Daycare situation: what would you have done?

st.augbride

Today was the last day of 'summer session' at our daycare. On Monday all kids will transition into new rooms with new teachers. Ds will be in the 2s-3s room and dd with older infants. Anyhow, I have loved ds's teachers this summer and will be sad to not have them again. They were wonderful with him. I bought them both thank you cards with a small gift card. I then realized I should do the same for dd's teachers. The thing is though that I really only ever see one of them who is much more bonded to dd. The other lead teacher rarely seems to be there when I pick-up and instead there are usually assistants filling in for her, with one main one and then some others who cycle in and out too. So I bought two more gift cards to give to either the two main teachers or at least the one main one that is usually with dd and the assistant that is typically there. However, when I got there this afternoon, both lead teachers were out and there were two assistants: the one who is often there and another who I know likes my dd, but again, cycles in and out. I know they saw the envelopes in my hand and I really got the sense that they were expecting them. It was pretty awkward and I didn't know what to do, so I just slipped them in my bag and left with dd. I couldn't give just one to the main assistant without it being weird for the other, as I really want it to go to the main teacher. It was just very uncomfortable. I will give them all something on Monday I guess, but what would you have done? It just was so awkward! Bleh!

jennyelf

I have sometimes left things at the front desk with the manager or something and have them deliver figuring the teachers all have a mail box or some sort of system for delivery.

MamaAllison

I HATE that. It's so awkward. It's part of the reason I've taken to making an edible gift and just saying: to all the wonderful teachers in the older toddler room!

LoCarb

I probably would've done the same as you. Slipped the envelopes in my bag and hope to leave them the following day.

ASmallWonder

Well, preferably I would have left the envelopes with the director or office person but in your case I think you did what you needed to do.  In my son's daycare I rarely see the main teachers because our schedules are just off slightly.  I gave their Christmas cards to the director because I didn't want to ask the covering girls to do it because like you said, awkward.

st.augbride

Do you guys give anything to the assistants though? I wasn't planning on it since there are so many, but considering the time they spend with dd, I almost feel like if I don't now they'll hold a grudge. Is that me being paranoid? What's appropriate?