An Idea for Teachers: Make Father’s Day Gifts Before School Lets Out

Something wonderful happens every May in schools – when school children bring home decorated cards, homemade gifts and adorable crafts for Mother’s Day.

The presents are as much fun to make as they are to receive. Think about how this simple gesture unfolds: teachers give a portion of their schedule to devising a game plan, class periods are devoted to the creations, and kids learn a valuable lesson about expressing love to their moms. They all give their time – arguably the best gift of all.

In June, however, history does not repeat itself. That’s no fault of anyone’s, of course – most schools are closed by mid-June. Alas, Father’s Day is overlooked. It’s a missed school opportunity beyond measure.

But here’s an open plea to teachers: it’s time to do something to honor fathers.

Who says classrooms can’t create a craft before school lets out? Teachers could easily conduct the same exercise for Father’s Day with a little preparation.

Sure, there may be several days between the end of school and Father’s Day, increasing the chance the gift could get lost or forgotten by the time the holiday arrives. However, nothing would be lost on the chance for kids to articulate love for their dads.

And who’s to say teachers can’t do something outside-the-box? How about conducting an in-school activity before school lets out that involves dads and kids making it together? It could even be conducted at a non-traditional time of year, such as in the fall.

Ideas are aplenty but make no mistake – society is missing a grand chance to convey love to fathers in a meaningful way. It’s high time for schools to take the step and show appreciation for the other equally important piece of the parenting equation.

Performing so would make June even more special for dads who tend to be underappreciated in culture.

Every dad wants that homemade, tear-inducing gift as much as mom does. Let’s make it happen in schools. Society will be the better for it.

I don’t cheer for Cheerios

The phrase “to those whom much has been given, more is required,” is best known for its origin in the Bible.

I think it applies to cereal, too — specifically, Cheerios — and we’ll?get to that?connection in a minute.cheeriosfrown

But let’s think about Cheerios first.? It’s one of the strongest brands around.? Its no-nonsense black serif font on the plain yellow box is iconic.? The circular shape is basic, pure and often imitated.? Its ingredients include whole grain oats and just one gram of sugar.? Nearly every off- and store-brand has made a knock-off version and given it a similar name.? The taste is simple and unchanged virtually since the beginning, unless you count the explosion of its flavored offspring, such as?Reduced-Fat-Yogurt-Berry-Blast-Cinnamon-Coated-Sprinkle Cheerios (seriously, do we need this much variety?).

I would argue that Cheerios has been in every American home?at least one point in time?since its inception, and I doubt many brand names can proclaim that.? We eat it.? We make snack mixes with it.? We feed it to babies.? We feed it to birds.? We make crafts with it.? We give it to kids in church to keep them quiet.? We string it on Christmas trees.? We love it.? We trust it.? Its wholesome.??It sticks on noses (try doing that with Kix).? It’s certified by the American Heart Association!? It’s genius!Image

It’s?just plain…perfect!

Or is it?

Their marketing folks nearly had me at hello, but as I went further into their website,?discovered that it’s Mom’s Choice.? And that’s when I started thinking about the phrase, “to those whom much has been given, more is required.”

You see, we’ve made Cheerios a part of our lives and trusted it for years, and I always thought it was a decently mutual relationship:? General Mills kept making it, we kept eating it and everyone was happy.? But then they started saying that it’s the cereal?which mom’s choose, and dads instantly became alienated and left out.? More should be required of one of the top cereals around.? They’re supposed to be an example for everyone else.? Perform you ever see the NFL say, “It’s the sports league more dads watch with?their boys than any other”?

Cheerios, I thought you were better than this.? We’ve all given you so much, and more should be required.

I have the last box I’ll ever buy in my cupboard, and I’m not even going to eat it.

But the birds will.