What are you getting the teachers this Christmas?

[casjen]

I am a teacher with multiple food allergies. I don't broadcast them, no one really needs to know. But whenever I get food gifts, I can't use them. I don't even bring them home b/c I don't want them in the house.

Sometimes I'll put them in the teachers room, but usually the day before vacation it is loaded with everyone else's "No thanks" baked goods and then that stuff gets pitched by the custodians over break.

I feel awful that someone's hard work is going to waste, but for me it is dangerous to go near that freshly baked bread or box of candy.

I know food allergies aren't super common, but it is definitely something to think about.

I also know alot of teachers who won't eat anything homemade. It just makes them nervous.

 

[diamondpixienc]

$25.00 gift card attached to an ornament.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I think Vera Bradley is some of the ugliest stuff out there. I would never carry it, even my 14 year old wouldn't carry it.

I think I am the only person on the DIS who DOESN'T buy teacher gifts.

I should note....that the only teachers I have ever given VB bags to - already carry it. I make sure that it is their taste before I give it to them! At open house every one of my DDs teachers commented on her VB backpack and had a discussion about what they have...so I know that they will appreciate their gifts!

I know VB is hit or miss - and I don't "waste" my VB deals on people I know don't like it!!

 

[Cindy B]

what kind things to do.

I am a teacher in a very poor inner city area. Due to this, there are limited teacher gifts throughout the whole building.

The best gift for me as a non tenured teacher is a letter/email to the principal telling her what a good job I do. That costs nothing and would mean so much.

As for food/snacks, our staff never gets those. No one shows up in the teachers room due to our overwhelming schedule. If something ever came, I'd give it to the security guards/police in our building. They work hard, have longer hours and put up with a lot of physically demanding work.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

I can't believe homemade goods are thrown out! I had no idea. Makes me wonder how someone would throw out perfectly awesome cookies in a nice tin but then be ok with going through a fast food drive thru and eat that! This information certainly has me rethinking what I will do for my kids teachers. It will save me a lot of time in the kitchen anyway.

 

[mjkacmom]

I can't believe homemade goods are thrown out! I had no idea. Makes me wonder how someone would throw out perfectly awesome cookies in a nice tin but then be ok with going through a fast food drive thru and eat that! This information certainly has me rethinking what I will do for my kids teachers. It will save me a lot of time in the kitchen anyway.

Restaurants are regulated and inspected. Who knows if you have 20 cats who are allowed to walk on your kitchen counter, or little Johnny is helping, while licking the spoon.

 

[ccgirl]

I can't believe homemade goods are thrown out! I had no idea. Makes me wonder how someone would throw out perfectly awesome cookies in a nice tin but then be ok with going through a fast food drive thru and eat that! This information certainly has me rethinking what I will do for my kids teachers. It will save me a lot of time in the kitchen anyway.

The teachers aren't going in to McDonald's ordering 10 big macs but may very well be getting 10 tins of cookies. If you like giving them cookies I say keep doing it. I think it's important to remember that not everyone thinks the same, has the same allergies etc. Just think, if you were a teacher what would you like to get? I usually go the g.c. route. One of the reasons is that I am limited on time. Another is, I imagine what I would do with the "things" they get. If they have been teaching for 10+ years that is probably a lot of ornaments, mugs, Dollar Store stuff etc. I have given a g.c. to a nail salon, movies, starbucks, dunkins etc (depending on what I see the teacher with). I always have my DD write a note of thanks as well. Last year for a teacher's aide that she loved she wrote a poem and drew a picture and the teacher cried. I have also donated to a food shelter or the MSPCA for a teacher that was passionate about animals.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

Restaurants are regulated and inspected. Who knows if you have 20 cats who are allowed to walk on your kitchen counter, or little Johnny is helping, while licking the spoon.

Nice.

I taught Head Start for several years, we were not given gifts, which was fine, as we did not expect anything. If we were given something, no matter what it was, I would have appreciated it. What happened to "it's the thought that counts"?



Just wondering, really.

 

[Shelly888]

I'm thinking of doing Target gift cards this year. I wonder if Walmart is preferred over Target?

 

[mjantz]

You can appreciate the thought & intent behind the gift without having a use, need or want for the gift itself. I'm allergic to bubble bath. It breaks me out in hives. If a parent gives me bubble bath as a gift I'll graciously say thank you & accept it but I am NOT going to use it.

