My son got his Christmas present from his bus driver today. She’s been his bus driver for 3 years, and in the past has given the kids inexpensive but nice gifts. There’s never more than a dozen kids. It was small, wrapped in shiny paper with a pretty bow. There was a tag attached which he ignored as he ripped off the bow and began unwrapping the gift. It was a block of STYROFOAM!
Here’s what the tag said:
*This is a very special gift
That you can never see
the reason it’s so special is
It’s just for you from me
Whenever you’re feeling lonely
Or even feeling blue
You only have tohold this gift
And know that I think of you
You never can unwrap it.
Please leave the ribbon tied
Just hold the box close to your heart
it’s filled with love inside!!!*
This woman drives mentally and physically disabled kids, and she thought this was appropriate.
I just wonder if the other parents had as much fun as I did explaining that it was a pretend gift, it’s not supposed to do anything and no, you can’t eat it.
I mean, she means well, but I’ve never known a kid who wouldn’t be mystified about this. Heck, I wouldn’t know what to do with something like that, and I’m 27.
When I was in grade 5, my mom and I went to California for spring break (I lived in North Jersey at the time). My teacher gave me a little glass bottle, and asked me to bring her back some “California air”. So, towards the end of the journey, I dipped it in the Pacific ocean to fill it with water, then poured it out and let it refill with California air.
She was very touched when I brought it back, and put it on her desk, neatly labled as “California air, March 1981”.
Then, the following year, some kid pulled out the stopper. Because, unlike the kids in my class, who’d been there when I presented it to Mrs. S., he didn’t understand the idea.
Heh, Rilchiam, that reminds me of the guy I know who collects a pebble from every place he’s been. He keeps them all in a shoe box. Of course, he has no idea which pebble came from which place.
I think it’s a great gift idea for a child who understands the concept of it, but not for one that doesn’t have the ability to. My son’s drive gave them all stuffed snowmen this year, which he took to bed with him last nite.
