We recently celebrated Mom’s Day at school, and what an invitation to work this was for the children! Gifts to make and wrap, cards to draw and color, name tags to write, songs to learn, decorations to make for the windows and walls of the room, centerpieces of flowers to arrange, shortbread to bake, cream to whip and strawberries to slice, tables and chairs to carry and move, tables to set, and finally, lots of clean up. Our elementary aged students provided a lot of community service to the school by working as servers at the teas for the younger students and their Moms.
Was it worth it? Absolutely! One Mom told me that her child counted down the days until the tea. “Mom, only two days to go.” “Mom, only one more day!” He told his Mom that he wanted to dress up, including wearing his church shoes and tie, and asked Mom to dress up, too. The children were all buzzing with excitement – and the Moms were, too!
The children were provided an excellent opportunity to demonstrate their grace and courtesy – remembering to say please and thank you, to pass the small bowls and plates of cookies, whipped cream and strawberries around the table, to use the tongs and small spoons for serving, to drink from china or glass tea cups. to take turns conversing . . .
One of our school’s values is ‘community.’ This was a true community effort, with all of the children, teachers and classes pitching in to help. And when I saw Moms and children lingering in the afternoon sun, sitting on benches outside of the school and conversing, I realized that the tea helps build community by providing parents an opportunity to meet and converse. The tea also builds our communal memory of shared events.
The children in the classes for 3 – 6 year olds even wrote two community poems. Each child contributed a line to the poem, based on ‘What Moms can do.” I love the way the children have captured the very essence of what it means to be a Mom ~ all of the love, caring, fun, learning, strength, responsibility, and yes, even vulnerability. For sure the poems show that the children are watching and appreciating what we do!
Enjoy!
What Moms can do
By Aspen Class – spring 2015
Grocery shop
Feed me
Give me food
Pack lunches
Bake fish
Cook us breakfast
Make me pancakes
Bake yummy stuff
Clean the dishes
Take me to school
Take me to the park
The pirate park
The playground
Take me bowling with my family
Take me to Zeppoz for the very first time
Color with me
Write
Tape my pictures up on the wall
Buy me new toys
Play with me
Build an igloo
Plant flowers
Snuggle me up in my bed
Snuggle with me
Snuggle
Tuck me in
Give me goodnight kisses
Take care of me when I am sick
Wake me up
Give me hugs
We thank you for all of the wonderful things you do!
Mom, I love you!
“What Moms Can Do”
Willow Classroom
Spring 2015
Sew and needle.
Knit me a scarf
Wash dishes
Clean the walls
Cook dinner
Make something that I want
Teach me how to write
Write things for me
Help me do arts and crafts
Play piano with me
Put on a show and put on music
Turn on “Rooftops step in time”
Play a game with me
Let me play with my toys
Wash the car on hot days
Pick up a couch with my dad
Ride her bike with a helmet
Put the recycling out
Use a pitchfork
Juggle anything
Some things are too heavy for her
My mom can get sick
My mom can come back to me
and she can kiss me
My mom can
My mom loves me
And I love my Mom!
