Camp Vent!!

[JoiseyMom]

Your spelling was off. You meant to type expensive, but you apparently switched the i and the s and got hit with the filter.

Thanks !!

 

[princessmom29]

The weekly trips are not for every kid in camp. Its for the travel program only, and that is only for the older kids starting in middle school. And I don't see parents demanding anything! Camps out here have alot of competition, so they start offering more and more things.

NJ has one of the highest property taxes in the country.

And I am not and never have been living a priviliged lifestyle. My money goes in and out as quickly and anyone else. Maybe more so because of the high cost of living here. I don't own a designer anything! My car is 8 years old. My first car I owned for 18 years!! Am I surrounded by those that are privliged...yes. My DH and I worked for hard to get where we are and to buy our modest home and to support our 4 kids. And we have had a hard time of it in NJ with the recession of the after 2001 and the current economic times and numerous layoffs and backslides.

You are making wide assumptions by wanting everyone to be considered the same no matter where they live. Yes...people that make 100k a year can struggle where I live. Does that make them none working class?? No, that is just the way things are where they live. Lots of people from NY adn NJ are moving down south for a less expensive lifestyle. We have actually considered it too.

Honestly there is no difference between people that make 50k combined and live pay check to paycheck in a less expensive part of the country then the couple that make 100k and are struggling just the same.

My point is that there is no way someone who is truly struggling to get by could ever afford A $6000 summer camp no matter where they live, especially if one parent doesn't work so the camp it truly optional, and it is just sad that there is no other option for those kinds of families b/c all of these amenities camps are compelled by soemone, parents or not, to include in their programs. You are not struggling to get by if you can afford to send your kids to that kind of camp, peroid, I don't care what cost of living is if you have a discretionary $6000 to spend on summer entertainment for your kids when you do not actually need child care you are NOT working class. It is sad that in some areas apparently that is considered working class. People have really ust completley lost sight of what it means to truly struggle. Working class people have to make choices like food or a car repair b/c they truly just do make ends meet!! To me this is what working class means. I will be the first to admint that I do not consider myself working class b/c we own our own home and do not have to struggle every week to make our bills, by hard work, good luck, and the grace of God. I admit that we have a lot of things we don't really need, but i can guarntee you they would be cut in a heart beat if times got toug for us. We have at one time had to make the decision between food or gas to get to work, and it is frankly a little insulting that people who can afford luxuries like these consider it struggling to get by. call it a high horse if you want, but I call it being grounded in the reality of life for those less fortunate than myself.

I'm done trying to get through. You obviously don't get it at all.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Your spelling was off. You meant to type expensive, but you apparently switched the i and the s and got hit with the filter.

Thank you!!!!

 

[JoiseyMom]

Yes I am being Judgemental because this is just crazy. You have gone on and on about washing the shirt you have thrown up how many times about the cost of the Camp then go on about how its the same price as others but you get more perks. Honestly do you think any one would feel bad that you have to do Laundry? We are all busy but yet I still manage to do my childrens sports uniforms etc. It does not take very long to do a load of laundry.

There are how many posts on here about people losing their jobs etc I almost lost my daugher so I am sorry if I don't feel a bit sorry for you. I mean really either buy more shirts or move on.

Also if you are so tight that a little bit of electricity and a small amount of laundry detergent is going to break you maybe you should reconsider a cheaper camp with 'Less Perks'.

Yes, I feel for what the camp charges they should include a second shirt at least. SHOOT ME for my opinion! And yes there are alot of posts here for people that have lost jobs. My DH was laid off last year and just got a new full time job a month ago. I can't wait until next month when I no longer have to pay COBRA which is insane.

And yes I need to budget...I am not rich.. I shut off the lights, cut back on cable like everyone else. We cancelled this years vacation. The camp has gone "green" and are not sending home papers and having you go to websites, so if they want to go that green, then send home extra shirts!! I was surpised that they weren't included in the price. It surprised me and I vented. I am not going to apologize that my kids go to an expensive camp.

And as I said before... the camps where I live are all in the same ball park, except for the local rec, which is not what I want my kids doing duirng the summer.

