Here in Connecticut, most kids (well, moms really) get gifts for their kids’ teachers at Christmas. It is also quite common for the class mom to collect money from parents to buy a larger gift from the whole class for the teacher.
To be honest, it’s gotten to be out of control.
This year, in lieu of gifts from students or the whole class, Number 4’s teacher adopted a local family in need and requested gifts be bought for them instead, and today was Number 4’s class “wrapping party.”
The kids had pizza and cookies, and then we all wrapped the presents the class had bought for them.
I don’t know if the kids really understood how what they were doing would affect the lives of the people in this family.
And to be honest, I don’t know if most of the parents there really understood the impact of what they were doing, either.
But I did.
Last year, and the year before, we were that family. I was that mom who didn’t know how I was going to give my kids a Christmas.
And then friends and complete strangers adopted us.
There aren’t many feelings worse than not knowing how or if you will be able to provide for your children.
Today I helped to wrap the mother’s presents. And this year, for the first time in three years, I was able to contribute. In a very small way, I was able to give to someone what was given to me.
When everything was wrapped, the kids gathered around a table piled high with gifts.
I stood and watched and tried not to cry.
I listened to one mom say to another mom, “I wish the kids were able to see the faces of this family when they opened their gifts.”
Then I tried even harder not to cry.
Because I know what their faces will look like.
The kids will be over the moon.
But it was the mom’s face I had stuck in my head.
Number 4’s teacher gave that mom a Christmas gift she will never ever forget. Sure, that mom will have gifts of her own to open. And she will love and appreciate and be overwhelmed by them.
But those feelings won’t compare to the ones she will have as she sees her children’s expressions on Christmas morning.
The other moms in the class may not know what that family’s faces will look like on Christmas morning.
But I do.
That mom will be struggling to hold back the tears, just like I was last Christmas and the Christmas before that, and just like I was today at the wrapping party.
Today a really good thing happened, and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it.
I was this mom about 5yrs ago. My husband passed away in October & my family was selected to be blessed by the cancer society here locally. The family that “adopted” us was actually a single high school student that wanted to give my kids a Christmas to remember for her gift from her mom & dad. So instead of her getting a bunch of stuff she didn’t need, my kids were the recipients of a very generous & loving act. I will never forget that feeling. My coworkers select a family for Christmas every year & I was blessed the next year to be the recipient. The world is filled with angels who don’t always let their wings show, but we know they are there. Merry Christmas everyone ❤