L.A. Times: “Don’t Forget a Note of Thanks”

By heather on December 9, 2009

Sunday’s LA Times took a tip from Miss Manners and decided to include a “Yuletide Tip Guide” in Booth Moore’s article “Don’t Forget a Note of Thanks.”  Warm and fuzzy, right?  Well, you should read the list.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking for cash handouts or anything, and I’d rather have a sincere note then another #1 Teacher mug, but the list just seemed so indicative of our priorities as a society.

Here’s what they had to recommend:

Live-In Nanny: one’s week’s pay, and a gift from your children

Regular Babysitter: one evening’s pay, and a small gift from your children

Day-care provider: $25-$70 for each staff member, and a small gift from your children

Housekeeper: One week’s pay, or a small gift, or both

Hairstylist: cost of one haircut

Personal Trainer: Cost of one session or equivalent gift

Pet Groomer: Cost of one session or gift

Yard or Garden Worker: up to $50

Teachers: a note and small gift from you or your child

As an online colleague pointed out after looking at the list, “There we are, with the babysitter and the rest of the hired help…”  Looking at the list, I can’t help but wonder at the demographic of those who would read this article.  Making assumptions, of course, here are some gifts I would suggest for teachers more appropriate than the Color Me Mine special:

– A gift certificate for a nice dinner for 2.  After all, my date nights have been spent grading papers, and I need to remind myself that I have a husband.

– An hour long massage (preferably a foot massage) to help with the hours spent on our feet every day.

-A gift certificate for a dinner delivery service.   After all, we’re at school so long sometimes that making our own family dinner has become a weekly trip to the hot foods counter at our local Trader Joe’s or Taco Lita (rated LA’s #1 Burrito) down the street.

-or, better yet, how ’bout, as Anthony Cody of Living in Dialogue stated, a parent organized “ballot initiative to have us paid better.”

Now, I know I’m being snarky here (my new favorite word), because sincere words of gratitude mean more than anything, but this just seems like a formulaic list of blah-blah so a parent can get credit for some kind of seasonal outreach.  Come on, what would the hairdresser think if they got a thank you note and a #1 Hairdresser mug?

I know what they’d say: Bah-humbug.