Completely OT Need Some Ideas For DD

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I need some help thinking of something nice to do with my DD that is not too over the top. Long story short (hopefully). I have 3 kids, 2 girls and a boy. 2 of my kids are extremely easy going. They adjust to any change very well and make friends easily. My middle daughter has always had problems. She has a hard time making friends and has a harder time with school and everything in general. She has a field trip coming up and I told her that I would go if I wasn't called back to work. Well sure enough I was called to training that very week of the field trip. She will be crushed. I am so upset. Except work there isn't anything that would have kept me from that field trip. I would like to do something with her to let her know that I love her and she is very special but at the same time I don't think it would be fair to do something totally outrageous and make my 2 other kids feel left out. What would you do?
Thnaks

 

[Mommee]

Do you have a relative that could go with her? That's the first thing I would try to do. Maybe a low-key "girls night out" as soon as possible after the field trip? Having that to look forward to might make you not being there a little easier..

 

[buckler]

Maybe you could bake cookies together and she could take some with her on the field trip (either just for herself or to share with the class). This way she can share the cookies with her siblings too so they won't feel left out.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Do you have a relative that could go with her? That's the first thing I would try to do. Maybe a low-key "girls night out" as soon as possible after the field trip? Having that to look forward to might make you not being there a little easier..

I was thinking maybe a low key spa day down at the local beauty college. We can get a mani-pedi and it won't costs a fortune. My oldest DD isn't into nails and my DS couldn't care less. As far as another relative going she really wants me there. We had to turn the info into the school 2 weeks ago and they let us know that parents aren't really wanted. I think this is due to budget constraints. Any parent going has to pay their own way.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Maybe you could bake cookies together and she could take some with her on the field trip (either just for herself or to share with the class). This way she can share the cookies with her siblings too so they won't feel left out.

This is another good idea. She loves searching the Internet for recipies. I can let her pick one and we can make it together.

 

[swilshire]

What is her age?

Sheila

 

[canadianjovigirl]

I always included a card from Hallmark to enclose in my kids lunch bag if they were having a tough time with something...just a note to put a smile on their face and for them to know i was missing them and wish i could be there with them...my kids loved them, i still use them sometimes and my kids are 9, 11 and 15..............

 

[Darcy03231]

I have four children and at one point or another all of them can feel like they're "lost in the crowd". While they were growing up and younger (two are off at college now, one is senior in high school and one is a sophomore in high school) DH and I each set aside alone time with each child for a few hours once a month. It gave them all some one on one time with each of us and they had our undivided attention for that time. Sometimes we did a picnic in the park, went the libraray, went to a movie, etc. Nothing expensive was involved. All the kids loved it and looked forward to it. Maybe you could do something like that with each of your children. If you spend one on one time with one and not the others that could cause some problems with the other kids.

 

[Mathfailure]

Middle ones! They are the hardest so often, and I "are" one!

How about a 'field trip' with her on your time off? If your other two are easy going I am certain that you can present it in a way that will smooth it over with them. A museum or the like with you and her, with the educational part slipped in as a bonus!

 

[ktlm]

I think you are definitely on the right track. I would suggest a girls day with just the two of you, involving the mani/pedi you mentioned for both of you; a nice lunch with just the two of you at either a place of her choice or a nice place you have picked for her and suggested; and maybe even a movie or a little shopping to top it off. If your other 2 kids are easy-going, all you should have to do is explain that since you couldn't spend the day with her on her field trip and she will be disappointed, that this is what you are going to do for her instead. You might even tell them ahead of time, so that they will feel like they are in on the "surprise" when you tell her- unless you think it will upset her that they found out you could not go on the field trip before she did.