Gifts in school thread from another perspective.

[Catnao]

I have a marvellous mum of a child in my class who comes in and helps me one morning a week and she is FAB. Her child has a physical disability and she is very, very good at supporting the school and other agencies in helping him. She is also very lovely. So - I bought her (and my other mummy helpers) small gifts (smellies) to say thank you. She has given me a very expensive (and marvellously appropriate) gift today - posh gin!!! WICKED!! Yes, I did open it early, but couldn't resist - my bad! I feel a bit embarrassed that my gift is much less expensive and also that the card said To X love from C and hers had a lovely thoughtful message.

That's really lovely Catnao. I help a great deal at my DC school and I would be extremely shocked if I ever got anything from the teachers for it.
(Last xmas I hand knitted mittens for my DS's teacher and I didn't even get a thank you!).

Well - her present and especially card were lovely, but I did feel I hadn't made anywhere near as much effort! Wish I could take my card back now and write something more meaningful!

PS - no THANK YOU!!?? Bloody rude!

Catnao, it's lovely that you have thought to get something for the parent helpers, but I really don't think they'd expect you to reciprocate with the same sort of gifts that they might give you as a teacher.

I am fairly generous with my gifts for dd's teachers, because it is my way of recognising the tremendous commitment and extra work that they put in, over and above the call of duty. It's my way of saying thank you for all that they do for my child, and it gives me pleasure to pick out something nice and to express my gratitude in a written note.

You might feel that you haven't made much effort in the card, but as a teacher, you're probably investing loads of effort for this woman's son on a daily basis - and as a parent, she obviously wants to thank you for that.

Enjoy your posh gin, and a well-earned break at Christmas! :)

The headteacher at our school invited all the parent helpers in for tea with scones and cream last week. That was great, as a Thankyou.

Don't feel bad, you clearly thought about her, and that is totally what counts.

Thanks for that - I really wish I had put something a bit better than basically "to you from me" though now! I really do appreciate the parents that come in and help me, and it's lovely that they want to come in and help out and show an interest not only (or even) with their own kids but the rest of the class too.