Help needed..what would you do???

[mom22boys]

My dearest friend from high school is in Tampa this winter. Her DH is in the military and currently deployed in Iraq. She is begging me to bring my two DSs down in March. She is having a combo birthday party for her DS and DD (my god-daughter) on March 10 and wants us to be there. She also said she would love to go to the P&P party on March 8. I do not know what to do!!!! We have a big family vacation (grandparents, aunts, uncles, & cousins) planned to go to WDW in May. Should my DSs go to Florida twice in two months? Doesn't that sound crazy? My oldest DS is in kindergarten. He would miss four days of school in March if we went and another five days in May. He is a very good student, but what message does that send him? My DH is telling me to do whatever makes me happy. He is a CPA working round the clock this time of year, so he can't go. I am so confused. I think I will feel guilty if I go, and guilty if I don't go. I have no idea where my dear friend will be once her DH gets home from Iraq. She very easily could be going overseas for three years.

What would you do?????

Much thanks!

 

[mrsv98]

Is the kdg student your oldest? If so, then I would go if I could afford it. Frankly, at least in our school, they don't miss much if they are out of kdg. We took DD out for two weeks last year (only 8 school days missed) and she didn't miss out on anything.

I say, while they are young, go for it!

 

[Beth76]

If you can afford it you should go. Although check with your school district to make sure your son can miss that much school.

 

[hydster]

Well if it were ME and I could swing it financially I'd be there in a heartbeat. If your oldest is only in Kindergarten there really isn't much he will be missing as far as future grades go. It only gets harder the older they get. I don't think at the age of 5/6 he's getting a "message" from you......but that WILL change later on.

I'd go both times! I was a school teacher, taught Kindergarten and I would never discourage a good student and his family from going on a vacation. The older your kids get the harder this thought will be to reconcile but for now in Kindergarten I'd do it.

Putting on my flame suit now!

 

[dodukes]

Is there a way maybe you can go to just hte party and not the P&P, i personally say go for it but i dont know ur ds and maybe he will have a tought time doing school stuff, i know my friends ds is in kinder and my god, they send home so much work, as long as you and he are prepared to make it up, i say you know what, just go then!!, you may never get a chance to spend time with your friend again while the kids are little. Sorry i know this will offend the folks on the not pull out of school end, but i got pulled from school for vacation and didnt hurt me one bit, come to think about it i dont remember a lot of spcific days in school but i surely do remember thos vacations!!!

 

[mom22boys]

My kindergartener is our oldest.

Can we afford it? Yes. But there is always that guilt of, maybe we should be putting this $$$ away for college. We are savers and save every penny we can.

 

[diznygirl]

Hmmm, WDW 2 times in 2 months?? Happens all the time around here!

The days he misses from school might be a problem - as far as attendance goes. Just check with the school to see what the policy is. I'm sure he won't miss anything too crucial.

And if you feel guilty about too much WDW, you can stay in Tampa for that trip and do Busch Gardens.

 

[JadenLayne]

We have taken our son out of school for a week (and on occasion two weeks) every single year since he was in kindergarten to go to Disney. He is now in the 9th grade and his grades have never once been affected. Every year I have had teachers tell me that he gets more out of the family time spent together then he would get in one week of school.

Of course we would never go on a week with exams etc. usually we go in September and/or January.

I say take him out and have a blast!!!!!!! Nothing they learn in one week of school is every going to compare to time spent with family.

 

[shirleyb]

If you can afford it, I would go. I think it would mean so much to your friend, and with her husband being in Iraq, I'm sure your support would be appreciated.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you can afford it go!
When they get older you can't do this.

 

[Aidensmom]

As long as your son won't be missing more school days than allowed, I say go for it!

 

[ilovejack02]

Go Go Go and have a GREAT time!

 

[disneymom3]

Should my DSs go to Florida twice in two months? Doesn't that sound crazy?

Oh, was that a serious question? I don't mean to give you a hard time, but you are asking the wrong crowd!! Of course we all think there is nothing strange about going twice in two months. Heck, it's a dream come true! We once went 4 times in 15 months and I know plenty around here go more often than that. Yes, you can always save more but it sounds like you already have a savings plan in place. Go for it. Have fun and see your friend.

 

[mom22boys]

Disneymom3, I love the quote in your signature!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Disneymom3 is right - you are preaching to the choir here.....GO GO GO!!!

 

[mom22boys]

Yeah, I kind of figured I would get support here. Maybe it was support that I was looking for!

 

[mickeyboat]

I am the lone voice of dissent, here. I would not personally take my kids out of school for 9 days for vacation.

However, this is an intensely personal decision, and I would not fault you if that was the choice you made for your family.

Denae

 

[chyam]

My kindergartener is our oldest.

Can we afford it? Yes. But there is always that guilt of, maybe we should be putting this $$$ away for college. We are savers and save every penny we can.

You know it is great to be savers but honestly things maybe different when college time comes, they may not even want to go to college etc etc. also I have always said that the time to enjoy your kids is when they are kids, to many times I have seen people save for retirement or save for their kids futures and things happen, accidents, death etc. you need to enjoy every minute you can and still be aware that there is a future or there maynot be, that sounds so ominous but I have seen it happen to many people, You have the opportunity to spend some quality time with your girlfriend and at the same time your kids will enjoy themselves. When your vacation comes in May it will be a totally different experience since the whole family will be along, this will be more of a playdate for them and for you! COME ON DOWN!!!

 

[mom22boys]

chyam, she probably lives pretty close to you. She is in Safety Harbor, FL.