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DiggToday I got to help out my second grade daughter’s class with their annual Christmas activity. (I say “got to help out” because the teachers only let a few parents come in to help and I was lucky enough to land one of the coveted parent volunteer slots!) However, after I responded immediately that I wanted to help out, I was informed it was the school’s policy that parents can’t bring in their other children when volunteering. So to spend time with one daughter, I had to get rid of another . . . well at least for an hour. So my saintly husband graciously went in late to work so I could decorate gingerbread houses with twenty second graders. I don’t call him my Forever Man for nothing.
When I arrived, my second grade daughter’s teacher directed me to the cafeteria. This is the first year my daughter’s teacher is a male. While I really like him, I’m still adjusting to his no nonsense approach because you could find her first grade teacher’s photo in the dictionary under “warm and fuzzy.”
We had only moments to set up the makings for graham cracker gingerbread houses before the parade of seven-year-olds arrived. For the next thirty minutes it was a frosting frenzy, especially for Feisty Girl. Unlike her typical neat approach to crafts, she decorated her gingerbread house with reckless abandon!
When her teacher walked by, he said, “Wow! Didn’t you make a mess!”
So after all their masterpieces were done, it was our job as parents to carefully place each gingerbread house in a plastic bag for the kids to take home. Needless to say, we did it gingerly (I couldn’t resist) because we were so worried we would ruin their delicate creations.
Feisty Girl’s teacher however did not share our concern. As the kids went to grab their gingerbread houses to take home, he said . . .
“If these don’t make it home in one piece, big fat hairy deal! You can still eat them.“
The mother next to me leaned over and asked, “Did he really just say that?“
Ah, men.
Shannon Hutton draws on her experience working full-time, part-time and from home with three kids to blog about the universal challenge of achieving work-life balance. She also uses her Master's in Education and professional experience as a School Counselor to address parenting and school issues in her weekly 
I think he foresaw a few tears upon arriving home and realizing that a trip in a backpack can crush a house. Or at least, it can crush gingerbread.
Awww. Yes, I’m with daisy on this one.
You know… in our kindergarten program all of the parents are invited to the parties but the office has asked that siblings not accompany parents because for that time “its all about the kindergartener.” I had never thought about parenting bringing other kids or the chaos that could make until I saw that note. But I think it is a good idea.
So glad you and your daughter got to spend some great one-on-one time together.
Did he really say that?? OMG!! I hope the kids didn’t hear that!
love love love his approach!!! What a great way to (attempt to at least)avoid possible tears!
She did a great job though!
I remember doing those with the girls in preschool, which basically meant that we made the gingerbread houses while they ate candy… LOL We had a nightmare of a time last year - Ron’s mom was supposed to come down to help Hannah with hers, but she had the time wrong. So I stayed for a while and started the house, Ron showed up after a bit and worked on it so I could go back to work, and then his mom finally got there and finished it up with her so he could go back to work. Nothing like musical gingerbread house making! 
Oh and your post just made me think of something too - I was all excited because I have Friday off (because daycare is closed) and realized that I can therefore go to the girls’ Christmas parties at school that day. Until I remembered, um - daycare closed = Becca home with me. Not so good for school partying. Sigh.
Great tree pics, honey. LOVE Lilly’s gingerbread house. Hope it tasted good! Love, Mom
We’re doing these three times, including once at home so my little guy can make them. Those milk cartons are hard to find though, so I got some fishy cracker cartons. My husband carefully carried it home in the car, where it spontaneously fell apart, doh! I like that teacher’s approach I must say
Any Leftovers??
Love DAD
Well that is beautiful! And I agree.. lol men! hee.. My nephew’s came home in perfect condition. I’m not sure how it survived the bus, but it did.
I think it’s strange he said that. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a teacher say that before.