We didn't bring any Valentine's treats or gifts to daycare. Are we bad?

[Anonymous]

Our son is four months old and has been in daycare for a month and a half. They sent around an email the other day about bringing treats, and suggesting gifts for the staff. I never planned to bring Valentines for the babies, because... well, they're babies. I would have been happy to bring a box of candy or cookies for the teachers to share, but the email suggested gift cards instead of sweets.. and I kind of feel like... it's not Christmas. Do I really need to be bringing gifts for the daycare staff on Valentine's Day? I get that they work very hard and probably aren't paid that well. We forgot until the last minute and then didn't have time to get anything. I feel a bit like a jerk.

[Anonymous]

I didn't bring anything and my DD has been in daycare for 10 months. So if you are "bad" so am I.

[Anonymous]

Get them a gift for the end of the week. Say "I wanted to thank you for doing so much extra work this week to make things nice for all the kids for Valentine's Day." They almost certainly did, even if it didn't directly benefit your child.

[Anonymous]

You get a pass for a baby.

[Anonymous]

No, you don't. We didn't do anything for Valentine's Day when our child was an infant.

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

I really love mine so I always give them $25 gift cards on a lot of holidays. It's nothing to my budget (middle class) but means a lot to theirs. I give Valentines, Easter, 4th of July, and then Christmas (a week's pay).

[Anonymous]

oh crap. I did not even know that we were supposed to bring something.

We had the kids make cards for their classmates, but we did not ask them to make any for their teachers. And their teachers are pretty amazing. Her is to hoping that some other parents did not bring anything for teachers too.

[Anonymous]

NO! You are not bad! Director of a full day preschool here - some kids brought cards, others didn't. PLEASE - do NOT think you are bad. And, no, most of our kids who did bring a card for their teachers (and it wasn't 100% of the kids) just brought a card. No gift card to Starbucks, etc.

Let yourself off the hook. Next year, IF your child wants to write out/draw on/make cards, go for it. BUT if your child is under 3 years old, it's only for YOU to make them and really, why?

[Anonymous]

My son is 21 months, I didn't bring anything, and I"m not going to their "sharing and caring" party today because I have things to do and we just got back from vacation. We gave all his teachers Christmas gifts. I think that's enough for now, he doesn't even understand what today is.

[Anonymous]

$ gifts for staff for V-day is unusual. I wouldn't feel bad fighting that particular gift creep.

[Anonymous]

Nope. We have a 1 year old, didn't do anything. None of the kids in the nursery know what the holiday is. We did send dd in in a onesie with hearts on it though, but we already had it in our wardrobe.

[Anonymous]

nope you're not bad. I'm annoyed we had to bring a treat for 1 year old DD's toddler class's valentine's party today. 1 year olds don't need cupcakes!

[Anonymous]

Did the daycare really send an email asking for gift cards instead of other things? This is getting crazy. You are not a jerk, OP.

[Anonymous]

You're not bad. Valentines and little trinkets are a nice gesture, but ultimately they end up in the trash. I didn't take anything to my 3 year old's class after the teachers said they didn't care either way.