Teacher Appreciation Week

During high school, before Rex and I started dating, Rex and I used to play a flirty game where I would steal his assignment notebook and write random holidays in it.  I would take an otherwise boring week and spice it up with "Leave a Cucumber on Your Neighbor's Porch Day" or "Walk Backwards Through Every Doorway Day."  I was running out of ideas by the time I reached November, so I just put a line over an entire week and labeled it "Christine Appreciation Week."  Little did I know how much Rex would actually take that to heart and follow through on it!  Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, did he follow through on all of my made-up holidays?  Did his neighbor end up with a cucumber on their porch?  Hmmm...  Sorry Webb neighbors.

Anyway, Rex spent an entire week appreciating me.  I wasn't even his girlfriend!  I mean, he totally wanted me to be his girlfriend, but I wasn't yet.  Ha ha.  We were just best friends, and every day he did something different to show me how much he appreciated me and my friendship.  He left little notes in my lockers, picked flowers out of the garden in front of the school (hmmm...that was probably illegal).  He even made a pen case for me out of clay.  Come to think of it, that's kind of cheesy and weird, but....I still liked it.  Actually, I think I still have it.

The point of all of this is that I feel like most people don't get an entire week devoted to their appreciation.  I'm lucky enough to have had this done twice now!  Rex did it for me once in high school, and then my class/staff did it again for me this week - the national "Teacher Appreciation Week."

Now, when I was ordering flowers for my mom for Mother's Day last weekend, the flower shop website had a little sign that said, "Don't forget that Teacher Appreciation Week is next week!"  I thought, "Yeah, right.  Who remembers Teacher Appreciation Week?  I've never even HEARD of that.  I will be shocked if even one person mentions it."

WOW was I wrong.  I was dead wrong.  I have felt sooooo appreciated this week.  It started off on Monday morning when my boss called me down to her office to give me a bonus check to "show her appreciation."  Ummm...yes please!  You want to pay next month's rent because you "appreciate me"? No problem - I won't complain.  :-)

The Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO) provided lunch or breakfast for us every day.  We had bagels, smoothies, Buffalo Wild Wings chicken, a burrito bar, a sandwich station, and gourmet desserts.  DELICIOUS!  That must have cost them a lot of money.  Oh well!  Ha ha.  Various parents put treats in the teachers' lounge for us: edible arrangements, cookie cakes, baked goods, etc etc etc.  I think I've gained ten pounds this week (WORTH IT).

Also, today (Friday), they hired a MASSEUSE to be in the teachers' lounge with her massage table to give all of us free massages over our lunch breaks.  Thank you very much, PTO.  I love you.  No really.  I love you.

Even my students remembered to spoil me!  I got at least one present every day. Here's the list of presents that I got this week:  three Starbucks giftcards, one Amazon gift card, one Visa gift card, one In-N-Out Burger gift card, a candle, two dozen cupcakes, a dozen homemade cookies, and a bunch of cards telling me that I'm the best teacher ever.  Not bad for a holiday I didn't even know existed!

Probably the most creative gift was one that one of my eighth grade girls gave me.  She said she wants to do hair when she grows up and wanted to give me a "makeover" for my teacher appreciation gift.  Apparently my daily pony tail or messy bun wasn't really cutting it for her.  Let me tell you - it's a scary thing to put yourself at the mercy of a fourteen year old.  Anyway, she enlisted the help of another fashionista teacher to do my make-up, and what they came up with wasn't that bad!

Anyway, the point is, I had a good week.  It's nice to feel appreciated.  I think everyone should be entitled to an appreciation week.  Just put it in everyone's calendar, and hopefully they'll follow through!

P.S.  For your reading pleasure (and just in case I ever lose them for some reason), here are a couple of my favorite letters:

Dear Mrs. Webb,
I don't think there are any words to describe how amazing you are.  You are my #1 favorite teacher ever!  I'm not just saying that because I want a good grade.  If I'm having a bad day in another class, I can always count on you to lighten up my day.  You are the one teacher who allows kids to let their "freak flag" fly (including me).  I feel that "appreciate" is too small a word to describe the awesomeness that you come to school with every single day.  So I want to give you a HUGE thanks!


(Reader note:  I am copying this next letter EXACTLY as it was written.  I hope the irony of it is not lost on you)

DEAR MRS. WEBB,
I am going to write this letter with the right spelling, grammer, and punctuation.  HI Mrs. Webb!  Happy teacher's appreciation week.  Your the best teacher at this school don't tell the other teachers.  I know I'm your favorite.  Well my brain hurts right now so that's why I'm not writing alot.


Dear Mrs. Webb,
This is my appreciation note to you!  Mrs. Webb, you are the best teacher ever!  (and I've been with some really cool teachers).  You are like a super hero, but better because you teach!  I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you!  Whenever I was upset, you always made me feel better.  You helped me stay out of trouble before I even knew I was getting in it (see?  You're a super hero).  Everything you do is always to benefit someone.  I'm definitely going to miss you when you're not my homeroom teacher any more.  So yeah, just to sum it up:  I love you.