I didn't sent holiday cards or thank you notes/gifts to teachers this year -- am I awful?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was just a tough year, these things were on my list to do but I was struggling to get through this month and it didn't happen. I'm feeling such guilt about it.

I did donate money to two charities as well as to the fundraiser for the school and contributed to the class gift.

I don't know why it was so hard for me to get those things done but I just couldn't and now it's too late and I'm feeling bad about it. I told myself I can make up for the teachers at the end of the school year but I still feel bad.

Do not worry about this at all. Sometimes we give a lot and sometimes we don’t. Some years I volunteer a ton and some years I don’t. It is a balance. And I think it probably evens out with what other people can do.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to you all for giving me grace. I'm letting it go and enjoying my holiday. I have done my best and that is good enough.

[Anonymous]

Most parents don't send anything. Don't worry about it!

[Anonymous]

Class gift covers you!
If it’s really bugging you send a short best wishes for new year in January.

If you want to go above and beyond mention one thing your kid enjoys about the teacher’s class. Or that you appreciate about the teacher’s communication.

[Anonymous]

If you want to do something nice send a gift at some later random time. I used to do this - go in to read with kids and notice the book selection looks a little ratty so send a Barnes and noble card, kid mentions teacher bought a new house so send a congrats card with a little Home Depot gift certificate, a gift card to Michael’s for art supplies, whatever.

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher and I’ve never gotten a gift card from a parent. Don’t sweat it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to you all for giving me grace. I'm letting it go and enjoying my holiday. I have done my best and that is good enough.

I’m the class mom. We organized a class gift and I didn’t even consider giving outside of that. We also gave a smaller gift to the “specials” teachers (ie: science, art, music) and a gift to the folks who run the aftercare program.

The class mom of the other K class was shocked I wasn’t giving a separate gift from our family. I never considered it, and hearing that she did it thought well that frankly sounds kinda annoying for the teacher to receive.

[Anonymous]

OP, I sent holiday cards but we all got the flu the last week of school so my kid missed the class party (to which I'd contributed) and didn't bring in a gift or card for the teacher. Feel bad about it but am just glad we're mostly healthy again.

[Anonymous]

I did as well. It wasn’t even on my list until Wednesday and never officially. I’m working through the holidays and really having to take a day by day. I’m planning on getting something nice for end of year though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I did as well. It wasn’t even on my list until Wednesday and never officially. I’m working through the holidays and really having to take a day by day. I’m planning on getting something nice for end of year though.

That doesn’t mean I don’t really appreciate our teacher. She’s wonderful. I just forget things like that.

[Anonymous]

Class gift is supposed to be in lieu of personal gifts.

[Anonymous]

I am also a public employee who has to take annual ethics trainings and I am a bit bothered by individual family teacher gifts (in public schools) as a result. I make my kids draw and write holiday thank-yous to their teachers and always buy extra tissues and Clorox wipes to send to school with my kids during the winter when classroom supplies are running low.

[Anonymous]

No. I bought at least $300 in school supplies and snacks to support our teachers.

[Anonymous]

No you are definitely not an awful person OP.

Sometimes life gets tough & time seems to not know this especially around the holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t think about it another minute.

If you’d like to and have bandwidth, you can send happy new year cards and gifts.

OP here. I keep thinking I should do this but worrying it will seem half-assed.

Orrrr like a delightful surprise, on a cold January day when they aren't expecting anything special at all.

2025 has been generally terrible for most of my family, too. I could not get it together in time to contribute to class gifts, but I did have the kids make thank-you holiday cards for their teachers (one teacher per kid--elementary school). In the future, offload what you can onto the kids.

The end of the year is when I send a thank-you email to each teacher.