Mat leave goodbyes

[Fun&care]

I have to agree with bright sparks. I dont understand why a child would get a gift for going on mat leave. Ive never given anything to a child leaving. We do a special treat like cookies or cupcakes on their last day and sometimes I have gotten all the kids to make a giant "card" for the child with all their handprints on it. Kids these days have SO MUCH CRAP (mine included) because we are in such a consumerist society...the amount of junk I have to throw out on a regular basis from loot bags from birthday parties, junk they get from teachers on special occasions and even dollar store stuff because the grandparents felt like buying them crap...again...it irks me to the bone. Maybe because I am pretty environmentalist and I wonder, once this stuff goes into the landfill, how long will it take to breakdown and was it really even worth it!? There are better ways to show kids (and people) that we care that don't involve plastic crap and that they will probably appreciate so much more.

Sorry for the rant