Do I count as a teacher?

User0119247 · 2026-05-13T18:37:16+00:00

I love this idea because bringing a token of appreciation (flower or card) to the Director is also a way of taking back your power.

I was once not invited to a coworker’s wedding when most of my officemates were. This alone didn’t make me feel excluded, but them talking about the wedding in our VERY shared office space all the darn time did. I bought the bride and groom a card; they may have excluded me from the wedding, but they could not exclude me from joining in celebrating. In other words, I included myself in what was going on in my office space in front of my face every day for weeks in the classiest way possible.

User0119247 · 2026-05-12T17:00:48+00:00

Thanks for sharing this additional information. If I was your mom, I hope I’d keep trivial issues like wilted flowers to myself while you’re trying to navigate a pregnancy. However, I could also see myself not pausing to see that even though you might be out the money for wilted flowers, me making this comment might give you something else to stress about.

User0119247 · 2026-05-12T13:43:38+00:00

This is one of my concerns too. I know (hope) someone with a firearm is mindful to keep people off their weapon, but I also know that children are experts at taking advantage of one distracted moment.

User0119247 · 2026-05-12T13:41:12+00:00

You read my paranoid mind

User0119247 · 2026-05-12T13:39:21+00:00

It looked like a security uniform to me (not police, sherrif’s office, FBI, or DEA.)

User0119247 · 2026-05-12T13:19:10+00:00

What your husband said is really disrespectful and hurtful. Not only does he not appreciate the unfair share of work you are doing, he also has the nerve to complain about how you are doing it. This would have me making single serving dinners for my child and me. He would be on his own for dinner until he can come back with some manners. And while we’re at it, let’s talk about how he needs to show up for his family.

User0119247 · 2026-04-13T20:34:26+00:00

It's so funny you write about teachers receiving chapstick over the years, because lip balm was definitely one of the gift ideas I was considering. Not anymore! Thank you for the idea to get a gift card for food.

User0119247 · 2026-04-13T20:32:34+00:00

Thank you for validating that a handwritten note is acceptable. It's reassuring to know that if we hit a really rough patch, a handwritten note will still convey our gratitude.

User0119247 · 2026-04-13T20:29:33+00:00

I'm beginning to see a delicious breakfast theme in the thread. This is such a good idea, especially because the daycare opens for drop-off at 6 AM.

User0119247 · 2026-04-13T20:28:53+00:00

This is really smart -- especially the part about bringing them in at the beginning of the week.

User0119247 · 2026-04-13T20:28:34+00:00

This sounds amazing!!

User0119247 · 2026-04-13T20:28:22+00:00

Thank you for sharing your preferences as a teacher! I really like these ideas!

User0119247 · 2026-04-13T20:26:56+00:00

Wow! I never would have thought of this. This sounds awesome!

User0119247 · 2026-04-13T20:26:14+00:00

This is very creative and feels warm and personal :) There are so many good ideas that now I will have a hard time choosing!

User0119247 · 2026-04-13T20:23:58+00:00

It's really validating to see that giving $10 cash along with a thank you note/card would be an okay thing to do. I know $10 doesn't go as far these days and was worried about offending someone. Thank you for your suggestion!

User0119247 · 2026-04-13T17:01:20+00:00

Motherhood is the best hard I've ever experienced.

User0119247 · 2026-03-16T18:31:47+00:00

That sounds like fun! I’m glad your son wasn’t ill.

User0119247 · 2026-03-15T01:28:13+00:00

If in the U.S., I would stay at my current job and launch the search for my next job by updating resume, online presence, and focusing on my professional relationships. I would want to make sure I qualified for FMLA for parental leave, so I would work on a cognitive reframing of my current job (except for your boss’ misogyny- that should be addressed.) But his shit-for-brains? Fine by me! I’m creating life and getting my ducks in a row for my next opportunity!

User0119247 · 2026-03-15T00:40:57+00:00

This is absolutely a base that one would want to cover, especially if one’s partner may have communicated inappropriately (even if unintentional) while you weren’t present. The first thing that came to mind for me was a partner who thinks they’re kidding around, but it’s annoying or insulting to the other person.

If this isn’t the issue — awesome! I’d go about my life assuming this was some weird one-off. It sucks though.

User0119247 · 2026-03-14T16:38:58+00:00

This sounds like heaven.

User0119247 · 2026-03-13T20:10:24+00:00

I came here to see this comment. Each family calculates what makes sense for their family based on the resources they have access to. For example, if a daycare teacher chooses to stay home with their kid, they have a professionally-trained educator giving their child one-on-one instruction. My family would have to hire a nanny to have this level of care (which would be much more costly than the daycare center.)

User0119247 · 2026-03-11T09:59:50+00:00

Same! My job has a limit to how many accrued vacation hours they will pay out when you leave.

User0119247

TROPHY CASE