Yes this is the budget board, and whether a person wants to plan a deluxe 5k vacation and get the most bang for their buck or they want to stay at Pop... they should be blasted for spending 5k??

I really don't understand all the attacks lately on people. It is amazing and making me very disappointed inthe Dis...or the judgemental disers. It is sad really. I know when I read threads, if I have nothing nice to say I don't say it. And I am not oging to push my values on others.

 

[mindyd]

I am not saying that you don't have to budget I also try to save money any way I can. What I am saying is you are whining about washing a shirt. I really do not care if your kids go to a expensive camp great for you my daughters get to do alot of things that are expensive but I dont then complain about using a little bit of electricity and laundry detergent. Also if you can afford to send them there and washing clothes is too hard pay the 15.00 a shirt and get more of them.

I normally do not post in these type of threads and if I dont have anything nice to say 99.9 percent of the time I don't say it. BUT considering how the Economy is and everything else going on in the World the fact you might have to do a load of laundry during the week is CRAZY. I am sorry I can not feel sorry for you having to do laundry and you are the one that keeps bringing up the cost of the Camp which makes me wonder if the shirts or even the issue or you just waned to brag about what you are paying for Camp.

Yes, I feel for what the camp charges they should include a second shirt at least. SHOOT ME for my opinion! And yes there are alot of posts here for people that have lost jobs. My DH was laid off last year and just got a new full time job a month ago. I can't wait until next month when I no longer have to pay COBRA which is insane.

And yes I need to budget...I am not rich.. I shut off the lights, cut back on cable like everyone else. We cancelled this years vacation. The camp has gone "green" and are not sending home papers and having you go to websites, so if they want to go that green, then send home extra shirts!! I was surpised that they weren't included in the price. It surprised me and I vented. I am not going to apologize that my kids go to an expensive camp.

And as I said before... the camps where I live are all in the same ball park, except for the local rec, which is not what I want my kids doing duirng the summer.

Yes this is the budget board, and whether a person wants to plan a deluxe 5k vacation and get the most bang for their buck or they want to stay at Pop... they should be blasted for spending 5k??

I really don't understand all the attacks lately on people. It is amazing and making me very disappointed inthe Dis...or the judgemental disers. It is sad really. I know when I read threads, if I have nothing nice to say I don't say it. And I am not oging to push my values on others.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I am not saying that you don't have to budget I also try to save money any way I can. What I am saying is you are whining about washing a shirt. I really do not care if your kids go to a expensive camp great for you my daughters get to do alot of things that are expensive but I dont then complain about using a little bit of electricity and laundry detergent. Also if you can afford to send them there and washing clothes is too hard pay the 15.00 a shirt and get more of them.

I normally do not post in these type of threads and if I dont have anything nice to say 99.9 percent of the time I don't say it. BUT considering how the Economy is and everything else going on in the World the fact you might have to do a load of laundry during the week is CRAZY. I am sorry I can not feel sorry for you having to do laundry and you are the one that keeps bringing up the cost of the Camp which makes me wonder if the shirts or even the issue or you just waned to brag about what you are paying for Camp.

Nope..if I posted well my kids camp only gives one shirt and I feel they should give more, I would have been bombared with whys. So I gave the why. For what it costs they should provide more shirts! ANd no I dont watn to do laundry during the week..I really don't. Bad me!! And I will be paying for antoher shirt..that doesn't mean I am not allowed to vent that it should be included in the cost!!

