tacky or not? room mom gift. am I wrong?

[Anonymous]

As a teacher, I personally give a note of thanks and a gift to show my appreciation to the room mom. I would never ask the parents to help me with that.

[Anonymous]

Bizzare.

I've been a room mom for three years running and think a gift for me would just be weird. I say- add it to the teacher's gift and call it a day (the teacher is the one who does the truly hard work).

If you feel moved to show your appreciation, send and email. That would be more than enough for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, I personally give a note of thanks and a gift to show my appreciation to the room mom. I would never ask the parents to help me with that.

My whole family is made up of teachers and they do the same. I've never heard of the parents giving the room mom something as well.

[Anonymous]

I certainly don't think the average room Mom EXPECTS a gift for the role she volunteered for. My vote is for the unnecessary option

[Anonymous]

And I'm surprised no one has mentioned the shakedown for money with at least one parent holding the money and knowing who contributed what. There's no accountability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty standard that room parents not be given year-end gifts.

This. I'm finishing my second year as a room parent and would feel very uncomfortable if the other parents gave me a gift. It's nice when someone thinks to say "Hey that probably took a lot of time and coordination on your part, thanks for handling XX activity and getting us all organized." But, I do it because I want to and like doing stuff like that.

[Anonymous]

I'm a room mom, I would be VERY embarassed to receive a gift. Please, please don't start doing this.

[Anonymous]

who gives the gift to the parent who collected the gift for the room mom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:who gives the gift to the parent who collected the gift for the room mom?

[Anonymous]

The person who runs the GRACE art program at DC's school works much harder than the person who is the room mom. They are all volunteer positions and don't need more than a thank you.

[Anonymous]

Do you need a room mom to coordinate gift giving for the other room mom?

[Anonymous]

I was given a gift the last two times I've been room mother but I did a tremendous amount for the classes and teachers. I was shocked to get anything. The first time the teacher gave me a gift. Second time I did it, both the teacher and separately some other mothers gave me a gift. All three gifts were Visa gift cards. Again, I was really surprised and appreciative but I truly did much, much more than party planning, getting volunteers organized, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was given a gift the last two times I've been room mother but I did a tremendous amount for the classes and teachers. I was shocked to get anything. The first time the teacher gave me a gift. Second time I did it, both the teacher and separately some other mothers gave me a gift. All three gifts were Visa gift cards. Again, I was really surprised and appreciative but I truly did much, much more than party planning, getting volunteers organized, etc.

Well, then, you were probably overstepping your boundaries. A room mom should plan the (minimum number of) parties, organize the teacher gift, and collect volunteers for PTA events if they ask for that--anything more and you're being a total PITA to the other parents.

Signed,

A Room Mom Many Times Over

[Anonymous]

I was a room mom in 1st grade. The teacher gave each of the 2 room moms a small photograph of our child in a frame. Very sweet. I still have it.

[Anonymous]

At a lot of schools the staff hosts a breakfast near the end of the year to thank all of the parent volunteers. That's enough thanks for me!