For a few minutes, delve into the past with me. Come with me into the 3rd grade classroom…
There she was, with a bright beautiful smile, blueish green eyes and the warmest personality I had seen. Modestly dressed and with no trace of makeup, she was a new teacher for this school. Instantly, I took a deep breath and knew this year would be a great one for my soft, gentle, and timid son. She got down to his level, welcomed him and gave him a hug. I watched everything standing outside the door. He looked back at me and gave me a smile. That was when I knew he will be alright. She came towards us with an inviting smile on her face. She introduced herself and told me, “Don’t worry, go have some coffee. He is safe with me.” With tears, I turned back to walk towards the car. Tears of happiness that my boy was well taken care of.
A month into the school year, I could see my boy seemed more comfortable in himself, almost like he was standing taller than usual. One day, I walked up to pick him up and he was all smiles and told me he played basketball that day, which was very new to him. December came, and we were surprised that he was a born stage performer. She gave him the main lead role, and he blew everyone’s socks off.
Months flew by and my little boy was growing into a confident young man and he was not as shy as before. She had taught him that he was special, and in a good way. Every now and then, she would write to us or talk to us in person about what a wonderful boy he was. She took care of him. The year flew by, and I got more and more nervous. Then it was May, our last month with her. My boy decided to paint a mug for her and give a gift basket filled with everything she loved. This was a first. He chose everything that was in it and gave it to her. She was filled with gratitude and said, “The gifts of food are gifts from the heart.”
I still remember the last day of school, rolling tears and hugs. Now, the tears had a different meaning. Would my son ever have an experience like this again? I prayed and hoped that there would be another Mrs. A to help him out. I realized later that I didn’t need to. After all, he learnt a lot that year. She taught him for life. She made him realize that he needs to stand up, talk, and own what is his. It was not just for that one year; she gifted him the life of confidence and a life of lifting your chin an inch higher. You are wonderful, you have to believe in yourself first, she always said.
Later, we became best friends and my son looks up to her and loves her from the moon and back. She is a beautiful person inside and out. I attribute a lot of what my baby boy (15 now) is now to Mrs. A. She might be oceans and miles away, but our hearts fill with gratitude at the thought of her.
A tradition of edible gifts started with her. We love our Mrs. A.
For the recipe for Spiced Nuts- Click here
An easy Recipe for Pomegrante Ginger Syrup – Click here
Few Links of Cookies and Pancakes in a jar.
HALF BAKED HARVEST – COOKIES IN A JAR
What you Need to make the Basket:
A basket, shallow or deep one
A beautiful napkin, dish towel.
Nuts, bottle, chocolates, a glass for the cocktail.
For fillers- some cut up paper or any kind of filler you have on hand.
Add the fillers, top with napkin, hanging out a little. Put all the other gifts and you can wrap with a celophane and wrap with a decorative ribbon.
HOT CHOCOLATE GIFT BASKET – Click here
Thank you all so much for all the kind words always and hope you all are having a wonderful week. I know this was not a recipe post but wanted to post it for anyone looking for ideas for teachers, colleagues or friends.
Luv
Asha
What a wonderful post, Asha. Totally love n truly appreciate the idea of cooking somebody from heart. Lots of effort n love goes in making those special goodies. Thanks for sharing dear. Those gift baskets looks so beautiful and your ideas are even more gorgeous my dear. Happy Holidays and hugs.
T^hanks so much Bansi. So true about it being from the heart. You are awesome my lovely friend, hugs.
xoxo
What a beautiful story! I wish every child had a Mrs. A in his or her life! I love giving edible gifts—you have some marvelous ideas!!
For sure Liz, hope every kid has a Mrs A in their lives. You are an amazing baker, I am sure the recipients will be waiting for it every year. You rock.
xo
What a. Wonderful story from the heart Asha. I wish all the children get like Mrs a. I thank her wherever she is from the bottom of my heart
Lovely gift basket. I appreciate your efforts
You know how much we love her right…She loves you too mom.
