Mat leave goodbyes

[5 Little Monkeys]

I have always been given goodbye gifts in the past (from work, from school friends, even if just changing departments in the workplace etc) so to me, goodbye gifts aren't uncommon. I give the families goodbye gifts and most give me one as well. It's a small gesture to say that they will be missed and I've enjoyed knowing them/caring for child. In some cases, I didn't get a chance to buy a gift (either forget or not enough time) but they always get a card with a heartfelt message written by me.

I've only had the one leave for mat leave but even when friends or families have a new baby, I have always given the older sibling a small gift as well...sort of like a "congrats, your an older sibling now". If there are multiple older siblings already, I give a gift they can all enjoy. If I attend a wedding and there are children blending into one family, I give them a gift too, as it's also a special day for them.

I understand what you're saying sparks and self entitlement is one of my biggest pet peeves.....but I'm a gift giver!!! Lol. However, if I felt the child or family EXPECTED a gift from me, than you bet I wouldn't give one!

[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

[bright sparks]

I have always been given goodbye gifts in the past (from work, from school friends, even if just changing departments in the workplace etc) so to me, goodbye gifts aren't uncommon. I give the families goodbye gifts and most give me one as well. It's a small gesture to say that they will be missed and I've enjoyed knowing them/caring for child. In some cases, I didn't get a chance to buy a gift (either forget or not enough time) but they always get a card with a heartfelt message written by me.

I've only had the one leave for mat leave but even when friends or families have a new baby, I have always given the older sibling a small gift as well...sort of like a "congrats, your an older sibling now". If there are multiple older siblings already, I give a gift they can all enjoy. If I attend a wedding and there are children blending into one family, I give them a gift too, as it's also a special day for them.

I understand what you're saying sparks and self entitlement is one of my biggest pet peeves.....but I'm a gift giver!!! Lol. However, if I felt the child or family EXPECTED a gift from me, than you bet I wouldn't give one!

I am a gift giver too 5LM, but maybe its as I get older and my kids get older and I gain a different perspective that I see that this may not be the best thing to do in order to teach these kids. As I said, entitlement is growing in this generation of children, but it's those older than them raising them and caring for them who instill this into them in the first place. Entitlement is not born, it is taught so I feel an obligation to try to break that cycle by teaching the kids in a way that will likely have a better result in the end. Again, I am not meaning to be a party pooper, but ultimately, gifting has turned from being a special rarity, to much more often and for the slightest of things. Because of this, kids no longer feel the shock and happiness of these gestures, because it becomes somewhat expected and the norm.