Ok, I have always been a really caring individual. I get upset if someone else is upset, and I try my hardest to make someone feel better or to help someone.

So today I showed up to pick my son up at preschool and the preschool teacher, one of the kids (4 years old) and his mom were outside the classroom. Mom was crying. I turned around and walked out so I could give them some privacy. After a couple of minutes the mom left and was still crying. I then went in the hallway to wait for my son. Preschool teacher comes out and asks if I can help her. I helped her out, all the kids get dismissed and I notice the preschool teacher in on the other side of the room crying. I said to her "Aww, bad day?" and she said "yeah, bad day times three". I gave her a hug but didn't press for her to talk, and then my son and I left. I really really really feel for her. She's one of two teachers in the classroom, and she is great. She is so good at dealing with situations where the kids aren't listening. My son loves her. I was in school to be an early childhood educator but dropped out to take the long term care aide course, so I know how hard it was day after day to deal with children.

I find that most of the parents in my son's class don't give out compliments...and that's fine, but I feel like I could do something more. I know there's one little boy who's having a difficult time and it's very tiring on the teachers.

So would it be weird to write a letter to the teacher expressing my feelings about how she is a great preschool teacher and is such a great positive roll model. They also have some really cute potted plants at a store here that I could give her. It could be an appreciation/valentines day sort of thing. I'm just wondering if it would be weird though or if it would be welcomed? I know with my job, I would LOVE it if someone really acknowleged my hard work.

Ditto both suggestions above. It's rare that people show appreciation to anyone anymore and sending words of encouragement to both the teacher and her supervisor is an excellent idea!

I say go for it. It's never weird to let someone know that they're appreciated and valued. I think it would make her day. I agree with star, make sure that you let her supervisor know. I know the few times that clients have gone out of their way to tell my boss that I've done a good job, have made me feel like a million bucks. Plus, the compliments were always great when it came time to discuss pay raises, lol! But in general knowing that someone values my work enough to inform my boss, that puts me on cloud nine!

Never, ever, ever a bad idea. Consider sending her principal a copy. You can really make a difference.

I have sometimes had someone do something like that for me, whether formally in writing to a boss, or casually just to me in person. And it only ever makes me try even harder to make sure to continue to do whatever I was complemented on, especially if I had been feelng discouraged.

i agree do it!! it can really make a huge difference for someone- you never know how much she is really struggling and your letter and appreciation can make the difference between someone leaving their job even. you just never know.

Another agreement here. I've started trying to adhere to a philosophy - "When in doubt, do the good". Meaning, if you're debating between doing something nice and NOT doing something nice (for reasons of embarrassment, worried what people will think, etc), do the nice thing.