Valentine’s Day is coming up and the stores are filled with hearts, chocolates and flowers. I spoke to a woman yesterday who had a great idea! She was buying 10 of these cute little heart mugs from Williams Sonoma. Her plan was to put flowers inside the mugs and give them to her child’s teachers on Valentine’s Day!
This was a clever idea! I once spoke to a teacher who said it was nice when parents thought of her, but she had a closet full of soaps, scented candles and note cards. Enough already.
How about “apples,” I said. Do you get a lot of those too? I said that for grins. I guess I was shocked to hear a teacher’s thoughts on the “type” of gifts she was receiving. Didn’t sound very good, but I bet I would get tired of the same gifts for every holiday from multiple parents too.
Still, it is important to think about our teachers. They work hard to educate our children. This woman had the right idea, let’s get creative with our gifts. I’m sure that this little heart mug with a flower will be remembered. Certainly not put in the closet… at least, not until the flower is dead!
Brilliant Viewpoint 
Reblogged this on Mama Dimp's World and commented:
Never even thought about that, I would totally hate getting repetitive gifts every year, well except for chocolate!
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You made me laugh. You are right, it’s hard to turn down good chocolates!
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Lol, it’s only the truth!
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Well, it’s a great idea.
Unfortunately, teachers aren’t technically allowed to receive gifts from students’ parents here in Hong Kong. So, teachers here wouldn’t accept gifts since if it’s found out, it’s more trouble than it’s worth.
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Well, I can understand this. Even in America while parents can give a gift, they also know they must be careful not to make it expensive where in a way it is like a “bribe” for their child to get a good grade AND of course, wealthier parents could give a more expensive gift which would make a teacher feel uncomfortable… so, gifts can be given, but everyone knows it must be a simple gift; otherwise, the teacher will not accept it.
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Yes, that’s reasonable. However, Hong Kong people don’t like grey areas (e.g. what’s simple and when it’s cross the line?) so they prohibited it altogether lol.
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Hey, I have a question. Chinese New Year is coming up. Last year I wrote a story and a woman replied with a “mean comment” saying it was “Lunar New Year” NOT “Chinese New Year” and I should get my facts straight. I politely told her she should call all the news stations and let them know too. :). Anyhow, since you live in Hong Kong, maybe you could education me, so I can speak intelligently on this topic this year.
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The simple answer is this: Chinese New Year is a Lunar New Year but not all types of Lunar New Years are Chinese New Year, though most of them are.
Chinese New year is based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar (on the other hand, the Gregorian calendar, which we use worldwide, is a solar calendar). There are other types of Lunar New Year. For example, in Thailand, they celebrate Songkran (Their Lunar New Year) every April. New year celebration based on a lunar calendar can be called “Lunar New Year”.
In Hong Kong, Chinese and Lunar New Year are interchangeable. Though some people called it Chinese Lunar New Year which is also correct.
That woman either wanted to be “politically correct” or she just has too many loads of wit in her and just needed to share some.
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Thank you for such a clear explanation. I appreciate it. I think she wanted to make a point to me that she was Asian and not Chinese and that for me to say “Chinese New Year” was like saying the Chinese owned and started this celebration. So, she wanted me to say “Lunar New Year.” To me it was similar to saying, “Happy Holidays,” versus “Merry Christmas.”
By the way, I am going to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy and this year China is the guest of honor. They are up and coming in the children’s book publishing arena. I’m excited to hear what they have to say, see their illustrators, publishers, etc.
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How typical. Of course, the Chinese started Chinese New Year. It’s called Chinese New Year for a reason. Calling it with different names wouldn’t change that fact.
Anyway, that’s interesting. You’ll be making a post or two about the event I suppose 🙂
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Of course! Stay tuned… late March. 🙂
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Great post. My daughter and I been brainstorming of what to get her teacher for Valentines…. I’m sure their would love something a little different such as gift cards Who don’t love gift cards to Starbucks lol
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Yes, I agree – a gift card is always a treat that’s for sure!
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When I was a teacher, I would have enjoyed this type of gift.
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That’s good to know!
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The whole gift giving thing is a toughie. As a school secretary I, too, would receive gifts from appreciative parents. One of my favourites was a mug (with a particularly sassy saying on it) full of boozy chocolates. This mom knew me well!
Other than that one, cards with personal messages of thanks were the most touching.
One school staff decided to request classroom gifts. Each teacher circulated lists of items the classroom could use, but that the budget didn’t allow for. It saved the teachers from buying the “extras” with their salaries.
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts from the “inside.” The good news is that parents do appreciate teachers, right! It is nice when parents make an effort even when it can be a bit tricky. 🙂
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