I gave her a look like this:
Because Back To School Gift? What?
"School supplies. Lots of school supplies," I eventually answered.
She looked at me like this:
What? Are we supposed to MAKE something? How many crayon wreaths does one teacher need? How many MASON JARS filled with nonsense does one teacher NEED? If I were a teacher I'd want to not have to use my money to buy items for the classroom. Hence why I buy extra tissue boxes, Clorox wipes, etc. (If I were a teacher, I'd also want ear plugs, Excedrin, and Target gift cards. I'm a mother of only TWO and I want these things most days. I can't imagine caring for 20+ children. That aren't even MINE. Teachers, you rock.)
Anyway, the other mother found her voice again. "Well. I'm doing a mason jar filled with pencils. I'll have a tag on it that says, 'Thanks for being an UN-MASON teacher!' Get it?"
"No," I answered and she looked stunned. "I'm kidding. Yes. Cute idea." Even though I was like, "What is with these people and their mason jars?" I have never owned a mason jar.
Sorry Natalie's teacher. You're getting extra school supplies. No mason jars here.
You will be getting a Starbucks gift card and chocolate for a Christmas gift though.
But no mason jars.
(I usually get comments that say, "There's nothing wrong with crafting!" when I do posts like these. I know. Many of my friends craft. It's just not, nor has it ever been, for me.)
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As a teacher, I can say that the extra school supplies are DEFINITELY more appreciated AND necessary! :)
ReplyDeleteGifts? Really?
ReplyDeleteOmg these women and those damn Pinterest ideas. I so would have been like oh really? *cough* basic bitch....
I'm gonna make a great mom. Lol
Seriously enough with the Pinterest shit! And Erin Condren planners!! Ahhhhhhhhh
BAHAHAHAHAHA this commend made me literally laugh out loud!!
DeleteSo as neither the mom of school aged children or a teacher, I had no idea this was a thing. It's like a whole other culture you grow into, ha!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea back to school gifts were a thing, but I don't see how anyone could go wrong with school supplies :)
ReplyDeleteI had no idea this was a thing, sounds ridiculous to me.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there's nothing wrong with crafting IF THAT'S YOUR THING! Why does this other mom sound like she's trying to Pinterest-shame you? Let it go, lady!
ReplyDeleteIt's enough to get holiday and end of year gifts. I've never heard of beginning of school gifts. I'm not crafty either and the school supplies idea is great. I did that for holiday gifts last year.
ReplyDeleteI'm a teacher and I can tell you that I'd rather get the supplies over the cutie crafty gifts. My classroom and house only has so much room before I have to toss them out. Tissues are ALWAYS welcome!
ReplyDeleteThe mason jar has pencils in it, so she's doing the same thing you are in giving extra supplies she's just making hers cute and calling it a gift. I don't do back to school gifts but to each their own I guess.
ReplyDeleteThe mason jar has pencils in it, so she's doing the same thing you are in giving extra supplies she's just making hers cute and calling it a gift. I don't do back to school gifts but to each their own I guess.
ReplyDeleteYup, I guess I just don't do cute ;)
DeleteI've seen the gifts. I used to teach, and one year I had a little girl bring me a mug that she had decorated. It was cute, but I don't think I ever used it and I have no idea where it may have ended up. The one that I would do if I ever did one is a back to school survival kit - a chocolate bar and soda, lol. I figure the poor teachers need sugar and caffeine to survive the madness of all the kids coming back.
ReplyDeleteWww.Poshitivelysmashing.com here's some inexpensive lotions, soaps, and these cool akin sticks that do everything from lift your mood, mellow and calm you, and heal boo boos. I didn't know it was a thing until this year. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be buying all 8 of my junior high aged child's teachers something. I might give the homeroom teacher a lotion. Everyone likes lotion, right? :D
ReplyDeleteSkin sticks* ... Blast this tiny phone.
DeleteHoly smokes, really? Sheesh! HAHA, being out of the States, I must admit, I don't understand all the fascination with Mason jars...??!?!
ReplyDeleteOh too much work for me, my kiddo is there, ready to learn with all the extra school supplies and that's all I can do! lol
ReplyDeleteI think the teachers appreciate the extra supplies more than mason jars. I know on my daughter's school supply list, they said if we buy extras they would be happy. Most of my friends are teachers, and they said they love supplies or something to spend for themselves. I had no clue back to school gifts were a thing. I blame pinterest.
ReplyDeleteThe teachers in my family appreciate the extra supplies, or if it's elementary school, they love a new book for their classroom library. They definitely don't expect "back to school" gifts. I'm a person who enjoys getting crafty gifts, and I love mason jars, but how many of those can a person really use or appreciate? How many You're the #1 Teacher mugs... or magnets... or calendars? This was happening when my boys were young, ages ago, but it seems to have increased with the young moms I know. I'm with Angie's comment... I blame Pinterest! ;)
ReplyDeleteCan Natalie be in my class?? Cause extra school supplies and Starbucks gift cards are exactly what I want!! I appreciate anything the kids and parents give me, but there's no need for super crafty gifts. Because I am going to have to find somewhere to put them. My classroom needs tissues, germ x, extra composition books for kids who don't have them. Walmart and target gift cards are great because then we can buy what we need for our classrooms. Amber you are a great parent, don't worry about your lack of crafting skills!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but folks already have to shell out $$$ for school supplies and such. What is up with everyone making EVERY single miniscule milestone a gift-giving event?
ReplyDeleteYou got candy for Halloween, Valentines Day and Easter. Gifts are for Christmas and Birthdays.
THE END. :P
Sheesh, there's nothing wrong with crafting indeed but I'm not about to do it - un-mason as it is or not. (see what I did there?)
ReplyDeleteI love teachers. I really do. But I usually wait until the holidays and end of the year to do gifts because then I really know them. And if they have likes or dislikes or allergies and what-not.
But pencils? Yawn.
As a future teacher, I'm learning the only gifts a teacher REALLY wants is a child who is cared for at home and helped with their homework or the occasional box of nice Kleenex or Puffs+lotion for cold season. Maybe emergenC and cough drops...haha
ReplyDeleteI think the teacher would want a box of pencils over the cutesie mason jar thingie. ... Sometimes I think people just have way too much time on their hands.
ReplyDeleteWTF????? High school teachers don't get 'back to school' gifts!!!! ROFL - I'm lucky if they bring a pencil to class.
ReplyDelete