Dear So and So

[Veronica]

Dear Parent;

Really? You want to bring in a cake for your son's birthday? In the middle of state testing? Really? A cake? You better stay to cut it and serve it. It's too bad you can't send him to school with a healthy snack every day. He's always mooching food off his peers. How much does a cake for 32 kids cost? I bet you could buy a couple weeks worth of granola bars with that. I really hope you got a store bought cake, because district policy is no homemade treats. I forgot to mention that when you called yesterday because I was so flabbergasted that you wanted to bring in a cake.

You said it was going to be a surprise. I hope it still is because he has a big mouth and I don't need 32 kids anticipating cake all day. I need them concentrating on doing well on this test.

[limewave]

Dear Parent;

Really? You want to bring in a cake for your son's birthday? In the middle of state testing? Really? A cake? You better stay to cut it and serve it. It's too bad you can't send him to school with a healthy snack every day. He's always mooching food off his peers. How much does a cake for 32 kids cost? I bet you could buy a couple weeks worth of granola bars with that. I really hope you got a store bought cake, because district policy is no homemade treats. I forgot to mention that when you called yesterday because I was so flabbergasted that you wanted to bring in a cake.

You said it was going to be a surprise. I hope it still is because he has a big mouth and I don't need 32 kids anticipating cake all day. I need them concentrating on doing well on this test.

Ugh! What a pain!

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear Parent;

Really? You want to bring in a cake for your son's birthday? In the middle of state testing? Really? A cake? You better stay to cut it and serve it. It's too bad you can't send him to school with a healthy snack every day. He's always mooching food off his peers. How much does a cake for 32 kids cost? I bet you could buy a couple weeks worth of granola bars with that. I really hope you got a store bought cake, because district policy is no homemade treats. I forgot to mention that when you called yesterday because I was so flabbergasted that you wanted to bring in a cake.

You said it was going to be a surprise. I hope it still is because he has a big mouth and I don't need 32 kids anticipating cake all day. I need them concentrating on doing well on this test.

That's both funny and exasperating. But sounds like you'd better send a handwritten note back about the district policy, just in case. LOL!

[Veronica]

The cake they brought in was amazing - decorated with a SF Giants theme. Two layers, separated with strawberries and the cake was divided into vanilla and chocolate sections. Not a cheap cake. Mom, dad and grandma came and served it after lunch recess. The kid was really surprised and happy. I don't understand the need to bring stuff into the classroom though and I still wish he had a healthy snack every day.

Veronica

[Crankin]

Kids really like it when parents do this. It lets them feel like a "star" for the moment. I used to go in to my kid's classes in elementary school and make latkes at Chanukah (we were pretty much the only Jews around where we lived at the time) and both of my kids loved the attention. It's not like they didn't get any at home!
I agree, though. He should have a healthy snack every day. My take on this, after just about a year of going to families' homes to counsel is that birthdays and other holidays are really big deals to some who are struggling in other ways. They do stuff and spend money on things for their kids that they shouldn't because it's meeting some other need, when really it's the day to day stuff that should be attended to. I've seen this across cultures and generations. Most of the clients I work with have more toys and stuff than my own kids had.

[Veronica]

My take on this, after just about a year of going to families' homes to counsel is that birthdays and other holidays are really big deals to some who are struggling in other ways. They do stuff and spend money on things for their kids that they shouldn't because it's meeting some other need, when really it's the day to day stuff that should be attended to. I've seen this across cultures and generations. Most of the clients I work with have more toys and stuff than my own kids had.

Totally agree. Same kid has a fancy cell phone too. Our clientele is changing, next year we will be a Title 1 school. But many of those kids who are getting free or reduced lunch have cell phones, which they are on as soon as the bell rings. Maybe cell phone companies have a reduced rate for the poor or a great family rate. But I see a definite trend towards bling and less emphasis on day to day necessities - like pencils and tissues for my classroom!

Veronica

[SheFly]

Dear grandma -

I'm glad they are making you comfortable. Saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I'm glad that I got to see you one more time though, and to tell you I love you.

SheFly

[PamNY]

(((Shefly)))

[Pax]

(((Shefly))) I'm so sorry.

[Owlie]

Dear grandma -

I'm glad they are making you comfortable. Saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I'm glad that I got to see you one more time though, and to tell you I love you.

SheFly

(((SheFly)))