I should also mention that my kids and their parents were beyond kind to me, because in addition to the piles of cards and notes that they gave me, I also got a bunch of lovely lotions, soaps, and other things for teacher's day.
In the mix were 4 or 5 carnations. Now I've seen these before, they also sell them for parents day and grandparents day, they are the traditional gift that you give on those days. I hadn't thought much about them before, but I started wondering about why carnations are the gift of choice for parents and grandparents (and teachers). On cue, as I was standing, musing, waiting for the elevator and laden with bags and flowers on my way home, a woman I'd never met before started chatting with me at the elevator.
Are you a teacher?
Yes, I teach kindergarten and elementary students.
Did you get the flowers from your students for Teacher's Day?
Yep, flowers are a nice present! The kids were really excited to give them to me.
Do you know the meaning of that flower in our country?
Umm.... appreciation? (me grasping wildly at straws)
This is the flower that we give to our parents and our grandparents to tell that that we are grateful they raised us and nurtured us and cared for us. It is the way to say thank you for raising me as a child. You should feel very honoured if your students gave these flowers to you, because it means the children and their mothers are thanking you for raising the children so well, like family.
Wow, I had no idea....
wow. lovely.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful gesture. In my education classes they told us to never forget that we are acting in loco parentis -- literally in the place of a parent. You seem to love your job so much and take it so seriously that it doesn't surprise me that the parents of your students would see you this way. What an honour!
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