UPDATED on bottom with pics! Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

So I love the lady I work for.

Her b-day is Monday, she's a guidence counselor.

I had 2 ideas to celebrate:

1. Bringing the boys to see her in AM at school...with muffins, juice, balloons(they will have a party for her at lunch)
but, she loves showing Gavin off and hates that she doesn't see him in the morning.

downside: I don't want to be an interruption...not sure how busy she is on a monday AM.

2. When she comes to pick Gavin up...have a meal packed up for her to take home. Something like salsa, enchiladas, rice, flan, 6 pack...

I know they aren't going out...they are having a hard money month(with gavin's leg braces) I offered to sit that night for free...

any suggestions? ideas?

thanks!


UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just got an email back from other guidence counselor...they have a teachers planning day on Monday...so they are having a staff party for her at 11...its going to be great, she will be so surprised! We will show up for party, I think Gavin's gotta get cracking on his macaroni necklace!

I am going to go ahead and cook on sunday night as well...then when she picks him up, I will hand her dinner.

thanks for your input

Message edited 10/6/2008 6:03:43 PM.

Re: Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

While I think #1 is very thoughtful and sweet of you, I don't know that she'd be able to enjoy it and I would opt for #2.

You are so nice Janice, what a sweet thing to do

Re: Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

you are SO thoughtful !

can you possibly call another counselor at her school and get ideas ? I know it's not professional but when they hear that you want to bring her son in, im SURE they will even help you plan it out, kwim??

I would DEF do that one, that's more than wonderful !

maybe check the website of her school and see the name/email of her colleagues and figure out who might know her, and ask them if they can let you know when her free period is mondays.

and maybe have her son hold the balloons for her.

If you do this, one I cant wait to hear how it turns out.

Message edited 9/30/2008 9:42:03 PM.

Re: Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

I used to be a guidance counselor. Mondays can be tough, but in general, I had a LOT more flexibility in my schedule than the teachers did. I would call another counselor or one of the people in the front office to see if it would work. I would love to have DS come to my job to see me.

Re: Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

Posted by 3monkeys

you are SO thoughtful !

can you possibly call another counselor at her school and get ideas ? I know it's not professional but when they hear that you want to bring her son in, im SURE they will even help you plan it out, kwim??

I would DEF do that one, that's more than wonderful !

maybe check the website of her school and see the name/email of her colleagues and figure out who might know her, and ask them if they can let you know when her free period is mondays.

and maybe have her son hold the balloons for her.

If you do this, one I cant wait to hear how it turns out.

Posted by KateDevine

You are so nice Janice, what a sweet thing to do

Re: Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

Re: Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

I like the idea of packing up dinner. You never know...she might have a meeting scheduled that morning and it would be a shame if she couldn't enjoy seeing her son and having breakfast.

I work in a school and I got a really great gift from one of my students last year....it was a night out package.
$20 gift card to the movies.
A few boxes of movie candy and
$10 starbucks card. My husband and I really enjoyed it.

You could do something like that and babysit for them. It would probably cost about the same as buying all the ingredients for  cooking dinner.....however Im sure a nice homemade meal would be greatly appreciated as too.

Message edited 9/30/2008 9:50:57 PM.

Re: Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

aww this is going to turn out awesome
call thurs or friday this week, and ask the secretaries if they can do you a favor and help you plan this, and briefly tell them.
but make it sound VERY brief "just want to bring her son in for her birthday, just a quick little surprise to make her day"
and then ask for another counselor's name, so that at least amongst the counselors, they will be there for her to show off her baby.
and dont forget your camera !

Re: Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

my opinion on the babysitting thing, which is also a VERY kind gesture, and priceless to any mom!
I think if she works f/t, im sure when she gets home,she WANTS to see her little boy and eat dinner with him.

so something to eat for all of them that nite, and if you still wanted to offer her babysitting, make it a coupon for any time, not specifically that nite.

im getting all into this.

Re: Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

I was thinking that too Kelly...give them a meal out and babysit...but the timing is sort of off...

I really can't go to her house to babysit until I find out that my asthma child isn't allergic to dogs.

Gavin's asleep by 7...they have a new house that they are away from all day...

(I think she also feels a certain amount of uneasiness with me doing any extra with Gavin...lately she feels badly that she isn't the one with him in our classes)

but its a great thought! if she had a summer b-day, I think she would totally take me up on it since she has summers off.

Re: Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

I know the other counselor(then run marathons together)...I am going to email her on Friday and ask her for a monday time.

Re: Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

I would do both, just change things a bit.
I would do a visit in the am but no "party" just incase she's busy. I am sure she will make time for a special visitor. Then I would go ahead w/ your plan for dinner. It sounds so nice and it is very sweet of you. She's lucky to have someone so generous.

Re: Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

I love both of your ideas - you are so thoughtful!! The surprise at work one is my favorite and it sounds like you've got that covered by contacting the colleague. I hope the babysitting for a date night will work out too. And a home-made dinner would ALWAYS be greatly appreciated by me. Especially a dinner like the one you described. yummm.

Re: UPDATED! Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

bump

Re: UPDATED! Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

Bring your camera!!

Re: UPDATED! Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

How nice of you!! You are such a great babysitter!!

Re: UPDATED! Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

Seriously, I always say it, but that woman is SO LUCKY to have you (and I know you said it's mutual, but really, having YOU watching her child with that kind of love & thoughfulness )--- LUCKY!

Re: UPDATED! Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

You are a GREAT babysitter!!!

Re: UPDATED! Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

Re: UPDATED! Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

UPDATE 10/6 *******************

Went GREAT! She was so surprised to see us at school.

Then, when she picked him up, we always talk about what we are making for dinner that night.

She says her DH called to ask what she wants for dinner(he was offering to cook)...she said not to worry about it since he doesn't get home till 6:15 anyway. She told him its no big deal, she will cook.

With that, I tell her, why don't you get take out? take this dinner out and bring it home.

I had it all bagged up. SHE WAS ESTATIC! In shock. NEAR TEARS! it was great.

so, I packed up enchiladas, rice and beans, guacamole, fresh salsa, flan, beer, and her favorite tortilla chips.

She just called again to tell me how she is looking so forward to dinner tonight.

here's some pics, please don't quote, I am going to take them down

Message edited 10/6/2008 10:18:01 PM.

Re: UPDATED on bottom with pics! Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

You are so amazing, Janice!!

Re: UPDATED on bottom with pics! Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

thanks, but please don't do that

It made me feel so good to help out another mom/wife. I swear everything was less then 20.00.

Being a mom, I have a new found appreciation for women. Moms/wives...its a neverending job.

Re: UPDATED on bottom with pics! Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

How wonderful!!!! Awesome pics!!! They really tell the story. You did such an amazing, NICE thing!!!! That mom looks so incredibly happy. I love the pics of the 2 boys holding hands -- sooooo cute!!! They look like such great friends. And you're making me hungry thinking about that dinner. yummmmmm...

Great job, Janice.

Re: UPDATED on bottom with pics! Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

What an awesome friend you are Janice! She is lucky to have you as a friend and a caregiver for her son. I'm glad it all worked out as planned.

Re: UPDATED on bottom with pics! Moms who work in schools, moms who work...or anyone..opinions?

Janice YOU are an awesome babysitter!!!
It worked out perfect and the pictures definitley tell the story of how happy you made that Mom!

Great Job!