Every year for teacher appreciation I am scrambling, trying to find the best way for my kids to show their teachers they're loved. What do they really want? Do they even keep the notes my kids write them, how long do the flowers even survive we brought, is it worth it?

This year, my 5th grader, Cody, had his own plans for teacher appreciation. It's his last year in Elementary school so for the last 6 months he has been saving his money. I knew he was saving up for something, I just didn't know what. He babysat, did extra chores around the house, helped the neighbors with little things, set aside his Christmas and birthday money. I just thought it was for a new Xbox game or something. But then he came to me, asking for help. He wanted to make invitations because he was going to invite ALL the teachers he has had in elementary school out for a nice dinner and he was going to pay for the entire meal. He wanted to thank them for all that they have done for him and he wanted to make sure to show them he can work hard for them like they have worked hard for him through the years. He wanted to make sure they knew he would not forget them before heading off to middle school.

So, he delivered invites, made reservations and showed up at dinner with roses for each teacher and a speech he had prepared thanking them and then informing them he would be paying for their meals.

You see, our kids are watching us, they're learning from our actions and they're doing things that surprise us. People try to focus on the bad of this next generation. Their disrespect, their laziness, etc. But in reality, some are becoming better human beings than we can ever hope to be!