2014 End of Year Teacher Gift

Since last year's end of the year teacher/care provider gift was such a hit I thought to share again...
I wanted to come up with something imaginative that could also be modified to give you all a few ways to use the same idea at different price points and here it is:

You will need: (for each individual gift)
gallon zipper bag
pencils (5)
gift card to bookstore
(or a paperback/light summer read)
puzzle piece keychain
(I had them stamped with the school year "2013-2014" and "Thanks!"; or a small puzzle, crossword puzzle book or trinket puzzle)
Post-It Notes
(I labeled the countdown days using clear return address labels after I checked the school calendar and counted from the last day to next year's first day; you could also give them a calendar printout of the summer months)
curling ribbon
clear packing tape
scissors
color printer
(if you are using the cards as offered)

In total, I spent $10 for the items, not including the giftcard.


I assembled the gift items and arranged them inside the bag so that as much of each item could show.  Personally, I wasn't happy with the giftcard choices (was really hoping for one that looked like a book, but couldn't find one) so I printed out a book from clipart and taped it to the outside of the cardboard sleeve...
Depending on the contents, you may need to alter the bag.  I myself slit one of the sides to make it more narrow and then used packing tape to close it off.  At the end I tied off the top and added curling ribbon as decoration, using one of the strands to attach the card.

The card's wording is:
No more pencils,
No more books,
No more students' puzzled looks.
Now the countdown down does begin,
82 days 'til Summer's end.

 

As you can see, the items inside the bag are a play off of the bolded words.   I really had fun coming up with this idea and think it'll be a big hit...will keep you updated.

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A Cure For The "Selfish" Mom

I now have a picture in my phone that at first glance most people would hit delete thinking it was a mis-take.  I’m keeping it there and will probably, forever.  When YOU look at it, there is darkness and shadows – mostly hazy - abstractly, one might say it is a picture that captured a moment of sadness.  No, not even close.

Last night, like many of the nights before, I got the baby ready for bed, fed him and laid him down for the night…althewhile my 9 year old son was downstairs keeping himself busy without complaint.  Having been exhausted from many nights of interrupted sleep and fighting off a sore throat and impending illness, instead of going back downstairs I laid in bed for about 30 minutes to rest.  I felt selfish.  Thoughts of how I wasn’t paying attention to him, just because he wasn’t complaining, went through my mind.  How it wasn’t really ''fair."  10 minutes in, he came up the steps and asked if I was coming back down…I said no, that I REALLY just needed to rest.  I could tell he was disappointed by the look that appeared on his face for a split second, before it disappeared and he said, “Okay.”  He left me to my solace.

When it was time for him to go to bed, I called down for him to brush his teeth.  He did it without complaint.  He then got changed and laid in bed with a book (like he always does while I take a bath).  I ran the tub, immersed myself in it and took in the warmth.  After about 30 minutes, I pulled the plug and let the water drain.  Dried myself off and looked down the hall, his light had been turned out.  I thought he’d called it a night when I faintly heard, “Mom, wanna come snuggle?”  How could I not?  I held him in my arms knowing this kind of moment doesn’t last forever and probably would be few and far between in years to come.  I snapped a photo with my phone, knowing it wouldn’t come out “perfect,” that didn't matter.  It was a memory, just the same that needed to be captured.

 

I’ll never forget last night, there will always be this treasure.  It was a nice reminder that even when (to me) it felt like I was being a selfish mom, I wasn’t.  It really is about the collective time, not the singular moments and kids remember that…they really do.