 

[Leajess99]

My point is that there is no way someone who is truly struggling to get by could ever afford A $6000 summer camp no matter where they live, especially if one parent doesn't work so the camp it truly optional, and it is just sad that there is no other option for those kinds of families b/c all of these amenities camps are compelled by soemone, parents or not, to include in their programs. You are not struggling to get by if you can afford to send your kids to that kind of camp, peroid, I don't care what cost of living is if you have a discretionary $6000 to spend on summer entertainment for your kids when you do not actually need child care you are NOT working class. It is sad that in some areas apparently that is considered working class. People have really ust completley lost sight of what it means to truly struggle. Working class people have to make choices like food or a car repair b/c they truly just do make ends meet!! To me this is what working class means. I will be the first to admint that I do not consider myself working class b/c we own our own home and do not have to struggle every week to make our bills, by hard work, good luck, and the grace of God. I admit that we have a lot of things we don't really need, but i can guarntee you they would be cut in a heart beat if times got toug for us. We have at one time had to make the decision between food or gas to get to work, and it is frankly a little insulting that people who can afford luxuries like these consider it struggling to get by. call it a high horse if you want, but I call it being grounded in the reality of life for those less fortunate than myself.

I'm done trying to get through. You obviously don't get it at all.

It seems no one will be able to get through to her UNLESS they agree with how awful it is to pay so much and only get one shirt. Maybe if she were faced with living on the street or deciding between food, gas, and a doctor she would better understand. I have friends who have lost their job and keeping COBRA was NOT an option as that would take food away from their kids.

Imagine having a child come home upset because their friend is not getting to eat dinner as her family has no extra money. Our school district is involved with the backpack program so kids don't have to starve on the weekends. This is what happens to many working class families here. Many of the kids in my children's schools do NOT get Disney vacations and are lucky to get food to eat outside of school. During the summer we have the free lunch program so kids can eat one meal a day. There are kids too young to be left home legally being left home alone because their parents have no alternative and cannot afford daycare or "priviledged kids camp". I have a friend that works at a day camp for the summer and the kids are 12 and younger that attend there. The kids are happy to get to go to the waterpark, bowling, etc one day a week. Many of these kids do not have this option outside of this camp program.

Sorry but it really seems like the complaining and throwing the cost in the face was a slap in the face to those here looking for true budget help. If she wanted to vent about the shirt than take it to the families board NOT the budget board. As far as if someone pays $5000 for their Disney trip, I could care less unless they start whining about what they didn't get and remind everyone at least 10 times how much the trip cost. @@

 

[princessmom29]

It seems no one will be able to get through to her UNLESS they agree with how awful it is to pay so much and only get one shirt. Maybe if she were faced with living on the street or deciding between food, gas, and a doctor she would better understand. I have friends who have lost their job and keeping COBRA was NOT an option as that would take food away from their kids.

Imagine having a child come home upset because their friend is not getting to eat dinner as her family has no extra money. Our school district is involved with the backpack program so kids don't have to starve on the weekends. This is what happens to many working class families here. Many of the kids in my children's schools do NOT get Disney vacations and are lucky to get food to eat outside of school. During the summer we have the free lunch program so kids can eat one meal a day. There are kids too young to be left home legally being left home alone because their parents have no alternative and cannot afford daycare or "priviledged kids camp". I have a friend that works at a day camp for the summer and the kids are 12 and younger that attend there. The kids are happy to get to go to the waterpark, bowling, etc one day a week. Many of these kids do not have this option outside of this camp program.

Sorry but it really seems like the complaining and throwing the cost in the face was a slap in the face to those here looking for true budget help. If she wanted to vent about the shirt than take it to the families board NOT the budget board. As far as if someone pays $5000 for their Disney trip, I could care less unless they start whining about what they didn't get and remind everyone at least 10 times how much the trip cost. @@

Thanks, it makes me feel better knowing at least someone got where i was coming from!

 

[mindyd]

I will not post again on here because I have wasted way to much time over something that is so simple. You actually were the one that brought up the cost of the Camp here is the post. You also brought it up numerous times my point is just because something is expensie does not mean tha that you are entitled to things. I am sorry but whining about washing a shirt is just crazy especially when a thread under yours is support for people who were laid off.

Maybe if you explain to the Camp that you are just unable to do laundry during the Summer because it is to big of a issue they will give you another shirt. Also the amount of time you have been on this thread trying to have people feel sorry for you could have been a load of laundry.

Well buying extra was not presented as an option. And to be perfectly honest for 6k, they should give this small group of kids that do this travel program (only 2 groups boys and girls) 3 shirts.

