Hopefully this is the last Spring Break....

[FINFAN]

where I have to deal with my depressed kid because EVERYONE has left for somewhere else In all honestly yes, every year all of his friends and most of our neighbors do head off to warmer places so he isn't exagerating, and we cannot ever afford to go (college, taking care of 2 sets of parents-you know how it is) but I do feel for him. Our plans over the years would have been to go, but like I said having to financially help 2 sets of parents has totally blown us out of the water. At times like this it makes me mad too, that he has to pay the price for a situation that he had nothing to do with. It is rough to have never gone away for a break and have nothing to offer in coversation of "where did you go?" at school. Kids are cruel, and do not hesitate to go right for the jugular with their "can't afford to go?" comments. He usually has water polo practice but the coach cancelled it last year and this because he is gone too . No GF so no need to tux shop for Prom, only scheduled for 2 days of work, I do have 1 activity planned for him...with all this amazing weather our lawn needs to me mowed! Maybe when he is receiving all those instant pictures of his friends on the beach/WDW/Mexico he can send one of the lawn mower. At least he can sleep in..but honestly, he is already bored and antsy..and today is only day 1! Oh well....life goes on, thanks for letting me vent!

 

[rszdtrvl]

Our Spring Break is the first week of April and DS is frustrated that we do not have plans.

Uh. HELLO!!!! We are going to New York AND Washington DC in June child!! Plus, we are going to Seattle to see the American Idiot Broadway Show in June too.

We have plans - just not during Spring Break.

DH is itching to get out of town too. I have a feeling that next year we will be heading back down to California to go to Disneyland and Universal Studios. Maybe throw in a Hollywood tour too. After paying over $6000 for DS and I to go on the NY/DC trip, paying $3000 for our family to go to California during Spring Break will be easy peasy.

When DS was in 5th, 6th, and 7th grade we went to California/Disneyland during Spring Break. Last year and this year we are not.

 

[clutter]

My dd15 has the same problem. We could afford to go away (well, not to mexico or carribbean ), but I can't take off the first two weeks of April, and our spring break ends Easter weekend, so most years I can't take off. (Next year, I will!) On top of that, she's home alone. Not too much fun for her.

 

[daughtersrus]

where I have to deal with my depressed kid because EVERYONE has left for somewhere else In all honestly yes, every year all of his friends and most of our neighbors do head off to warmer places so he isn't exagerating, and we cannot ever afford to go (college, taking care of 2 sets of parents-you know how it is) but I do feel for him. Our plans over the years would have been to go, but like I said having to financially help 2 sets of parents has totally blown us out of the water. At times like this it makes me mad too, that he has to pay the price for a situation that he had nothing to do with. It is rough to have never gone away for a break and have nothing to offer in coversation of "where did you go?" at school. Kids are cruel, and do not hesitate to go right for the jugular with their "can't afford to go?" comments. He usually has water polo practice but the coach cancelled it last year and this because he is gone too . No GF so no need to tux shop for Prom, only scheduled for 2 days of work, I do have 1 activity planned for him...with all this amazing weather our lawn needs to me mowed! Maybe when he is receiving all those instant pictures of his friends on the beach/WDW/Mexico he can send one of the lawn mower. At least he can sleep in..but honestly, he is already bored and antsy..and today is only day 1! Oh well....life goes on, thanks for letting me vent!

We're from the same area so I know all too well how a lot of the kids(and even some parents) around here are. The only time we ever went away for spring break was when our oldest DD (now 25yo) was in kindergarten. It was our first trip to Disney World as a family.

As the kids got older, it wasn't just spring break but summer vacations too. We usually would spend 1 week at the lake house is WI with extended family and drive somewhere within a day for another week. Of course this doesn't compare to friends that go to Italy, France, Australia, London, Africa... Two years ago we did go to Hawaii for DD#3's Make A Wish trip. Honestly, it's not just the cost but the logistics of having to get everything that she needs to where we're going. That is why we have to be able to drive. We would need at least 1 suitcase just for diapers (we can't buy them locally because of the size. They have to come from a medical supply company).

