Field Trip T-Shirts - I just gotta vent...

[robinb]

But I have three boys and the youngest, the one who has to wear this shirt, is soooo not in to pink. We're talking about a boy whose favorite shirts sport skulls - youthful and fun skulls, but skulls none-the-less and the darker and blacker the better...

Buy black fabric paint and allow him to paint a big skull on it.

 

[cbg1027]

If I understand right, I think what you're venting over is the fact that you ended up having to pay for a shirt your son won't wear, correct?
If that's the case, I am sorry, I know that $5 means a lot right now while you're unemployed.

But I do want to point out that the "pink is only for girls" isn't something you have to teach your son - you could keep the shirt and try and see if he will wear it...$5 bucks for a nice hand-dyed tee is a pretty good deal.

This reminds of this article: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/When-Did-Girls-Start-Wearing-Pink.html

 

[stacy2197]

Our school color is purple. At first it seemed girly but the longer were in this town the more neutral it seems. Matter of fact the girls basketball team got grey uniform shirts and the boys decided they liked the old purple ones better.

 

[yesiamcrazy]

My boys were part of a team one time that had the gray camo shirts with pink writing on it. My boys didn't seem to notice or care (and neither did the son of the woman who did them) but some boys quit rather than wear those shirts. I'm sure she didn't think it would be a big deal, but I know it is to some boys. I wouldn't want to pay for a shirt my son hated either.

 

[minniebeth]

I wouldn't want to pay for a shirt my son hated either.

The issue is really not about the shirt...it's about creating unity of the school, classes, spirit and in safety.

 

[3boymthr]

At least he won't get lost...

Ahhh... but they did, but that's another thread.

As PP put it I'm just annoyed at having to pay for a shirt he hates.

And really, really, I do get the unity thing and I do get the finding the kids easily and identifying which class they belong to, etc.

In past years we've had green tie dye, blue tie dye, (District colors are Green and Yellow BTW), sponge stamped shirts, shirts with names on them, shirts with iron-ons, shirts with hand prints. All were worn again. Mostly for bed but hey, at least they didn't go to waste.

We got a notice home they have to wear them again next week for a newspaper photo op and for field day and for an additional field trip they will have in June.

 

[cinabug]

Though it sounds like the volunteer may have possibly just made a dying mistake, if she did choose the colors, I think she could have done a better job with selection. It's tempting to let your kid pick the colors, and that's what I imagine may have happened, but you still need to be conscious that the shirts are for both boys and girls. I'm a teacher, and I've seen phases come and go where the boys were into wearing pink. It the OP's boys are in a school that is not in one of those phases, pink can be just unacceptable for many boys. In the OP's situation, I might be a little peeved, not upset enough to complain at school, but upset enough to vent a little to my friends. That's what she's doing here.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well--we could get open minded and understand that boys wear pink.

In fact I just saw a polo (Ralph Lauren?) ad where a very good looking male model was pretty much all in pink.

Girls wear blue.

I do understand your frustration though.

My 4yo son likes pink. He has 3 sisters. He is very much into boy things, but for now, I have decided not to condemn when he picks pink on something because I don't want him to associate it as shameful and girlie.

Sometimes--kids have to wear a uniform that they may not like the color, style or texture. The shirt is a uniform. That is life.

I hope they aren't doing a new shirt for EACH field trip--that is completely wasteful!

ETA: There was a fireman somewhere in DC Metro area where someone gifted him a PINK firefighter's outfit. He won't wear it to fight fires. But he will use it to promote Breast Cancer awareness. I have to say after what this man has been through and what he is willing to do that a field trip shirt that has pink on it is not a big deal.


Have you and your son watch the video and think how much worse life can be than wearing pink tie dye.
http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/health/f...or-sisters-and-breast-cancer-awareness-042611

 

[3boymthr]

Though it sounds like the volunteer may have possibly just made a dying mistake, if she did choose the colors, I think she could have done a better job with selection. It's tempting to let your kid pick the colors, and that's what I imagine may have happened, but you still need to be conscious that the shirts are for both boys and girls. I'm a teacher, and I've seen phases come and go where the boys were into wearing pink. It the OP's boys are in a school that is not in one of those phases, pink can be just unacceptable for many boys. In the OP's situation, I might be a little peeved, not upset enough to complain at school, but upset enough to vent a little to my friends. That's what she's doing here.

I am not saying anything to the teacher or to the other room parents. I want to complain a little, but certainly don't want to hurt someone's feelings.