Well it is a big deal since they are sent to this camp for the perks... Perk 1) I don't have to prepare lunches 2) they provide towels (see I don't have to do laundry) 3) they launder the kids bath suits (see I don't have to do laundry) 4) air condition transportation

Yes, the perks are great which is why my kids are sent there. That is why this suprises me and bothers me.

I do enough laudnry over the summer on weekends with towels and stuff to have to do it during the week too. I really don't want to do extra laundry!! I also don't want to waste soap and water just for 1 shirt..

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Thanks !!

Thank you!!!!

You're welcome! Not that I am thinking that way or anything , but I typed the same way once myself and it took forever to figure out what I had said!

 

[MickeyP]

WHAT???????? How DARE they call themselves an accreditted camp for children. Don't they know what an imposition it is to ask that a shirt be washed? I have never heard of anything SO insane in my whole life. Yes, yes, absolutely they should have included an extra shirt in the price. Well, 2 extras really, or as many as you wanted. And just think of all the wear they will get when your kid is not in the camp anymore. I don't know about you, but when my kid comes home from church, or sports, or whatever, he always asks if he can wear his Day Camp shirt. In fact, I can't think of a time when he wasn't wearing his beautifully, graphic designed, Day Camp Shirt. I wish I had one in my size.

 

[thing#2]

Whatever the cost of living wherever you are I think it is really going overboard to expect that camp consist of all of these expensive trips off campus. A PP said that they would expect more time off campus than on. Let me give you a little insight into what is more than likely going on at those camps that are taking the kids to all these "fabulous" activities all the time b/c I have seen it from the inside. Their mentality is likely " We don't want to have to actually plan activities for these kids and actually interact with them. That is too much work. I would actually have to get off my butt and do something and make an effort to connect with these kids. we'll just overloard them with activites and trips we can do off campus and let someone else do the work. We can just pass the cost on to the parents b/c they will pay whatever we want to charge if we bill ourselves as the best, most exclusive camp around. After all it is only the best for little Johnny right? That way we'll be making money hand over fist and never actually have to do anything!" So rather than actually getting healthy interaction with their counselors doing things like a game of kickball or a craft project, or learning something new, they spend there days on rock climbing walls, driving gocarts, or at six flags where the couselors only have to sit back and supervise.
I worked at one of these on a much smaller scale here for about 2 weeks when I was in college before I found another camp where interaction with the kids was more important than flashy stuff. I hesitated to share this, but I thought you might want to know what the real reason likely is for all the go, go, go.

oh. my. goodness. so i worked at an outing based camp half of last summer and i must say.. it's quite the STTREETTCHH to go from a counselor choosing to go to a neat show to them not caring.. i mean.. you must be right.. because the campers i was in charge of got to go on some pretty neat little outings, that must automatically mean i'm a horrible counselor that doesn't want to spend time with them or care about them.. ya know.. now i know what their parents must have been thinking when their kids sent my mom cards and flowers when she was really really sick.. it must have been obvious that i didn't care one bit about them and i felt horrible for leaving mid-summer..

(just as a side note.. you're right.. because some camp directors planned a couple outings a week that MUST mean they don't care about those kids.. it must mean they don't want to actually spent time with them.. well gee.. it's not like they would EVER want any child to have a cool experience with camp friends that they will remember for years to come.. you're right.. nope.. they don't care one bit about those kids..)

ya know.. the original poster did put "VENT" in the title of this thread.. and for the record she was upset because she felt gipped by the decisions of the camp's directors regarding number of t-shirts.. but actually, little known fact here, as a member of a PUBLIC forum... she CAN... what's it to you if someone was complaining that they had payed $700 this month to have their coffee delivered to their bedside and one day it was lukewarm.. does that make them sound a little silly, well maybe to most people.. but should we judge them? (apparently so.. ) i thought not..

just because YOU wouldn't pay $x.xx for a camp doesn't mean that because she is, whatever action by the camp that gets under her skin shouldn't matter or is unreasonable.

but really.. thorough job here of being judgemental dis'ers. nice work.

