I realized I wasn’t using my “with the boy” category too much. Don’t get me wrong- we do things together all the time. We just don’t MAKE a lot. He’s not a big “maker”. But when he is in the mood to make something, it’s always really interesting!

I brought a few random supplies to church last week for him to make end of the year thank you cards for his teachers. I just grabbed a handful of stuff out of his craft basket: pipe cleaners, stickers, markers, tape, wooden stars, and construction paper. He loves manipulating things with his hands, so he spent a lot of time making things out of the pipe cleaners. His other mom had the brilliant idea of making a sword, so they had a little sword fight during the sermon. I’m sure the people sitting in back of us appreciated that.

When I finally got him focused on the cards, he decided to tape some of his creations down, decorate a little, and call it a day. I got them both Starbucks gift cards (not very creative/original, but it was a last minute Hail Mary play). I also wrote them nice, personalized notes. When I was a teacher, the hand made cards and gifts were, hands down, the best. Gift cards were used and forgotten, but I actually have some of the things kids made and the school pictures they gave me from 10 years ago.

They were really amazing with him this year. They helped him get the right accommodations and by the end of the year he was thriving! All “As” and “Bs”- and this from a kid who they were talking about holding back last year.

What do you do for teachers at the and of the year? Or, if you are a teacher, what have been some of your most memorable gifts?