 

[Jedana]

My son's elementary school has "school shirts". Each class is given a color (for example, there are 8 1st grade classes, set in pairs of 2, so 1 set goes blue, 1 red, 1 yellow and 1 green). The school then provides a shirt for each child in each class (so a total of 36 blue, 36 red, etc). The shirts are a basic color, with the school name and logo on them.

The shirts stay with the "paired classes" from year to year and are only brought out for big group events, like field trips or field day. The school has a washer and dryer that was donated, so they are washed after each use, with no fabric softener and a "free" detergent. If there is a child with a specific allergy, the child is allowed to bring the shirt home to be laundered, but must return it within 7 days.

There is no charge for the shirts, which I am happy with. The PTA covers the cost (so, come to think of it, I am paying for....PTA dues, the monthly fund raising....)

As far as the pink, my son wouldn't wear it. He doesn't like pink. At all. Won't even eat pink cotton candy. but that is the nature of 7 year olds. For a time there, it was yellow and before that it was green.

 

[tlbwriter]

Though it sounds like the volunteer may have possibly just made a dying mistake, if she did choose the colors, I think she could have done a better job with selection. It's tempting to let your kid pick the colors, and that's what I imagine may have happened, but you still need to be conscious that the shirts are for both boys and girls. I'm a teacher, and I've seen phases come and go where the boys were into wearing pink. It the OP's boys are in a school that is not in one of those phases, pink can be just unacceptable for many boys. In the OP's situation, I might be a little peeved, not upset enough to complain at school, but upset enough to vent a little to my friends. That's what she's doing here.

Agree with all of the above. Boys wear pink, but that doesn't mean all boys wear pink all the time. It's still considered a "girly" color sometime and someplace, and the mother really should have known better, IMHO. It's not a huge deal, but the OP isn't trying to make it a huge deal - just a little vent where it's appropriate to do so.

 

[AndreaDM]

My husband and all the guys he works with (garden center) are wearing pink today. They had special pink shirts ordered that they wore on Mother's Day, and are wearing them today because they are hosting a special ladies night tonight. They got TONS of compliments on them on Sunday! I guess I just don't see the point in getting all worked up over it for ONE day...just let the small things go, there are so many bigger things to be worried about.

 

[Marionnette]

Does your school do this?

Send in a T that the kids in the class will decorate so they all match and the teacher can find them.

Most of the time I don't mind the idea of the shirts. I pull out one of their bed time t-shirts and send it in. After the field trip the shirt is still good for bed and usually also good for summer camp, etc.

This time around one of the moms volunteered to pick up and tie dye the shirts for the kids to wear. She does this as a hobby so offered to do it with better dyes and Ts. Very nice of her to offer. The shirt came home yesterday and it was really nice quality - the colors are bright and clear - nice professional looking pattern.

The cost was $5 - not that big a deal in the large scheme of things - but when that shirt came home I got really aggravated by the whole thing. Why? Because 1) I'm on unemployment which runs out in 4 weeks so I'm watching my pennies really carefully and 2) she died them Pink - pale pink, fuscia with a touch of orange. Really? My SON really really wants to wear a pink shirt - Not.

She did a great job and I know this was a lot of effort on her part - But Pink! I know she has a daughter and that's probably why she chose this color scheme but don't you think she should have asked the opinion of the class - or at least double checked her choice with the room parents? I betting the boys in the class would have okayed the orange but vetoed the pink.

BTW - Other classes tie dyed their shirts as well. The kids picked out the colors by class vote and did the dyeing themselves. The colors weren't as vibrant, the patterns not a good but they were green, blue, yellow, red, etc. - colors both boys and girls would wear.

I'll be donating the shirt to Goodwill so it won't go completely to waste.

Thanks for letting me vent.

I don't see what the big deal is.

If the colors had been more to your liking, you still would be out $5 on your tight budget. The color has nothing to do with that. If it bugs you that much, do what robinb suggested and grab some dark fabric paint and let your son go to town making it more "masculine". If you don't have any fabric paint, then get out the bleach bottle and fade that pink away.

 

[ceecee]

When a group all have the same color they are easier to keep track of. I would have loved the tye dye shirt for $5, we usually just pick a color and have all the kids wear a red shirt or somehing. I made them for Disney and they are so easy to see everyone in your party.

 

[Poohforyou]

Sometimes kids (and adults) have to wear things they don't want to. It's just a part of life. This is one of those "suck it up buttercup" moments IMO. As for your DS getting lost from what others have posted about that park it doesn't seem like that really was the case since all paths led to the same spot.

