Ironflower needs to bring heart-shaped Jello jigglers to her class party tomorrow. Fortunately, Hubby is home and will be able to create them this evening. But still. This is one of the things “requested” by her teacher. In addition to red grapes, 100% juice in juice boxes, cookies and heart themed plates and napkins. Naturally, the other class mom is making the cookies herself.
Homemade party contributions are quite normal here in Stuck-up, both at preschools and elementary schools. Which makes me know I’m living in an alternative universe. When I did my student teaching in a nice but urban school in Portland, no one was allowed to bring in homemade treats. Ditto the nice Seattle suburb I taught in next. When I taught in Kansas City, Kansas (yes, it’s a real city – just across the river from Kansas City, Missouri – and it’s, um, VERY urban) no one even asked me if they could bring in homemade treats.
When I taught in KCK, I no more would have asked for a list of specific treats than I would have asked for people’s ATM passwords. If they had bank accounts. I mean, I was just happy when families sent party treats in at all. Hell, I even bought the juice boxes.
I was struck again by the alternative universe thing when I saw a mom toting in Valentine treat bags yestereday. Not only will her son be passing out Valentines to the class, but all the kids will also get an adorable treat bag. Ironflower and I are even going to be hand making of all our Valentines. In KCK, I used to buy extra Valentine cards just to make sure that all kids got to hand some out.
Thinking about what will be going on at Ironflower’s party tomorrow, where several moms will try to outdo each other in the adorable treat bag category and all of the made to order treats will be there in excess, makes me want to go back to my old school and hand each kid a fancy treat bag. Preferably treat bags from the already filled with treats kids at Ironflower’s school. That doesn’t make me a communist, does it?
9 responses so far ↓
Mindi // February 13, 2008 at 2:13 pm |
I have been given very specific things to bring in for Prince #1’s V-day party tomorrow.
Of course, if you want to teach her teacher a lesson, you could send in “special” Jigglers…you know – the ones with vodka in them?
feener // February 13, 2008 at 2:23 pm |
i wrote a sim. post. i knew there would be the treat bags, the hand crafted hearts. i was stunned when i saw sass’s box overflowing. all i passed out was tinkerbell and spidy cards.
LifeAsIKnowIt // February 13, 2008 at 3:14 pm |
My son’s preschool was like that. I always felt incredibly inferior….who knew you were supposed to bring in treat bags for every holiday!?? I didn’t.
Now that he’s in public school, we’re not allowed to bring in any food or candy at all due to allergies. So I’m off the hook now…
wordvixen // February 13, 2008 at 7:21 pm |
Bwahahah. The treat bag thing reminded me of a V-day when I was in… I think 5th grade. I always liked to be different, so that year I bought a big bag of cinnamon scented wax heart beads (I believe they were the kind you melt in one of those funky ceramic pots with a candle under it). The girls all loved it…. one of the boys ate it, and then warned me to check the expiration date next time because he thought there was something wrong with the candy.
Jess // February 14, 2008 at 1:18 am |
OMG, Mindi, warn a girl. I nearly spit water all over the screen.
I just posted about making V-day treats.
Sucks, doesn’t it? Just so you know, you are not alone in kid Valentine hell.
I didn’t know you were once a NW girl. No wonder you rock.
jerseygirl89 // February 14, 2008 at 12:02 pm |
Mindi – I totally should have. It probably would have made the rest of her morning easy!
Feener – It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?
Life – Oh, I hope that happens when Ironflower gets to public school!
Wordvixen – That’s so funny. Maybe I should start thinking of someone equally cool for next year!
Jess – Well, thank you. And maybe we should just all take up Mindi’s suggestion this weekend.
LunaNik // February 15, 2008 at 10:24 am |
Wow. This post actually makes me mad. Not at you of course, at this country in general. There is such a divide between communities with money and communities without and it is so apparent in a post like this because you have seen both and can write about both honestly. I smell a government rant coming on so I’ll just stop now…
jerseygirl89 // February 17, 2008 at 9:59 pm |
LunaNik – No, rant! Rant! I love rants.
Leslie // February 22, 2008 at 12:57 am |
I have to admit – I’m one of those moms who loves making homemade things and may have the tendency to go overboard, at times.
The kids at the urban school you were talking about? Breaks my heart. I’d make them special treats, too. Every kid deserves treats!