 

[princessmom29]

oh. my. goodness. so i worked at an outing based camp half of last summer and i must say.. it's quite the STTREETTCHH to go from a counselor choosing to go to a neat show to them not caring.. i mean.. you must be right.. because the campers i was in charge of got to go on some pretty neat little outings, that must automatically mean i'm a horrible counselor that doesn't want to spend time with them or care about them.. ya know.. now i know what their parents must have been thinking when their kids sent my mom cards and flowers when she was really really sick.. it must have been obvious that i didn't care one bit about them and i felt horrible for leaving mid-summer..

(just as a side note.. you're right.. because some camp directors planned a couple outings a week that MUST mean they don't care about those kids.. it must mean they don't want to actually spent time with them.. well gee.. it's not like they would EVER want any child to have a cool experience with camp friends that they will remember for years to come.. you're right.. nope.. they don't care one bit about those kids..)

ya know.. the original poster did put "VENT" in the title of this thread.. and for the record she was upset because she felt gipped by the decisions of the camp's directors regarding number of t-shirts.. but actually, little known fact here, as a member of a PUBLIC forum... she CAN... what's it to you if someone was complaining that they had payed $700 this month to have their coffee delivered to their bedside and one day it was lukewarm.. does that make them sound a little silly, well maybe to most people.. but should we judge them? (apparently so.. ) i thought not..

just because YOU wouldn't pay $x.xx for a camp doesn't mean that because she is, whatever action by the camp that gets under her skin shouldn't matter or is unreasonable.

but really.. thorough job here of being judgemental dis'ers. nice work.

You are 19 and still just a bit idealistic so I am being nice here. The cold hard reality is that your camp was apparently the exception to the rule, b/c I have actually worked in more than one summer camp in my 31 years and most are quite a bit more jaded than what you describe if they are truly honest about it. To follow your own logic I am to assume that just because you cared and did a good jopb that everyone will do the same??We are not talking a couple of special things a week here. The op reported go carts, rock walls, cooking classes, tennis lessons, swim lessons, six flags trips weekly ect. Any camp that overscheduled cannot really be providing adequate interaction. It is one activity after another, and the only reason to schedule things that tightly is so that you don't truly have to deal with the kids. Just keep them too busy to notice.

 

[JoiseyMom]

You are 19 and still just a bit idealistic so I am being nice here. The cold hard reality is that your camp was apparently the exception to the rule, b/c I have actually worked in more than one summer camp in my 31 years and most are quite a bit more jaded than what you describe if they are truly honest about it. To follow your own logic I am to assume that just because you cared and did a good jopb that everyone will do the same??We are not talking a couple of special things a week here. The op reported go carts, rock walls, cooking classes, tennis lessons, swim lessons, six flags trips weekly ect. Any camp that overscheduled cannot really be providing adequate interaction. It is one activity after another, and the only reason to schedule things that tightly is so that you don't truly have to deal with the kids. Just keep them too busy to notice.

Wow..you are being NICE...who a thunk it!! The poster made a very intelligent mature statement. You would have never known her age if it wasn't posted in her sig!

For your information, I never said tennis lessons. And they are not that tightly scheduled! They have periods, just like school!! Wow...and they do not have everything everyday!! The older they get, the more they get to decide what they want to do! Certain things like swim are everyday. Wow...how horrible having kids swim during the HOT summer. For shame. And teaching them how to cook, and mad science and ceramics. Wow..that is such a waste of their time. They should just be sitting in a park looking at each other?? Should they have one on one interaction with the counselors?? Wow...do the shcools where you live do that?? Is there much interaction or are the teaching subject after subject???

How is going to Six Flags every other Tuesday over scheduled? How is her enjoying the shore so bad? If she was home and I took her on these trips with her brother, ya know what.... she would be bored to tears because she wasn't with her peers SOCIALIZING!! Camp gives them such better interaction and friendships then school does! They are on equal footing and HAVING FUN!! The one thing my kids have never said to me about camp is that they are BORED! They have blast...from playing, cooking, singing, swimming, practicing for talent shows and just hanging out!