Thanks always for being the sweetest. luv
What a beautiful story and I applaud Mrs. A and all those like her. Basically, good teachers are a gift and the power they have to shape children is immeasurable. I know that when my son has a good teacher, everything syncs so much more and his confidence and love of learning is so much stronger. And your gift ideas are wonderful…thoughtful and straight from the heart!
Yes, Absolutely Monica. There’s nothing like good teachers. Isn’t it?! Their confidence raises so much. It’s not all about studies and curriculum, confidence and to be a good human is so important.
Thanks my dear friend. xoxo
Mrs. A was the lucky recipient of this amazing holiday gift basket. I bet she was thrilled to receive it. Wishing you and you family a very Merry Christmas and a marvelous New Year, Ash! I know you love to bake, so next time you do informally, please take a simple pic and share on Facebook with the #Bakeitforward. Food Network will be donating $1 to No Kids Go Hungry for each time we share a baked good with that hashtag. Some are giving the baked good to people in their community to make their day and as a way to thank these people who serve us such as firefighters, police officers, school staff, and even good neighbors. You can also nominate a friend to do the same. I am doing with you because I know you love to cook like me. xx
THANKS so much Denise. I will definitely be more than happy to share. I already did on Insta, i will bake and share on Facebook. Thank you. Such agreat cause and you have a kind heart my dear to be doing this.
xx
I loved this post!! Made my heart tingle.
That photo of the nuts really caught my attention. I want someone to bring that to my house this year 🙂
I wish I could bring your some my dear. Thank you my dear. Hugs.
What a lovely post. We all need a Mrs A in our lives. And looks like the food world has something to thank her for too. Love, love, love the hampers xx
Amen to that! Thanks my friend.
xoxo
Wonderful story Asha.I loved your gift basket .Thanks for sharing .
Thank you so much Kani.
xx
I saw a picture of these nuts on IG and thought, “I have to go and see more pictures because these look great!” And the post was truly lovely. This is the first year Little Man is in school and the right teacher makes such a difference. Happy Holidays friend!
Oh thank you so much. Hope you little man gets the right teacher and enjoys school. The first few years are so so important. I am sure it’s gonna be a great ride for him. Happy Holidays to you too my dear.xx
Such a beautiful post Asha! Mrs. A Sounds wonderful – a truly beautiful person inside and out indeed! How wonderful that your son and her crossed paths – and how much more wonderful that y’all are friends now…BTW – I think it takes a beautiful soul to recognize another beautiful soul!
She is indeed right – food gifts are gifts from the heart for sure! And these nuts make a wonderful addition to any gift basket – BTW – your baskets look so lovely – so special – just like you and Mrs. A.
You truly are a beautiful soul, that’s what it is. I am so blessed to have found a great friend in you. We’ve grown together for years now. Thanks so so much my dear.
Hugs. Can’t wait to meet up sometime.
xoxo
Ok this is a story that we can all relate to! My baby girl is painfully shy. A monster at home but a little shy creature everywhere else and we all know why that is. Because she feels safe at home and not so much anywhere else. She has the most brilliant teacher at school who we can only dream of having for all our kids. Mrs. A sounds like my Mr. A! 🙂
I love those nuts girl! Wow! And the pomegranate syrup.. yum!! Love the pictures <3
Goodness,these shy sweet kind can be a handful in a different way, emotionally that is. I am so happy your little one had a Mrs A too. Blessed.
Thanks my dear friend. xx
Love the way you told us about your memories and all about amazing Mrs.A..We need more of Mrs.A type teachers in our lives and these gift baskets are so adorable!!
Oh totally Ami, we definitely need more of Mrs A. Thanks so much my dear.
