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

[spacemountainmom]

Geez people - judgemental much?

My ds11 would not wear a pink shirt if you gave him a free trip to Disney (ok - maybe for that!) I think it stems from the fact that I used to dress him in his older sister's old sleepers since no one but us would see him anyways. I guess I scarred the poor kid for life. He wouldn't even wear one when his school had a wear pink for Breast Cancer Awareness day. It just isn't his thing.

However, his dad and both grandpas wear pink without a problem. Someday my ds may change his mind, but I literally would probably have the glue the shirt the op described on him. He is allowed to his opinion, but I would make him wear it for the field trip and then it would get passed on to someone who would appreciate it.

OTOH, If the mom who made the shirts intended on pink - WHAT WAS SHE THINKING???? Gender neutral is not a bad thing!

OP - you have my sympathy and I completely understand your need to VENT. It would annoy me and fortunately my budget is not as squeezed as yours.

 

[merekc]

Wow!! I too am surprised how many people are jumping the OP over this.

1. She is just venting.

2. I would venture to say most younger boys do not wear pink. You can't even compare that to husbands, teens or fashion conscience kids. At our school, I've maybe seen a handful of boys wear any type of pink over the last few years.

3. The volunteer mother was insensitive to choose colors that would not be appropriate to the entire group. The OP said this was her hobby, then she should know that reds can turn pink, etc. I find it hard to believe she didn't realize how the shirts would turn out. She either didn't care or didn't think it through.

I absolutely agree that it is a class shirt and the kids are stuck wearing it. And my kids would need to wear it with a cheerful attitude and be thankful to the parent who did it. My DS would put up a fight but he would end up wearing it. But I understand completely why the OP needed to vent. The choice of colors created an avoidable problem/fight that didn't have to be. And add to that if money is tight, then it is already frustrating because this time of year you are nickel and dimed to death at school. It makes it worse to see something that is going straight to Goodwill after the event. I see it everyday on the Disboards, not everyone has $5 to burn.

I'm not sure the age of her son, but elementary and some middle school boys can have strong feelings on the color pink and not yet be mature enough to realize it doesn't really matter.

 

[IndianaPrincess]

Do you know how many times my daughter has to wear a blue or green shirt? GASP! A BOY COLOR! What a waste of money it was that the only option was a boy color. Very insensitive of the person making the selection, dontcha think? All kid shirts should be white to avoid this issue of forcing kids to wear the incorrect gender color.

Tongue in cheek there - if your kid won't wear the shirt again, that's his/your problem, not the schools and not the volunteer mom. This is what I'd tell a friend venting IRL too.

 

[southern_redhead]

I don't think the OP is ungrateful at all...she would be ungrateful if she'd complained to the mother who donated her time to make the shirts, she would be ungrateful if she had gone to the teacher and demanded the shirts be remade to her liking, she would be ungrateful if she had gone to the principal and demanded her money back........but I don't see venting on an online messageboard about not liking the shirt and being a bit sad that the cost ($5) was high for her AT THIS POINT for a shirt he won't want to wear again.

FWIW, with 3 kids I have a plethora of class shirts stashed here at the house and most of them are horrid colors LOL I will say I liked ODS's first grade shirt (teal with chartreuse writing) and DD's class shirt this year (black with white writing) but we have had some doozies - maroon tie dye (those words shouldn't even be in a sentence together, much less on a shirt LOL) and she is a REDHEAD, she looked washed out and it made her hair look ORANGE. I know you can't pick a color that will work and be liked by 20 kids but it is disappointing when it doesn't work for you. Our shirts run the $7 - $10 range. They are cheapo quality shirts but they have them screenprinted, thus the cost. I'd rather have a homemade tie dye shirt on a better quality but that is just me. I never know what size to buy - will it shrink 2 sizes or not? LOL So we have had some really odd fitting shirts in the past Oh well, we only wear them on days they are specified (field trips, field day, sometimes (ack!!) class pictures) and then they get tossed in the play clothes drawer. Would I pay $7 - $10 for play clothes? No. Does it irritate me a little? Yes. But such is life in public school. And, thankfully, after next year I'll only have one child left to wear the dreaded class tee. Middle schoolers are "too cool" for all that and, plus, their teachers would rather eat a bug than take them on a field trip

OP, sorry it happened to you.

 

[aprilgail2]

I have never heard of a school wearing all the same color on a trip-our school the kids wear what they want, they don't all have to match.

 

[RachelsMommie]

My DD's school asks the parents to buy TWO shirts, one that is a school shirt to wear to "pep rallies" and one that is a class shirt to wear on field trips. They cost $15 each. So we were out $30 for shirts, and the school shirt design changes every year. I do like the field trip shirt to keep the kids straight. My DD's school shirt was baby blue and her class shirt was purple. Don't think any of the classes had pink, but who knows.

 

[torinsmom]

I definitely find it to be easier when the kids match, and tie dye stands out more than just a solid color. We are going to local hands-on museum on Tuesday and I can't wait to see all 80 preK/K kids in their shirts!

 

[nicki.momof3]

Take it from a teacher that has taken very large groups of kids on field trips to very public places. Having all the kids in the same shirt is WONDERFUL. As a parent you should feel better about your child going knowing they are clearly ID'ed as part of this group.

Relax it was a nice gesture of the mom to help. When a parent complains to me about what a room mom or another volunteer is doing (a well meaning thing of course) I simply think to myself "is this person putting in any volunteer time in the classroom". If the answer is no - stop complaining. I am not saying this is you - just my thought process.

Next year offer to help - sadly you have the time right now (and hopefully that will change) but if not take the oppertunity to step in.