
I'm a mum & I was torn to pieces over the gift I gave my kid's teacher – people called me cheap but it's not about money
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Heidi Powell shared the gifts she got the teachers to thank them
Credit: Instagram
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But not everyone was thrilled with her gift
Credit: Supplied
But the clip has recently resurfaced after being filmed three years ago as parents seek out ideas for
It has become common for parents to buy gifts for teachers as a thank you for all they've done.
But it seems Heidi's gifts didn't hit the mark.
Taking to Instagram, she shared an image of the goodies she got for the teachers.
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In the image, it showed three wrapped sweets all themed around school.
The first was a sugar cookie iced to look like a sheet of paper with an 'A' grade.
She also picked up a sweet shaped as a pencil as well as a red
apple
.
But her sweet gesture received an overwhelming negative response.
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One person said 'this irritates me to no end' and urged parents 'don't give teachers s**t like this' as they thought that cash or gift cards was a more appropriate reward.
Someone else said the post had them 'riled up' because they'd once been the person who had agonised over a 'perfect, most thoughtful end-of-year gift'.
Watch as ex-teacher reveals why she quit and doubled her income
They said they now look to see if the school has an Amazon Wish List of supplies to really help teachers out and spare them from needing to fork over their own money.
Another parent said the best sort of gift was 'a thoughtful note from the student', and if it was going to be something material, it had better be a gift card or cash.
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Others said they thought Powell's gift of brightly coloured sweets had been chosen to 'look
nice
on Instagram'.
A baker even chipped in to say that the 'cutesy sweets offerings' might look nice, but were probably not great to eat, saying they were pretty much 'inedible' and coated in 'a really cheap sugar product that can hold a lot of dye'.
Quite a few teachers chipped in to say that food would probably end up being thrown away or deposited in the teacher's lounge and they said 'please no mugs' to parents or pupils on the lookout for gift ideas.
Despite the negative comments, the mum praised teachers for their hard work over the year, proving it was the thought that counts.
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Teacher Gift Ideas
IF you're stuck for ideas on what to give your teacher for Christmas, here's some ideas...
Personalised Stationery
: A set of notecards or a planner with their name on it.
Gift Vouchers
: For popular bookshops, coffee shops, or online retailers.
Handwritten Thank You Note
: A heartfelt message from you or your child expressing gratitude.
Classroom Supplies
: High-quality pens, markers, or a decorative organiser.
Homemade Treats
: A batch of cookies, a cake, or a jar of homemade jam.
Potted Plant
: A small plant for their desk or classroom window.
Relaxation Kit
: Include items like a scented candle, bath salts, and a cosy blanket.
Books
: A bestseller or a classic, depending on their taste.
Customised Mug
: With a funny or inspirational quote related to teaching.
Experience Day
: A voucher for an afternoon tea, a local event, or a workshop.

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