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

[Anonymous]

A gift for a room parent is ridiculous.

Just don't reply.

[Anonymous]

As a PP said, if you participate in a group gift for the room mom, then you'll need to also chip in for a gift for the coordinator of the room mom gift giver and then that mom will need to write thank you notes and buy gift cards for everyone who contributed to her gift. Then, all those moms should in turn write her thank you notes for the gifts.

This could continue for decades.

Stop it already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We give our own gift. The room moms friend takes the money, buys the gift, gets all the credit. What is the point? And most of the time the gift is cringe worthy -- like some crafty thing the friend feels like doing and paying yet another friend who is an "artist" to make it or make it themselves. So no.

oops, misread this, no. A gift for the room mom???

[Anonymous]

Get a thank you card and everyone signs it for her!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Agree. If you did (overdramatic pause) a tremendous amount more, people were probably annoyed by you.

Was the gift a "worlds best martyr" tshirt?

[Anonymous]

This is my 2nd year as a room mom. I don't want any kind of gift. All I want is parents to volunteer for the end of the year party!

[Anonymous]

Is this room mom nonsense only in FCPS?

[Anonymous]

If I were you I would say something, as politely that you can, to the parent that emailed the request. These are kindergarten kids. Maybe the room mom did not realize there is no gift for the room mom. If I am giving any gift it is for the teacher at the end of the year. At our school there are several parents who are willing to serve as room mom. And several of is volunteer at the school in other capacities. We don't get gifts not expect gifts for that.

[Anonymous]

There are tons of volunteer positions- room mom does not warrant a gift! VOLUNTEERS give their time.. that's it.. this is crazy and unfortunately, I can see this happening in FCPS. No way would I give.

[Anonymous]

Tacky!

[Anonymous]

Room mom many times because most years no one stepped up. K-1 teacher usually does a small kid made gift for all of her volunteers that year as she depends on them a lot. It was nice but IMO absolutely not needed. For any parent of a given class to organize a gift for a room mom/dad is totally out of line I don't care how much the volunteer did. You volunteer to help out because you want to not to get something in return. This goes along the line of every child gets a trophy only much much worse. Very tacky. Can't believe the mom (friend or not) had the nerve to even request it. Gift collections are only for the teachers...period!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Room mom many times because most years no one stepped up. K-1 teacher usually does a small kid made gift for all of her volunteers that year as she depends on them a lot. It was nice but IMO absolutely not needed. For any parent of a given class to organize a gift for a room mom/dad is totally out of line I don't care how much the volunteer did. You volunteer to help out because you want to not to get something in return. This goes along the line of every child gets a trophy only much much worse. Very tacky. Can't believe the mom (friend or not) had the nerve to even request it. Gift collections are only for the teachers...period!

Even a card is over the top!!

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't give to a room parent, even a great one. The position doesn't really warrant that, IMO. I donated to the class, volunteered for events, trips, etc. Where is my expensive group-organized gift?

[Anonymous]

You can help out the room parent by responding DURING the school year. You know those e-mails asking for volunteers, class donations, even gift-card for the teacher donations. I'm sure these would be appreciated by the room parent.

[Anonymous]

Room mom here: no, just no.