Sadly, the weather next week isn't supposed to be as nice as it was this week.

 

[FINFAN]

we have been putting into a travel fund for DDs graduation...we have to travel to Sarasota for it this May...well, 5 weeks from now. We had enough set aside to include DS at first, but now with gas so high flights have gone nuts. We have to fly if he goes because he has his own finals 10 days after DD's deal and he can't miss more days of school-the cost of extra care for the parents, We thought about him flying and DH and I driving, but then there is the dog, cost of gas, the cost of a taxi taking him both ways...doesn't really save much overall...so he is like, WHAAT? I don't even get to go with for that FUN trip of moving my sister out of her place? (tho he does want to see her actual ceremony) I don't know..and then since that 4 days is costing well over $2000 there is nothing for a summer trip. I have been subbing to suplement so I am not on call this week either...oh joy, quality bonding time w/DS! I am sewriously contemplating throwing him in the car and driving from IL to Sarasota and getting most of DD stuff this week, but she is not prepared for that and it only adds to the cost of driving now and flying later. Plus DS said, you and me? ALONE over break? guess staying home looks better now...

 

[FINFAN]

We're from the same area so I know all too well how a lot of the kids(and even some parents) around here are. The only time we ever went away for spring break was when our oldest DD (now 25yo) was in kindergarten. It was our first trip to Disney World as a family.

As the kids got older, it wasn't just spring break but summer vacations too. We usually would spend 1 week at the lake house is WI with extended family and drive somewhere within a day for another week. Of course this doesn't compare to friends that go to Italy, France, Australia, London, Africa... Two years ago we did go to Hawaii for DD#3's Make A Wish trip. Honestly, it's not just the cost but the logistics of having to get everything that she needs to where we're going. That is why we have to be able to drive. We would need at least 1 suitcase just for diapers (we can't buy them locally because of the size. They have to come from a medical supply company).

Sadly, the weather next week isn't supposed to be as nice as it was this week.

Hi there! Awww man, I thought at least 2-3 days were going to be back in the 70's...DS did have a paintball day planned for CPX out in Joliet but now all of those kids are gone. AND....these are the same kids/families who went away over Christmas and multiple places last summer! and then they have a kid who studies overseas a semester...I don't want to begrudge those who can afford it, but please don't shove it in the faces of those that can't. However, DS is overly sensitive to stuff like this too...he needs constant *activity/enertainment* or feels like he is missing out. Me personally? I could enjoy 10 days of nothing quite nicely

 

[daughtersrus]

College wasn't any easier for us because most of their friends did at least one semester studying abroad. They understood how much we could afford and anything beyond that was up to them to fund. DD#2 is still very seriously considering joining the Peace Corp after she fulfills her obligation for the Teach Grants that she accepted.

 

[AndreaDM]

We haven't travelled during spring break in at least 12 years since that is the busiest time for DH at work and he can't take off. Not once, ever has a kid asked any of my kids if we "can't afford to go". We vacation in Jan or Feb and again during late summer, so they're not deprived, but spring break week has always been spent at home.

 

[FINFAN]

We haven't travelled during spring break in at least 12 years since that is the busiest time for DH at work and he can't take off. Not once, ever has a kid asked any of my kids if we "can't afford to go". We vacation in Jan or Feb and again during late summer, so they're not deprived, but spring break week has always been spent at home.

you are fortunate then...the kid who lives kiddi/corner behind us literally stated-in our home, no less- that my DH must have a loser job because he doesn't provide for our family to live a "normal regular life" and what are we doing living in this neighborhood anyway? I kid you not-the kid didn't even blink. What does his dad do? Injury lawyer, self-proclaimed ambulance chaser..I believe his words were "best job security in the world" .What a wonderful human being. Needless to say that was the last time THAT kid was ever allowed over here, and the mom has thrown her digs multiple times as well. Not sure if you have to deal with it but if a parent makes a comment at a school function/volunteer situation, it is a fire that cannot be put out. That is just one example...I could go on and on..and in DH defense, he provides quite well for his immediate family-our mtg is well under budget for us...it is the other family responsibilities that are killing us. Just hard to have those hit during these years of DS life.

