The reasons I love my child are not to be banded about in public

[Suz1e2]

Hi, when picking up my 18 month old from nursery the baby room manager said that they are asking all of the parents to write a letter to their children, saying why they love them. The nursery staff are then going to read it to the kids and put it in their learning journals. The thing is, I tell my boy I love him all the time, but I don't understand why I have to write it down for the nursery staff to have a look at! And isn't it a bit weird that they're going to sit the children down and read out the reasons their parents love them? If I don't write something gushy enough, would my child feel less loved than the other kids? The children are all under 2 so I'm tempted to think that this is actually for the staff to enjoy rather than them. I'm private by nature and don't think it's appropriate to put me in a position where I have to spell out my feelings to a room full of strangers (even if half of them don't understand!). What's going on here? Is this normal behaviour for teachers? I think I'm going to have to politely decline... Or should I get over myself and do it?

I love you because the poos you do are so smelly - they remind me of your father even when he is not around.

YANBU, that's just weird

And as you say, they won't understand it anyway.

Its a bit of an odd activity - why not ask them what the purpose of it is?

That said, just write anything it doesn't really matter!

I love you, because you are YOU.

Short, sweet and they can naff off.

You shouldn't decline, we did something similar when I worked at a nursery, the parents wanted to be more involved and we had to come up with ways of making it happen.

Just write something generic about him making you laugh. It's no big deal really.

Seems a bit pointless to me but I know nothing of nursery goings on as of yet.

And they're all under 2? I'm sure they'll be paying loads of attention

Yes, I totally agree - I know we are all meant to express our emotions freely these days, but this seems a step too far! Personally I wouldn't want to share my feelings for my children with a roomful of (almost) strangers and would resent being asked to!

The one good thing about the situation is that the children are (hopefully) not really listening to everything that is being said, so I would get round it by keeping the letter very light-hearted and general so you don't feel you're baring your soul to all and sundry!

Im not sure of the issue really,you are being asked to write a few lines about why you love your child that will be read out.Just because you tell him yourself why does that mean it's a pointless activity?!
I think it sounds quite nice tbh and I hardly think the nursery staff are asking you to have a laugh at your expense,I'm sure they have far more important things to be doing!
I read to my children every night,I don't refuse to read the book my school asks me to read with them though.
I would just do it,I think refusing will seem a little ott.

I've been asked for all sorts of things including photos. I've never bothered and no-one has said anything.

how about:

I love you, you can be sure of that. Because if I didn't I would leave you at nursery all night and have a good night's sleep.

Oh goodie, an excuse for another :)

' I love you because you have a sunny smile'
' I love you because you make me laugh'
'i love you because you are fun'
It could be as simple as that I think.

i agree with you op, i think some child with harassed mother who writes any old shit 5 mins before drop off could feel considerably hurt

i would do this

for your DS

I love you to the end of space where even superman[insert fave superhero] can't reach.

I would then write a letter to the nursery manager outlining your reservations

We have been asked to do family trees, provide a photo of a group at a meanigful event, include pictures pf pets in a family tree, asked to talk about people important to my DC, all manner of odd things, that I think just equate to nosiness.

YANBU!

Yuck. Yanbu.

Write what you feel comfortable with. No biggie.

It's a shame you feel so negative about the nursery staff.

Have they read King Lear? This will not end well

Noooooo,i wouldnt do this.Its weird for someone to read out in nursery to two year olds and its way too personal.I just think that is an odd way to be spending their time.It is not sonething I think my ds needs educating about ....why jimbobs mum thinks hes supergreat.

I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill.

If I'm asked what I love about my hubby I tell them a generic number of things without too many personal details. My hubby is under no illusions why I love him. He's forever being told by me in private so he knows how amazing he is.

Being told to write a letter to a 2 year old for nursery doesn't require a war and peace length monologue of detail!

I think you've lost your perspective on this tbh

How very strange and intrusive.

Beastofburden - Yes indeed! The nursery could end up littered with corpses!

Ugh, yanbu. I've never been asked to do this.

I like the one-liner "I love you because you are YOU." DS had to do a mothers day thing in reception on why he loved his mummy - he answered "Just Because" which I thought was lovely.

Does the nursery follow a curriculum? They could be made to do nursery/home links?

I like it, I would happily do it. They would love to look a. It when older.

I think family tree is a good activity really

Can't you channel Richard Dawkins?

I love you because parental love is an efficient mechanism to give our genes a good chance of being replicated.