 

[honeydiane1953]

Does your school do this?

Send in a T that the kids in the class will decorate so they all match and the teacher can find them.

Most of the time I don't mind the idea of the shirts. I pull out one of their bed time t-shirts and send it in. After the field trip the shirt is still good for bed and usually also good for summer camp, etc.

This time around one of the moms volunteered to pick up and tie dye the shirts for the kids to wear. She does this as a hobby so offered to do it with better dyes and Ts. Very nice of her to offer. The shirt came home yesterday and it was really nice quality - the colors are bright and clear - nice professional looking pattern.

The cost was $5 - not that big a deal in the large scheme of things - but when that shirt came home I got really aggravated by the whole thing. Why? Because 1) I'm on unemployment which runs out in 4 weeks so I'm watching my pennies really carefully and 2) she died them Pink - pale pink, fuscia with a touch of orange. Really? My SON really really wants to wear a pink shirt - Not.

She did a great job and I know this was a lot of effort on her part - But Pink! I know she has a daughter and that's probably why she chose this color scheme but don't you think she should have asked the opinion of the class - or at least double checked her choice with the room parents? I betting the boys in the class would have okayed the orange but vetoed the pink.

BTW - Other classes tie dyed their shirts as well. The kids picked out the colors by class vote and did the dyeing themselves. The colors weren't as vibrant, the patterns not a good but they were green, blue, yellow, red, etc. - colors both boys and girls would wear.

I'll be donating the shirt to Goodwill so it won't go completely to waste.

Thanks for letting me vent.

This lady who did the work went out of her way to help. She had to please both boys and girls. I understand your financial dilemma however I think u r wrong. Plz don't flame me!

 

[TickleMeTink]

Each class in out school has a class shirt that we order at the beginning of the year. I think it was $10. Each grade has the sane design but each class has different colors. They wear then for field trips, field day and school event.

I wouldn't have a problem letting my son wear a pink tie dye class shirt. Nothing wrong with boys wearing pink.

 

[carebee21]

You just sound so ungrateful. I've read this thread and your other thread about your son getting "lost" on the field trip. The main thing that stands out to me is you're whining about volunteers. These are individuals who take time out of their day to help with a field trip or a field trip shirt. They're not getting paid to do so, they're being helpful. If you're on unemployment and your kids are of school age, so would be in school, why aren't you volunteering? Beggers can't be choosy, so stop critizing the people that step in and do what you won't or cant!

As far as the color, big deal. Whoever dyed them clearly wasn't profitting from making the shirts, and the $5 probably only covered the high quality shirt. So maybe she got a great deal on a lot of pink dye or already had alot? Maybe she didn't want to go and spend her own money to buy dye... Maybe she thought she had a more gender neutral color but when she went to dye the shirts, realized she wouldn't have enough for 20+ shirts and didn't want to run out to the store at that point in time? You never know the reasoning but you should just be grateful someone took the time out of their life to do something for the entire class.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I do think people are needlessly jumping all over the original poster. She did compliment the maker on the quality of the project, but was upset that she felt like money was wasted as her son won't wear the shirt again.. She came here to vent which is perfectly acceptable. She was not being ungrateful. I had my hours cut in half two summers ago, so I understand where the OP was coming from. It is very stressful when your money is tight or coming to an end.

While I agree guys can wear pink, it is usually not the color of choice for most boys. I do think the t-shirt maker mom should of thought this through a little further. Just orange only probably would have fine and more palatable for the boys to wear after.

Nobody on the budget board likes to waste money and that is exactly what the OP feels like happened. I can understand feeling the need to vent.

 

[honeydiane1953]

I'm very grateful this other mom was willing to take on the dyeing and having done tie-dye I totally appreciate the work that went into the shirt. And if I had a girl I'd be loving this shirt. The color definitely did not start out as red. It's too girly girl of a pink. If the colors were Red and Orange or Blue and Orange or even Purple and Orange I'd be fine with it.

But I have three boys and the youngest, the one who has to wear this shirt, is soooo not in to pink. We're talking about a boy whose favorite shirts sport skulls - youthful and fun skulls, but skulls none-the-less and the darker and blacker the better...

And yes, I know it's just $5, and I've certainly wasted more money in less productive ways, but when you're already pinching pennies, $5 down the drain, when if the other person could have done something a little more gender friendly, is kind of annoying.