Last year was the first time I heard it: “Maycember”. The phrase describes the busy end-of-school-year stretch that feels as hectic as December but without the promise of presents.
I was a little overwhelmed last year, but this past week, I’ve felt absolutely breathless. Trying to remember what days kids need to wear spirit colors, crazy hairstyles, or t-shirts for Earth Day—or whatever day it is—feels like its own separate admin job. It never ends.
My oldest had a field trip, and the permission slip for her next field trip came home on the same day. I’m coaching her lacrosse team, while figuring out if I’ll coach field hockey this fall because registration opens tomorrow. Why is registration for fall sports so incredibly early?
I’m realizing that it’s not only intense with end-of-year activities; next-year planning is coming in HOT. School paperwork for my two youngest girls—pages and pages of it—sits buried on my never-ending to-do list. These will take no less than 10 separate sit downs to complete. Sure, I’ll blame the kiddos for distractions. But in reality, I’m my own worst enemy on ability to knock them out efficiently.
Teacher Appreciation is a big focus this time of year, as it should be. There are calls for “heartfelt” or “homemade” crafts while I feel like Winona Ryder in Stranger Things (Season 1, specifically) with 10/10 anxiety about handprint-covered walls . . . My brain is on overload trying to remember which items I panic-grabbed from the grocery store—while my two-year-old insisted I carry her—and what school each item is for. Black beans for the Teacher Appreciation Mexican Fiesta. Lemons for a cute teacher gift.
Side note: God bless the brains and hands behind these thoughtful teacher gifts. I’ll buy lemons any day of the week. Need some half-spilled OJ too? JK.
Enough of my ranting. Back to a heartfelt teacher gift because I have several educators in my family and believe in showing gratitude.
I wanted an easy craft to do for my daughters’ teachers. This one from blogger Angie Holden comes with a printable Thank You Tree. Thank goodness, because I’m no artist. She suggests using ink for thumbprints, which you absolutely can. I used water-based paint because I couldn’t find our ink. To ease my Winona vibes, I had plenty of wet paper towels on hand (pun intended). Lastly, my daughter glued the sheet to a piece of construction paper. She was all smiles with her masterpiece!
Lauren's Law 