My ds 1st grade room mom drives me crazy. I am so happy that there is only 2 more days left of school!! This woman needs alot of hand holding. She is always calling me and asking what she should do about every school function. Last week she wanted me to do the end of the year letter about the party and teacher gift. I told her what to say and how much to ask for but I didn't do the letter. Then today she asked me about the gift WE should get the teacher. She wanted to do a HomeDepot or Macy's giftcard. I asked how much money she got($189) and then told her just give her the cash. When she gave to teacher the cash there was only $150 in the card, which I purchased. I asked her what she was going to do with the rest of the money and she told me she was going to buy something for the kids in the class. Why?? I feel she should have given ALL the money to the teacher. Am I wrong to feel this way??

I agree - that was meant for the teacher. I actually felt a little guilty myself when I was entrusted with the $110.00 collected money from our class, and bought a $3.99 teddybear gift card holder with the money - I ended up shelling out additional money of my own for the bear, so that the original amount that we raised wasn't compromised.

All the money should have gone to the teacher but I would not have given it in cash...I think that it would be odd to hand a teacher cash money. I would have split it amongst 3 or 4 gift cards for the total collected unless you knew that she had specific plans for home improvements, etc over the summer.

Do you think that she meant that she wanted to purchase a gift like a bunch of flowers for each child to give her? Or maybe she is going to have them make her something? If not then everything collected should have gone to the teacher. When she asked for the donation did she just say it was for the teacher?

No, she was talking about getting something for each child...I told her please no they don't need anything, and just give it all to the teacher. Then she told me that there are still 2 more days of school so she could get something for the children.(I don't think she even listens when other talk) She did say in the letter the money was going for the teacher's gift the money, not the children. I have been room mom for the past 7 years for one of my 3 children and never did I not give the teacher all the money. I would have even add more $189 to make it a even $200. I am just a little pissed but I know I will get over it and hope she is never room mom for my class again!(I will beat her too it!)

Today was the last day of school and guess what the room didn't buy anything for the kids!! I should email her and ask if she got the teacher something else with the rest of the money.

I would full on confront her about the money. And I would make sure the principal or the PTA rep in charge of room moms knows what happened. She should not be a room mom again. We had a lame room mom this year, did nothing to arrange an end of the year class gift. I bought both my daughter's teachers a $25 gift card and then bought all 26 kids in her homeroom a $2 gift from the Scholastic warehouse. All total I was out over $100 but that was okay, I gave gifts to 28 people and they all seemed to really apprecite them.

Put a stop to the bad room mom. Don't bad mouth her to a bunch of gossip hounds but call her out to those who need to know.

I agree. She needs to be turned in to the Room Mom Rep from your PTA/PTO. Then have the rep let PTA/PTO Pres know what is going on. She should keep her name with Room Rep Info so she is not allowed to Rep next year.

I'm on my last year as Room Mom. We have 2 room moms and a party rep for each event (normally 4 a year). Over the years, I've laid out lots of my own $ just to avoid dealing with parents who won't send in a dollar bag of chips or the $5 we ask for up front to cover the craft/event. We normally do the end of year teacher gift. If it's an odd amount, the gift card gets bought and the teacher gets the rest in an envelope. I also do an end of year gift for each student in the class out of pocket. This year, everyone's getting a CD with photos from KG on - makes up for the yearbook where the editor's son is featured on each page.

I'd definately let the PTA know what went on. They need to watch her.

Thank you for all your responses I never thought of telling the PTA or anyone else at the school...plus school is over now, it would have to wait until next year, I was really hoping the room mom would have given the teacher another gift. I know from being a room mom that you do add alot of your own money and time to the class but I never mind doing this because it always help the teacher, my child and the other children in the class.

We don't even ahve a room Mom in my son's room. I guess I was the room mom by default because I volunteered in the classroom three times a week.

I've been room mom several years now for one or both of my children's rooms.

We (at our school) Don't collect money for the teacher gift.
Our responsibility is to do 3 parties a year (Fall, Easter, Valentines) the teacher does Christmas.

each child buys a gift for the teacher if they feel like it. We always give Christmas and the end of the year. Sometimes if my kids really like the teacher we will do Valentines also.

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I am the Room Mom Coordinator for our PTA. I would want to know this. I would not make them a room mom again, but I would not make it a public thing or tell them that someone "turned them in." There are a couple "on the list" that ask to do it year after year, but I don't let them. Got to protect the class, teachers and parents!