Keeping Up With The Koveses: Teenager School Day Birthday Gift

Our middle daughter, Potumus, turned fifteen this week. I wanted to do something very special for her. She just finished her first semester of high school and had some great successes and some struggles.

I teach at the same high school where she attends, so I had a time advantage making something happen at school since I am there all day, but every teacher I know would gladly help you celebrate your child's birthday the same way--just ask.

During secret Santa week for the staff, one of my coworkers sent our counselor a soda an hour for the whole day. I decided to steal this idea for our daughter.

I arranged for every teacher during her seven-hour day to have a gift for her at the start of class. Every one of her teachers was more than willing to participate.

First

A bag of homemade Valentine rice crispy treats. There were enough for her to share with her friends at lunch. Apparently they were more excited about this than she was.

Second

A bag full of jewelry from Oriental Trading Company with a note to share with her whole class. I knew this would take a few minutes out of class, so I checked to make sure that was okay. While our shy one wanted the teacher to help pass them out, I know she enjoyed the appreciation from her classmates, who I saw later that day wearing the beads.

Third

She is always thrilled when our Nature Box arrives, so when we got our box last weekend, I made sure to order a couple of times that I knew she would love and set them aside. I wrapped up the dark chocolate berry trail mix for her. She must have enjoyed it because I never saw the bag.

Fourth

I wrapped up her favorite beverage, root beer, so she would have one to enjoy during her passing time and lunch hour. I also got her another one that night at dance class.

Fifth

Every year when we visit Mackinaw Island I buy an extra large bag of chocolate covered popcorn. Then I hide it and eat it all. While what I have linked isn't the same as that from the island, it is the best I can get this time of year.

Sixth

This one was easy: her favorite chips- sour cream and onion Pringles.

Seventh

I texted her teacher the night before (once again these are my coworkers, so I have their numbers) and asked permission for the final hurah: cupcakes for the whole class.

I just received a new silicone cupcake bundle and thought this was the perfect opportunity to try it our. I had a six-muffin silicone pan years ago, but I threw it out because after several uses it was grossly stained. It was also super flimsy and needed a cookie sheet underneath it to prevent spillage. The new pan was wonderful. I did not bake directly in it, but I used cupcake papers. The pan was very sturdy and washed up beautifully in our dishwasher.

The night before her birthday I was up late making over thirty cupcakes for her last hour Freshman Academy class. I filled all three muffin pans that I had, so I could bake them all at once. When they were done, I set them out in our enclosed entry to cool, so I could frost them sooner.

One of the best parts of this whole gift was getting all her teachers in on it. By the time last hour rolled around and I showed up with three pans of cupcakes she was grinning from ear to ear. Even the wrestlers who were competing that night took a cupcake for later.

If you have a teenager, I would certainly recommend creating an all day birthday gift.