Saying thanks

Monday morning found us with shoes on, lunches packed, and backpacks by the door for carpool pick up. Hugs. Kisses. And then? Silence. Everyone was at school.

It was the first time in 18 months that someone else was teaching all four of my kids. I had trouble deciding what to do with my day because I was so excited. Much the same happened on Friday morning. I was happy to have some of the responsibility lifted off my shoulders. The kids were learning at school instead of in my dining room. The relief was beautiful, sweet, and so very needed.

On Friday during pick-up I passed the school principal. She is always outside for the pick-up and drop-off line. I thought about everything that she had been doing this year. It is no small feat to navigate thousands of students, some of whom are new to school or who haven't been back to school for a year and a half. I can’t imagine the difficulty she has faced in navigating how best to handle pandemic policies. So, I told her that I deeply appreciated the planning she and her team had put into all the moving parts at school—and how especially thankful I was that my kids could return this week.

She looked at me and replied, "Thank you so much for saying that. This week has just been the worst week. That was exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you."

Honestly, her reaction made me sad. I had just come off a great week because of the work she and her team had done. Had no other parents thanked her? I don’t always agree with their decisions, but I’m still thankful for all the teachers and staff that strive to create a safe and thriving learning experience for my kids.

The whole exchange only strengthened my resolve to maintain a habit I started years ago: I don’t wait until Teacher Appreciation Week to show appreciation to our teachers. As a former classroom teacher I can attest that while Teacher Appreciation Week is lovely, it was the families who encouraged me all year who made the biggest impact. Now I have the joy of doing the same for the ones who teach my kids. I thank them less during that one week of the year, but more on random Wednesday mornings the rest of the year.

If you want to do the same, here are some simple and easy ways we’ve offered our appreciation to our teachers over the years. In fact, you could use these ideas to say thank you to just about anyone who needs a brighter day!

An email to the principal

This is a simple but meaningful way to say thanks. It costs you nothing except five minutes. You can even do this from the couch as you relax at the end of a long day. Just write a short email to the principal where your kids go to school. Be sure to CC your child’s teacher(s) so they can see your praise, too. Tell the principal what you appreciate about your child’s teacher. Be specific. I guarantee your child’s teacher will feel so valued, appreciated, and seen.

A small plant with a handwritten note from your child

Teachers rarely get handwritten thank-you notes from their students. So, try asking one of your older children to write a quick note to their teacher that expresses what they appreciate about them. Have them sign their name and pair the note with a potted plant. (Note: I have found that little potted plants from the grocery store are well-priced and last longer than cut flowers.) This kind of gift is unexpected and will put a smile on someone’s face on a random Tuesday. If you don’t have it in your budget to give a plant, the handwritten note will more than do the trick for your child’s teacher.

A gift basket when they aren't expecting it

This is such a fun idea. I got it from another mom on Instagram. The basic gist is to grab a small basket from Target, pick a color scheme, and fill the basket with cute and fun things that match the color scheme. Last week I gave our teacher a little “Back to School Sunshine Basket” with a yellow color scheme. It was so fun (and easy, thanks to Target’s curbside delivery) to pull things together, arrange them in a cute way, and put them on her desk when she wasn’t expecting it.

Think about it: the pressure and anxiety you feel so often is something pretty much everyone is going through in one way or another right now. Who can you find today to offer a friendly smile? Who can you find today to tell in words or show with actions that you appreciate them? You might just make their day!

Cozy fall candles September Mix

Around this time every year my shopping cart would hold a few of those pretty, yummy-smelling candles. Yankee Candle was my absolute favorite. Big jar, three wicks to burn, what’s not to like? I loved the cozy glow of flickering candlelight and the warm, fall scents in my home. I honestly didn’t think much about it until I got my diffuser and realized I could make my own fall scents.

The first fall with my diffuser was also the first fall that I felt well. I used to think that the stomach aches and itchy eyes I got around autumn were just part of the season. I never realized that those scented candles were causing me and my family to sneeze, cough, and suffer from headaches. But once the candles were gone it became clear what was causing us to feel the way we did. Now with a diffuser we still enjoy those autumn scents but we’re in a better mood. Scented candles could never do that for us.

When it comes to picking what to diffuse the first month of fall, I tend to find a combination that I love, keep those oils right next to my diffuser, and then diffuse the same combination for basically the entire month. Kind of like a good playlist. You too? Then this is the only recipe mix you need this month. Cozy fall: found.

Not only are a few of these oil considered “happy” or “balancing” oils—oils that are designed to elevate our mood–there are also oils that have been proven to help keep us healthy. Perfect as we head from summer into fall and our bodies have more things thrown at them. Give this blend a try and let me know what you think! Or, if you have a favorite fall candle you are ready to ditch? Let me help you find a good substitution to create that same smell with your diffuser!

Pop over here if you are new to Young Living and want to get started diffusing this fall or, if you want a pretty version of my September Mix to share with a friend, download it here.

Snippets of My Week

First day of school on campus. We were all excited!

Friday night pizza night. Since getting an Ooni we haven't ordered pizza out a single time!

Afternoon sunset hike on a long weekend.

Thanks for reading! Who was a teacher who impacted you? I would love to hear your story about them! Just hit reply if you’d like to respond. (When you hit reply, your message goes directly to my email. It’s a private conversation between just us.) I read all your messages and try to respond, but not always in a timely manner. Sorry! And if you enjoyed this email, you’d be doing me a favor by forwarding it to someone else who might like it.