Goodie Bag for Teacher Having Surgery

How nice of you.
-a magazine like "Oprah" or "Rachael Ray".
-a bag of those bite sized candy bars. Think Halloween-time
-fuzzy socks
-a compilations of funny sayings (print them off the internet if you have to)
Who doesn't like to laugh?
-an inexpensive fleece blanket
-a little bell so she can "ring" for help when she needs it. :)
-a funky tablet of paper & cool pen so she can make lists while she is laid
up

a gift card for amazon or barns and noble to get a new book to read while off work, a gift card or meal to put in the freezer to have after the surgery for her and her family. some nice slipper socks w/traction for in the hospital

I know this may sound childish, but hand held games were great when I was bedridden for two months with a back injury - I'm not sure what's out there now, but I had the electronic "Wheel of Fortune" and even a miniature "Spirograph" was great fun - I don't know about you guys but I get tired of always doing things on my laptop. I really enjoyed playing games.

And even though I love all types of word puzzles, you can only do so many!!

Hope all goes well!!!

This is such a lovely idea. How close is your relationship with this teacher? Professional, parent, friend....? I would suggest you base the care package on your relationship. If it's personal, include specific reading material or coupons for house cleaning, if you know she'd like that. If it's as a parent, perhaps it would be appropriate to provide slipper socks, a gift certificate to a book store and a card with best wishes. As a former teacher, I was uncomfortable with well-meaning parents eliciting gifts from other parents or sending very generous, personal gifts. It was more the thought that counted and I'm sure the teacher would most appreciate your well-wishes. (Please note that I'm from Massachusetts and this advice may not be the norm in your state.) All my best.

Cold packs in a soft material. She may be sore and achy.

I love the idea of coupons for cleaning and help around the house.

Lip Balm, Moisturizing Hand Lotion (if scented a light scent), some favorite snacks, and if she is the type - crayons and coloring book (yes I had some when I was in the hospital on bedrest for my own kids and loved them)

I like the previous suggestions. If you can get together with other kindergarten mamas and collect some donations, perhaps you could add to the bag a note that the teacher will have two weeks' worth of housecleaning services.... either by someone you all know and trust, or by a cleaning company.

Eye shades, the kind with little cushiony things to actually hold the eyelids closed, and ear plugs. It's really really hard to sleep in a hospital with lights and sounds all the time. A water bottle with a built-in straw - the type that folds into the mouthpiece when you aren't using it. (Hospitals always give people a plastic pitcher and a styrofoam cup/straw, assuming it's going to be super-easy for you to sit up and drink/pour without spilling. A book of crossword puzzles, sudoku or one of those "variety puzzle" books from the magazine stand (something to do that doesn't require total silence or concentration) and a few mechanical pencils (always sharp, don't require a sharpener).

Slippers or socks with the non-skid bottoms on them. The hospital gives you some for walking to the bathroom but they're never all that cute!

Put her last name on everything with a sharpie or with a label she can tear off after the fact. If they move her from one room to another, which sometimes happens, or if the staff cleans up, they'll know which stuff is hers.

A "get well soon" note from your son, even if the letters are backwards or upside down. It's hard for a child in kindergarten who's going to be confused when his teacher isn't there, so this helps him get acclimated to the idea and gives her something to smile about.

Housecleaning is a good idea but she might not want all the parents in her home, so a gift card to a cleaning service might be good. You can also organize a meal chain though a free sign-up list called "Lotsa Helping Hands" - it can be done with a friend of hers or a fellow teacher she's close to, to incorporate various circles of friends and well-wishers. She determines the types of things she needs (including favorite foods and anything else like taking her children to activities or going grocery shopping), it gets added to the schedule along with instructions (such as "leave the meals in a cooler on the back porch after 4:30 PM" so she doesn't have to answer the door). Everyone can see what's needed and can sign up for what works for them. No more "Let me know what I can do for you" and then the teacher has to do all the organizing!

Great idea and great suggestions! I'd also say include a gossip magazine like the Star or Enquirer or People. My mom loved reading those in the hospital (as did I).

You are very thoughtful to do this. I love it.

You are so thoughtful! I know your son's teacher will be most appreciative.

Antibacterial hand cleaner is great. If she doesn't feel like getting up to wash her hands, she won't have to. A small notepad to write down questions she might have for the doctor or to take notes of things she wants to remember. I also used this for the nurses who were good to me recently when I had surgery. I wanted to remember their names so I could send them a personal note. Small bottles of lotion (think trial size). Also my sister got a lavender spray for my pillow before I had surgery in April. I didn't know that I would love using it as much as I did. It was so nice to freshen my pillow and the lavender smell is calming.

Blessings to you!
L.

I love this idea and everyone has given great suggestions.. This could take a bit of questioning, but f she has a kindle, you could give her an Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card. If she has cable, you could give her a Netflix gift card.

A frozen meal
A fruit basket delivery form a nice Grocery store.