When did this trend of giving parents of new reception starters tea bags and biscuits with a poem start?

[Thisisa]

I’ve seen it around for a good few years - when and how did it start? Any reception teachers around?

@Pandorapitstop yes it must be an example of his work.

He wrote one back, it went:

Now my kid's off to school
So I went to the pool
And then had a sit
And a really long shit

And now I am back
I've had me cup of tea
And they're happy to see me
Now it's home for TV.

Unless they're at the back of the line,
That is a bad sign.

Not heard of this, definitely not at mine or the DC's school!

had this when DD started reception 4 years ago (Herts) I tired to keep the card as a keepsake but she pulled the teabag off 😕

I ran out of the playground punching the air when my youngest started school!

From childminders not school x

Don't get this at all. The kids go to nursery and then when they are old enough they go to school. Is it celebrating the reduced cost?

🤣🤣

I've not heard of this, but think it's harmless and well intentioned.

@ClumpingBambooIsALie hahaha we got an individually wrapped pukka teabag but it was accompanied with a twirl. Very yummy!

not jealousy!

Do people really think parents need patronising like that?

This is not a thing at my DC’s school 🤣

I don’t know why people are so down on this, does it really make that much difference to them?! It’s a small gesture and for a lot of people their kids starting school is a big thing.

We got one (albeit with a much less cringey poem) last year. I might be soft, but it was nice for someone to have identified that starting school could be tough for parents - I’m not usually emotional but knowing my only child was starting school was a biggie for me.

My kid’s kindy did this. A maudlin little poem, a teabag and a packet of tissues to wipe away our tears.

I used the tissues to wipe away my tears of laughter.

I suppose what I don’t like about it is that it seems to assume the parent (let’s face it, almost certainly the mother) is going home to an empty house. I also don’t like the patronising ‘don’t worry, we’ll sort it’. I’m sure it’s kindly meant, but things can be done with kind intent and still miss their mark.

I think the intent is nice and I wouldn't think much of it if I got one- but it does seem quite out of touch with reality. Most people are racing off to work after, have other children to care for or might be feeling relieved haha.

God there are a lot of sourpusses on here. DS started Reception this year and I got a teabag and a KitKat with a poem. Yes it was twee but it made me smile (and hey, free chocolate!). DS also got a bag of 'jitter glitter' to sprinkle under his pillow the night before - that was more annoying as it's now EVERYWHERE.

It didn;t happen when DS1 and 2 started reception 17 & 16 years agi, But I saw it a couple of years later - a table at the entrance where teabags and tissues were handed out. So at our old primary, 14 years ago.

I mean, I'll take free chocolate whatever its source, but the poem and tissue are nauseating. Thankfully our school don't do it. Instead, the PTA give out framed photos of all DC on their first day, which is lovely. They just take a quick photo of them playing, or else by the school sign (depending on the weather, I guess), print it off and stick it in an IKEA frame, so it's not expensive, but it's nice to have. Also feels a bit more positive than a soppy poem and a tissue, which has always seemed to me to cast a bit of negativity in the whole thing.

Doesn’t anyone drink tea at work? I do.

Our son started in reception yesterday and we got a little organza bag with a sachet of coffee, a couple of biscuits, two tea bags and a pack of tissues. There was no poem but was just a short 'welcome to our school' and the purpose of the bags. There was also the number for the class Whatsapp group. I thought it was a nice touch.

Fuck me, that poem. Honestly, the older I get the more stiff upper lip I'm getting.

If you feel sad about your child going to school going home and crying into your teacup isn't going to bloody help. I think this is one of those moments where pulling yourself together and counting your blessings is probably the way forward.

We got this too on my youngest's first day recently, different poem but with a packet of tissues. One of the teachers later asked me had I "felt lost" on the first day. In hindsight "no, it was brilliant!!" said with a beaming smile was probably not the answer she was expecting...

Omg how pathetic! Thank goodness our school does not do this!

Hardly pathetic. Are you sure you have the right word?

I've never heard of this! It doesn't seem like it would apply to many parents. Surely most are rushing off to work or going back home to smaller children? I doubt many going home to be "alone" (which sounds like the dream).