Best Christmas present. Ever.

So I'm a paraeducator at a middle school and work with 8th graders.

I wasn't in my daily math class first hour because I had been getting mid-year assessment results recorded and analyzed.

One of my students came in 2nd hour was upset that I wasn't in first hour because he had a gift for me.

This 14 yr old boy gave me, hands down, the sweetest Christmas present I've ever been given.

He gave me a 10x10 needle point of Santa Clause. Like, one of those beginner kits that outline where to put what color of yarn....

But it's extremely elaborate with rosey cheeks and gray and white in Santa's beard. A snowy background with a blue sky. Amazing.

It was just really thoughtful of him to do this. Out of all of his teachers, he made me this gift. So sweet.

Best Christmas present ever.

What are some of the best/most touching gifts you guys have received?

I am getting my best present ever this year. Two rescued kittens! 

kd, that is really sweet.

i guess the sweetest present i ever got was from my mom.  i am the only left handed person in my family and i always complain (in a joking way) about all the things that are meant for right handed people and how im a such a poor little lefty.  one of the things i was complaining about was how its hard to write in binders and notebooks because the binding is on the left hand side, so i have to turn the notebook sideways to write.  i didnt think anyone was listening to me and i was pretty much just babbling, but for christmas my mom got me a cool notebook made especially for left handed people with the binding on the right hand side.  each page of the notebook also has little quotes about being left handed.

it was cool.

That is so sweet!!!

The family of a patient I cared for last month (he was in palliative care) gave me a lovely little lamp of a female angel bending over a cradle, because they know I want to do obstetrics and they thought I was so good with their dad - they said the angel represented me. I cried. :) (I know, not a Christmas gift, but still...)

The very best gifts are those that are heartfelt, from people who appreciate the efforts one puts forward. It makes you want to work twice as hard to do a good job and be a good person. :)

I was given a new insight on life and a hell of a lot more inner strength than I ever knew one could possibly have.  It just sucks that something horrible had to happen for me to find it.

haha... I made my grade 5 teacher a little bunny cross-stitch when I was 10 or so. She was my favourite teacher and I went to her house to give it to her (she lived down the street). I was so proud and she loved it! I've given cross-stitches to my mom, nanny & friends... they take forever to finish so they really appreciate the effort.

Black Socks. 

It was the first present my son picked out for me all by himself. He was so proud and excited I thought he was going to explode waiting for me to open them.

^ Awwww, that's adorable.

I can't think of anything. OH...the Christmas my relatives weren't able to attend. That was the best Christmas present ever.

It's actually a little ironic because the kids I work with tend to get this reputation for being lazy. Even I find myself generalizing all of them at times, thinking that they just cant focus on one thing for very long (like class, or homework).

I just couldn't beleive that this child would spend SO much time on something just for me.

I am so happy when a student just says "thank you" for the help I provide them with. At a certain point, they tend to "expect" the help and "thank you"'s are limited. I find myself saying "thank you for saying thank you!"

This is the most fulfilling job/thing I've ever done in my life. And it really does mean a lot to know that I impacted that child enough for him to put so much thought into something just for me. Cellophane, I'm sure your teacher felt the same way.

kd - thanks for sharing that. The time spent to make that for you is so touching!

My favorite gift from my daughter wasnt christmas but a photo she glued back together for mothers or valentines day (bad memory here). She was very young at the time and had taken a portrait, the only one I had of her for at a given age, and cut it down, further and futher until just the face was left. She glued it to a self-made card.  I was heartbroken, she also by my reaction and then, of all things, an emotional argument followed.

She then secretly glued all the slivered pieces back together on a sheet of paper and it looked - well, pretty bad still but it was the most meaningful gift she's given me.  Im very attached to photos to represent periods of her life but this certainly put that sentiment into perspective, reminding me of the bigger picture.

As far as christmas, it would be the several items she made during early school for me each year - a clay pot, handmade ornaments, etc all showing her skill/age at such a time. So sweet!