You are being very ignorant to say that these camps are doing what you say. In my 26 years of being a parent, and dealing with more camps then I care to count over the years, I have only seen one that didn't care about the kids, and the counselors were just there to watch the children. And that is the inexpensive town run one.

So, the kids in my area shouldn't swim, rock climb, boat, go cart, cook, and do all the fun sports and other activities...then what in your vast 31 years of experience is your ideal of a camp program??

Should they just be home watching tv, videos games, playing with freinds, riding their bikes, reading and go stir crazy?? Tell me Miss Expert...what is your opinion!!

 

[MaumeeMom]

I am not saying that you don't have to budget I also try to save money any way I can. What I am saying is you are whining about washing a shirt. I really do not care if your kids go to a expensive camp great for you my daughters get to do alot of things that are expensive but I dont then complain about using a little bit of electricity and laundry detergent. Also if you can afford to send them there and washing clothes is too hard pay the 15.00 a shirt and get more of them.

I normally do not post in these type of threads and if I dont have anything nice to say 99.9 percent of the time I don't say it. BUT considering how the Economy is and everything else going on in the World the fact you might have to do a load of laundry during the week is CRAZY. I am sorry I can not feel sorry for you having to do laundry and you are the one that keeps bringing up the cost of the Camp which makes me wonder if the shirts or even the issue or you just waned to brag about what you are paying for Camp.

AMEN!

OP you picked the wrong audience for your "venting". This is the budget board where people come to try to find ways to stretch a dollar. Some are having trouble making it from paycheck to paycheck - that is if they are even getting a paycheck anymore.

You have three options:
1. Have DD be responsible for her own shirt.
2. Shell out the $15
3. Suck it up and wash the shirt yourself.

As for the "Green" thing - it is actually better for the environment to wash the shirt using a green detergent in an HE machine or by hand than it is to produce that extra shirt that you so covet.

I know that I am being judgmental but it is probably because I am so tired; you see, I have been staying up late nightly washing my DH's volunteer shirt which we purchased.

 

[kevschickee]

Wow..you are being NICE...who a thunk it!! The poster made a very intelligent mature statement. You would have never known her age if it wasn't posted in her sig!

For your information, I never said tennis lessons. And they are not that tightly scheduled! They have periods, just like school!! Wow...and they do not have everything everyday!! The older they get, the more they get to decide what they want to do! Certain things like swim are everyday. Wow...how horrible having kids swim during the HOT summer. For shame. And teaching them how to cook, and mad science and ceramics. Wow..that is such a waste of their time. They should just be sitting in a park looking at each other?? Should they have one on one interaction with the counselors?? Wow...do the shcools where you live do that?? Is there much interaction or are the teaching subject after subject???

How is going to Six Flags every other Tuesday over scheduled? How is her enjoying the shore so bad? If she was home and I took her on these trips with her brother, ya know what.... she would be bored to tears because she wasn't with her peers SOCIALIZING!! Camp gives them such better interaction and friendships then school does! They are on equal footing and HAVING FUN!! The one thing my kids have never said to me about camp is that they are BORED! They have blast...from playing, cooking, singing, swimming, practicing for talent shows and just hanging out!

You are being very ignorant to say that these camps are doing what you say. In my 26 years of being a parent, and dealing with more camps then I care to count over the years, I have only seen one that didn't care about the kids, and the counselors were just there to watch the children. And that is the inexpensive town run one.

So, the kids in my area shouldn't swim, rock climb, boat, go cart, cook, and do all the fun sports and other activities...then what in your vast 31 years of experience is your ideal of a camp program??

Should they just be home watching tv, videos games, playing with freinds, riding their bikes, reading and go stir crazy?? Tell me Miss Expert...what is your opinion!!

She is nice because she agrees with you. You are the one being rude esp with this reply

 

[Leajess99]

Should they just be home watching tv, videos games, playing with freinds, riding their bikes, reading and go stir crazy?? Tell me Miss Expert...what is your opinion!!