What a wonderful message! I could imagine myself right there with you. When you’re a kid your teachers seem like goddesses (all mine were women in lower school), and there’s always one in particular who gives you that warm fuzzy feeling when you think about them. For me it was my 4th grade teacher – the coolest person I had ever met at that point. Love that you created something homemade to show your gratitude. That hot chocolate kit is right up my alley 🙂
xx Yasmin
http://banglesandbungalows.com
Oh totally, teachers are like Gods. I am an emotional freak and get so nervous dropping off the kids. So, it’s always nice to have someone warm to leave them to. Doesn’t happen always. So glad you had an experience, so sweet that you remember too. That hot chocolate kit was my last years gift baskets.
luv ya.
My boys both had the most wonderful 1st grade teacher, and I knew nobody else would ever come close. I’ve stayed close to her — she’s so special. I love this story so much — it’s wonderful that she was such a good influence on your son, and now she’s a part of your life! This basket is filled with so many lovely things and I’m hoping to find it under my tree. 🙂
Teachers make a huge difference, isn’t it Marcie?! So glad your boys experienced it. I wish I can send this basket over with Santa.
Hugs my friend.
They may take time but home made edible gifts are the best. Lovely post.
What a sweet and heart-warming story, Asha. I wish we had that same happy experience with our first teachers. We homeschool now, but there are many wonderful teachers out there that deserve gorgeous baskets full of delicious goodies like these. I love making homemade gifts to give away this time of year and I will definitely have to try some of these out, starting with that pomegranate-ginger syrup…it looks and sounds amazing!
I’ve always wanted to homeschool the boys but am quite overwhelmed. When we have good teachers, I am thrilled, then again we have not so great experiences too.
You are the best teacher for your kids Joscelyn, they sure are wonderful.
Thanks my friend.
Ash, I loved that story! A teacher can really change a child’s life. I had some teachers that were especially kind and lovely and that helped a lot too! Beautiful story for the holidays 🙂
Amen to that. So glad you had some great experiences too. Holidays just brings out so much stories and emotions, then again, I’m always emotional. xx
LOVE the story of Mrs. A!! I am thrilled your son, back in the day had her as a teacher and she helped form him into a confident little man! Thanks for sharing that with us, my dear! As far as food gifts, I agree with her, they are wonderful and most definitely from the heart! All of these options are fantastic! I would love to give or receive any of them… or all of them. 😉 Pinned! Cheers, Asha! <3
Thanks my dear. Hope you are feeling better today.
I was so thrilled when it happened. You are so kind with your words. Thanks always for the pin. I would love to send you one. Hugs.
oh my goodness, I loved reading this!!! My oldest is shy and she also had a wonderful teacher like this! She’s still young but I am hoping that each teacher she has can influence her and teach her. . I love hearing that teachers like this still exist! even though this was so long ago. . LOVE these gifts. . I can’t think of a better gift: something homemade and from the heart! love!
The teachers are so important right?! I am so glad your oldest got a wonderful one, blessed. What I tell the boys too is each teacher is different, try to take the best and learn from them. Not everyone is going to pamper and love them. Thanks so much for stopping by my dear. Looking forward to interacting more. Hugs.
Such a beautiful and well written post from the heart. Loved reading it. Awesome pics!!! Pinned! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!
Thanks so much my dear and thank you for visiting my page. Hope you have a wonderful Holidays. Merry Christmas!!
xoxo
Beautiful writing and lovely story, Ash! You had me tearing up. Seriously. You are a phenomenal mom and a wonderful friend to Mrs. A. You are right…your son will benefit from Mrs. A’s teachings for LIFE. What a gift! Such a gift deserves a gift in return and what better way than a gift from the heart and from the kitchen. I love this post for so many reasons to include all of your suggestions for ideas in pulling together a thoughtful and memorable gift with a charming presentation. Your photography is stunning! Thank you for inspiring us and for sharing, my friend. 🙂 Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas! xo
Beautiful post, full of authentic emotions. It’s really so wonderful that your son got to meet such a talented teacher. They really are rare.
As for the gift basket, it’s amazing. A truly unique present.
Hugs,
Panos and Mirella