 

[mjkacmom]

Nice.

I taught Head Start for several years, we were not given gifts, which was fine, as we did not expect anything. If we were given something, no matter what it was, I would have appreciated it. What happened to "it's the thought that counts"?



Just wondering, really.

I wasn't referring to your kitchen! I, too, used to make homemade treats, until I started reading these threads. Turns out a lot of people will not eat homemade goods from homes they've never been to, or from people they don't know on a personal level. Me? I have no problem eating any homemade treats!

 

[Aliceacc]

Me? I have no problem eating any homemade treats!

Same here. I got a loaf of banana bread from one of my Seniors a few years ago-- it was delicious!!!

We have no food allergies. So I'm more than willing to enjoy anything given to me by any of my kids.

 

[TB'sWidow]

I can't believe homemade goods are thrown out! I had no idea. Makes me wonder how someone would throw out perfectly awesome cookies in a nice tin but then be ok with going through a fast food drive thru and eat that! This information certainly has me rethinking what I will do for my kids teachers. It will save me a lot of time in the kitchen anyway.

Yep I read this last year when there was another thread. I was actually really upset by this and asked my child and my grandchildren's teachers if they did this, at least last year they all said they would in fact eat the baked good. I am still bothered by it though.

 

[Cindy B]

I'm thinking of doing Target gift cards this year. I wonder if Walmart is preferred over Target?

Not in my case. I'd much rather use Target than Walmart any day..

 

[cari12]

Yep I read this last year when there was another thread. I was actually really upset by this and asked my child and my grandchildren's teachers if they did this, at least last year they all said they would in fact eat the baked good. I am still bothered by it though.

Do you think they would admit to your face that they threw it away?

 

[daisyduck123]

Yep I read this last year when there was another thread. I was actually really upset by this and asked my child and my grandchildren's teachers if they did this, at least last year they all said they would in fact eat the baked good. I am still bothered by it though.

Well of course they did. Do you think they would admit to throwing them out?

It's the same with the people who buy their kid's teachers apple ornaments, dish towels, or lotions & state, "The teachers loved them! They were a big hit!". Of course the teachers said they loved them! - I'm one of those teachers that always thanks the parent profusely & then promptly puts the ornament in my yard sale pile.

 

[mjantz]

Candy & food can also fall under the 'too much' catagory. I've joked with teaching friends about 'The Year of the Candle' or 'The Year of the Lotion'. Last year was 'The Year of the Food & Candy'. It was way too much & I did not need all of it in my house. So, it was my contribution to my in-laws Christmas dinner. Everyone loved the candy & other goodies & I didn't have to watch it go on my hips, thighs & stomach.

 

[CTdiznymom]

I can't believe homemade goods are thrown out! I had no idea. Makes me wonder how someone would throw out perfectly awesome cookies in a nice tin but then be ok with going through a fast food drive thru and eat that! This information certainly has me rethinking what I will do for my kids teachers. It will save me a lot of time in the kitchen anyway.

If breaks my dd's heart to accept homemade treats, but she does it with a smile and a hug and then she tosses them. She explained to me that she sees some kids wearing the same clothes for a few days while others are sent to school sick and wiping runny noses on their sleeves - so when they come in with treats saying they "helped mom bake"....well...what would you do? It's unfortunate but unless it's store wrapped and sealed that's what happens. And btw, yes she sends a written thank you for the treat.

 

[mrstomrice]

I give Tastefully Simple Beer bread, Dip Trio and a dessert box to the preschool teachers. They really seem to appreciate it!

 

[torinsmom]

I can't believe homemade goods are thrown out! I had no idea. Makes me wonder how someone would throw out perfectly awesome cookies in a nice tin but then be ok with going through a fast food drive thru and eat that! This information certainly has me rethinking what I will do for my kids teachers. It will save me a lot of time in the kitchen anyway.

I don't throw it out, but I usually put it in the teacher's lounge. I have gotten really sick after eating fudge a parent brought in, and now I don't eat homemade goods unless I know the person well. I do appreciate the thought behind the gift. Of course, if a parent asked me how I liked the cookies they sent, I would tell them they were yummy. I would never tell them I gave them away.

Once, I volunteered to buy and go get lunch for my son's teachers. They picked a restaurant, told me what they wanted and I went and got it. Now that kind of food I would accept, because I know it would meet sanitation standards.