What exactly is wrong with staying home playing with friends or riding bikes?? I guess I am damafed because I grew up riding bikes in the summer with my friends and having fun with friends over going to some outrageously expensive camp. Give me a break because I know my kids love the time spent with their friends and family. Many kids attending camp would so much prefer to spend that time with their family but they can't because their parents are working. Very sad that you just cannot see it and feel the need to through the cost in the face of others. Do you really think people were going to think you are any better than them because you can throw your kids off to a $6000 camp?? I actually feel sorry for you and your kids because money isn't everything. Life is short and it is too bad you don't seem to realize what you are missing out on. You never know what could happen tomorrow so spend your time today with the ones you love. I am so thankful that my kids are being raised differently because they love going on trips with their family and spending time as a family. They love being able to play with their friends and run around and do things outside or just sit back reading books.

And save your rude response because I am so tired of reading your excuses why you felt the need to throw this "vent" on here where so many are struggling and going without. How dare the DISers not bow down and feel bad for you over 1 t-shirt? @@

 

[Leajess99]

ya know.. the original poster did put "VENT" in the title of this thread.. and for the record she was upset because she felt gipped by the decisions of the camp's directors regarding number of t-shirts.. but actually, little known fact here, as a member of a PUBLIC forum... she CAN... what's it to you if someone was complaining that they had payed $700 this month to have their coffee delivered to their bedside and one day it was lukewarm.. does that make them sound a little silly, well maybe to most people.. but should we judge them? (apparently so.. ) i thought not..

So she put vent in the title yet she chose to post the cost numerous times on a budget board where people are trying to find ways to save money and support for job loss. @@ It doesn't make her complaining any more appreciated and yes if I choose to judge it is MY choice. That is the great thing about this Country, Freedom of Speech given to us by our many Veterans and Servicemembers. If she didn't want people to judge than she should not have put it out there. There are people with so much worse problems right now to include at least one family dealing with the uncertainty of what is happening to their child who was taken captive in Afghanistan. There are families losing loved ones in a war far from home, families where the moneymaker is now unemployed and struggling to find jobs, children going to bed hungry, and children fighting horrible diseases and dying before their time. Do I feel sorry for her?? Why yes I do. I feel sorry for the fact that she seems to think that by spending that much and sending her kids off to camp during the Summer her kids will be better off. Kids spend enough time in school away from their parents so why is it necessary for a SAHM to send her kids off because they may "drive her crazy"?? It seems very sad to me and I know all too many parents that would give anything to be able to stay home with their kids but it is not an option. I know parents who are many miles even across oceans from their children that would give anything to be able to kiss them goodnight. I was once a parent like that and I am thankful that I am able to be home with my children now.

Remember to Thank a Veteran because Freedom is NOT Free. Thank you to all Soldiers, Military Families and Veterans!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[hentob]

Should they just be home watching tv, videos games, playing with freinds, riding their bikes, reading and go stir crazy?? Tell me Miss Expert...what is your opinion!!

I find it sad that there are children out there that would go “stir crazy” with riding bikes, playing with friends, reading, etc. during the summer

My children wake up, eat breakfast and head to the playground with their bikes and meet up with gobs of friends. They come home sweaty and happy. We then head to the community pool--where they meet up with a whole new set of friends

As for reading, ahhhh....I love to see them drag themselves out of the pool, and lay on their towels with their read-of-the-week

So "just being home" is what you make of it

 

[tinkermom23]

When we talked to DS9 about this summer plans, we asked if he wanted to do baseball or try another sport. He said "neither."
We asked if he wanted to go to the same church camp or try a new one with his best buddy, he said "neither."
He asked him what he plans on doing all summer?
"I plan on reading, riding my bike, and hanging out. Why do I have to be doing stuff all the time?"
Ok, why did it take a 9 yr.old to open my eyes to what summer vacation really is???
We compromised and he is taking a short session on piano lessons and going to Cub Scout camp. We have went to the lake, he's finished 4 chapter books, he rides bike every day, hangs out with his friends, and he learned to make brownies from scratch, all by himself! and summer vacation is only 1/3 done! Oh, and we have a garden were he has a corner to himself!