right at all! She should have offered everything to the kids in your son's class to use and then offered to return the remainder, if you wanted it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think I'd say: "Can I arrange a time to come and pick it up? I sent SO much stuff that it was difficult for DS to carry." But then, i can be snarky at times.

No need to roll your eyes I like your response better. I was just thinking that it might be difficult for the OP to get to the school - depending on her hours at work.

 

[mousey]

I would definately call and question her about the supplies. The stuff you sent in is not purchased by the school and unless she asked for donations she would of had to purchase it out of her pocket--so you have every right to find out what happened with your supplies??

 

[becjlek]

Yep. Call her. And then tell us about it.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Another vote for calling!!