I must be a grinch this year

[jensriot]

The crossing guard at C's school has been handing out treats each day after school. We're all neighbors, so I would normally think NBD, but it's causing kids to get a little trampled and a sidewalk blockage. I'm annoyed. Plus my kids are eating candy on the way home every day or playing with cute mini hand sanitizers. Ugh.

Grinchy complaint#2 - L had her preschool holiday party today. Each kid brought part of the luncheon (fruit, drinks, main dish, cookies, cupcakes). She came home with the standard crafts that I love and a bag full of other goodie bags from some of the other kids. It never crossed my mind to make individual bags of candy for each student. There are only 9, so not hard to do, but it seems like sweets overload. Am I just being douchey about this? Is it normal to provide a goodie bag for each kid for school parties? The same thing happened at Halloween.  C never went to preschool, so this is our first rodeo.

[lexus]

I think it is overkill. Plus, the options are cheap crap or candy. I'm all for moderation but preschoolers don't need candy on top of the goodies from the party itself.

[momin2013]

Yeah, I wouldn't think to do goodie bags for Christmas. Halloween maybe, but not for Christmas.

[Deleted]

Overkill? Probably. That's kind of what happens at Christmas though??

[amynumbers]

This bullshit of having to bring in a treat for each kid had to stop.

[jensriot]

Dec 18, 2014 17:23:44 GMT -5 newnamesameperson said:

#1 - Crossing guard is being sweet. Come on man...
#2 - It doesn't sound mandatory, you can give whatever you want. Make yours stickers, pencils, etc if you like or opt out.

I agree she is being sweet. Just one more day, just one more day...

[amynumbers]

Dec 18, 2014 17:23:44 GMT -5 newnamesameperson said:

#1 - Crossing guard is being sweet. Come on man...
#2 - It doesn't sound mandatory, you can give whatever you want. Make yours stickers, pencils, etc if you like or opt out.

See this is bullshit. Everyone knows if someone starts doing a Christmas gift for everyone in the class, you have to do it yourself. Sure you don't HAVE to, but you definitely have to unless you want your kid to be the one who didn't do it.

[jensriot]

Dec 18, 2014 17:37:12 GMT -5 amynumbers said:

Dec 18, 2014 17:23:44 GMT -5 newnamesameperson said:

#1 - Crossing guard is being sweet. Come on man...
#2 - It doesn't sound mandatory, you can give whatever you want. Make yours stickers, pencils, etc if you like or opt out.

See this is bullshit. Everyone knows if someone starts doing a Christmas gift for everyone in the class, you have to do it yourself. Sure you don't HAVE to, but you definitely have to unless you want your kid to be the one who didn't do it.

This is really how I feel. the crossing guard is an annoyance. The goody bag for every damn thing is frustrating. One mom hand made the cards, addressed them to the individual kids and had her son sign them. They are super cute, don't get me wrong, but damn I don't have the time for that. I'm sure it's just something she enjoys doing. I'm certainly not irritated at the moms, just the idea. I guess this is where I admit I don't like goody bags in general. I don't want my kids bringing home the crap and candy, but they get such a thrill.

[lala]

Crossing guard I don't care about. I hate hate the mini gift bag for every kid for every freaking holiday. I do it for valentines & maybe Halloween. Not Christmas. Our school has the parent volunteers for the holiday party distribute anything like that straight into the kid's bags. No one knows who gave what if it's not labeled (and they aren't always) and my kids, anyway, haven't cared. I feel zero guilt when I don't do it. Last year a boy gave everyone either super hero or princess body wash!

[justbecause]

Only one parent did anything for the kids at preschool. She knitted each of them a wool (?) sheep candy cane holder.
Sigh. Looks like I am out of the running for craft mom ;-p
We must be lucky because I've seen no goody bags yet. Only cupcakes for birthdays.

If I got multiple bags of candy, they'd end up like Halloween where the kids got one piece a day and I ate the rest.

[gastro]

My son got a polished rock from the teacher today. A few of the kids handed out holiday cards. That's it.
All the parents here are terrified of being that parent that serves a sweet so he'll never come home with candy.
I had the kids make and decorate gingerbread men yesterday (my workday at school and an approved by teacher activity) and got the nastiest look from a mom when she found out some of the kids ate theirs already (a cookie before lunch, the horror!).

[amynumbers]

Dec 19, 2014 10:54:17 GMT -5 newnamesameperson said:

Dec 18, 2014 18:24:10 GMT -5 jensriot said:

This is really how I feel. the crossing guard is an annoyance. The goody bag for every damn thing is frustrating. One mom hand made the cards, addressed them to the individual kids and had her son sign them. They are super cute, don't get me wrong, but damn I don't have the time for that. I'm sure it's just something she enjoys doing. I'm certainly not irritated at the moms, just the idea. I guess this is where I admit I don't like goody bags in general. I don't want my kids bringing home the crap and candy, but they get such a thrill.

Yeah but what can you do about the goody bag?   You either opt out or just do it.  

Well, I do think you can address it with the school and perhaps suggest a change in policy. Seems sort of ridiculous that people want to get on their high horse about telling people not to say gifts are from Santa because everyone can't get equal amounts, but then would be ok with parents doing this crap and then putting others in an awkward position.

Although TBH my issue is I don't want junky crap from 14 kids in my house, not do I want to contribute to anyone's junky crap supply.

[amynumbers]

Dec 19, 2014 15:03:51 GMT -5 newnamesameperson said:

Dec 19, 2014 11:08:55 GMT -5 amynumbers said:

Well, I do think you can address it with the school and perhaps suggest a change in policy. Seems sort of ridiculous that people want to get on their high horse about telling people not to say gifts are from Santa because everyone can't get equal amounts, but then would be ok with parents doing this crap and then putting others in an awkward position.

Although TBH my issue is I don't want junky crap from 14 kids in my house, not do I want to contribute to anyone's junky crap supply.

I think talking to the school, who isn't mandating this gift exchange, is going above and beyond.  Just like I think if you want to do santa all gifts, some gifts, or none at all then your choice.  Same here if you want to give goody bags then do it or don't.  

I will say at dd's school a few kids did do goody bags, we did not.  The school does have a strict policy on candy and outside food (catered vegetarian food), so all the goody bags (there were 3) were composed of stickers/glow in the dark toys/and other useless items. The experience I had with it likely skews my view.  

Idk, lots of schools now have policies like "no treats or gifts" on birthdays or whatever. Or specific rules about inviting the entire class to parties. I would think this would be along those lines.

[iheartthe80s]

Bus is on the way. I wonder if dd received goody bags? Ugh

[iheartthe80s]

I will assess and report back

[iheartthe80s]

4 goody bags. Class size is 16. One is from the other K class have bags to both classes!!!

[amynumbers]

Dec 19, 2014 15:24:35 GMT -5 iheartthe80s said:

4 goody bags. Class size is 16. One is from the other K class have bags to both classes!!!

Those parents need to be slapped. Both classes?

[iheartthe80s]

Yes, one mom did both.