Dear Enthusiastic Room Moms,
I always admired your ability to be super organized, send out essential emails a month ahead of time, dream up adorable gifts for teachers, and host the most unforgettable class parties. I wanted to be just like you!
Then, I became a Room Mom, and well, none of that happened.
If you want to go all out with an elaborate plan, that’s great! Feel free to compose a personalized version of a popular holiday song and belt it out while giving a dozen gifts, as long as it doesn’t involve me. Honestly, I’m over the competition of who can come up with the best gift.
But seriously, how did we get here? Why am I now being handed craft projects for an end-of-year gift? Isn’t that what the Room Mom is supposed to handle?
Sure, I’m all for celebrating our teachers. They put in so much effort and often go unrecognized. It’s crucial to show them our appreciation, but let’s make the gifts about what they truly want rather than showcasing our creativity.
Class gifts should be about making the teacher’s life easier or brighter. Nobody wins an award for the craftiest Room Mom gift. I want to give something that the teacher will genuinely appreciate—not something that will end up in the back of the closet or, even worse, the trash after the final bell rings.
Here are my four simple Room Mom Guidelines:
- No Pinterest Access: Room Moms should avoid Pinterest for the duration of their term. Let’s keep it simple!
- No Extra Tasks for Parents: Please don’t ask parents to put together anything that adds to their already busy lives.
- Gift Selection: Figure out what would truly make the teacher happy using one of two methods:
- Wish List: Have the teacher create a wish list at the start of the year, just like a bridal registry. Collect funds and pick gifts from the list. Easy!
- Survey: Use a fun survey to find out what the teacher would love. Collect money and make it happen!
- Collect Funds Online: Set up a website for collecting contributions toward the class gift. Email the link to parents and include a “donate” button, similar to a Kickstarter campaign. This way, everyone can contribute anonymously, and you won’t have to chase down parents for cash. Once the collection period is over, use the funds to buy something from the teacher’s wish list.
Sounds like a solid plan, right? In fact, I might volunteer to be Room Mom next year!
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Summary:
Being a Room Mom can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. By following these straightforward guidelines, we can simplify the gift-giving process and ensure that our teachers feel truly appreciated without adding stress to our busy lives.