 

[Magic Mom]

I imagine there are lots of kids this year who won't be going anywhere for break. Offer to pay for a movie for him and some friends, or rents some new video games. Have a cookout. There are lots of things he can do for fun on the cheap.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I imagine there are lots of kids this year who won't be going anywhere for break. Offer to pay for a movie for him and some friends, or rents some new video games. Have a cookout. There are lots of things he can do for fun on the cheap.

I was thinking along these lines. Can you muster up a small amount of cash and at least help him plan some fun local things to do? He shouldn't be stuck doing nothing but sleep, work and mow the lawn. You and he have known this break was coming for a long time. Help him look for things he CAN do instead of focusing on what he CAN'T--that is a great life lesson to learn

 

[sunshine1178]

Can you sign him up to volunteer at a food bank or somewhere? It might help the woe-is-me attitude. He's not wrong to feel disappointed, but a new experience might help him to put things into perspective.

 

[Swan4Me]

I cant believe he wasnt asked to go along with someone on their trip?

My kids always went with the best friend to the lake/beach-and visa versa-we took a friend each to multiple summer" to the lake trips "and our annual week in Destin-when they were in High school.

 

[okeydokey]

The first spring break I ever went away fro was when I was a Senior in College. Its not too uncommon really

Maybe your son needs some different friends if they really make fun of him because he didn't get to go away for a vacation

 

[NHdisneylover]

The first spring break I ever went away fro was when I was a Senior in College. Its not too uncommon really

Maybe your son needs some different friends if they really make fun of him because he didn't get to go away for a vacation

 

[Metsfan520]

The first spring break I ever went away fro was when I was a Senior in College. Its not too uncommon really

Maybe your son needs some different friends if they really make fun of him because he didn't get to go away for a vacation

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[disneyjunkie]

ALL of those kids should take a field trip to some other schools~schools without water polo. Let them find out how kids there spend their spring and summer breaks. Maybe then they will see how lucky they are.

1000s of kids their age, have never been to local venues much less on a vacation.

 

[FINFAN]

I imagine there are lots of kids this year who won't be going anywhere for break. Offer to pay for a movie for him and some friends, or rents some new video games. Have a cookout. There are lots of things he can do for fun on the cheap.

we have a small fund set aside..it's the fact that no one is here to do those cheap things with.

Can you sign him up to volunteer at a food bank or somewhere? It might help the woe-is-me attitude. He's not wrong to feel disappointed, but a new experience might help him to put things into perspective.

He is signed up for next Thursday for a 2 hour slo, Not a new experience for him, he goes once a month..but better than nothing.

I cant believe he wasnt asked to go along with someone on their trip?

My kids always went with the best friend to the lake/beach-and visa versa-we took a friend each to multiple summer" to the lake trips "and our annual week in Destin-when they were in High school.

nope. Never been asked to join along. Had no idea it was that common. His friends don't really ask any of the other ones to stuff or vacations..but the parents may not want ot offer since we can't really reciprocate by taking their kid along to ...nowhere

The first spring break I ever went away fro was when I was a Senior in College. Its not too uncommon really
it is uncommon here, honestly.

Maybe your son needs some different friends if they really make fun of him because he didn't get to go away for a vacation

He would LOVE to have more friends..he has tried but the walls of cliques are high and wide. If you did not get in on the ground floor-forget it unless you have something to offer like the hottest car, are a chick magnet, sports star etc. The average kid, not gonna get in.
Of his closer friends, they are jerks, yep...think nothing of basically answering to any life issues with "you're problem"..and kill or be killed attitude. They are all he's got however. He is out looking for another job now..so that is filling in some time.

 

[FINFAN]

ALL of those kids should take a field trip to some other schools~schools without water polo. Let them find out how kids there spend their spring and summer breaks. Maybe then they will see how lucky they are.

1000s of kids their age, have never been to local venues much less on a vacation.

Are you kidding me? The only reason they venture that direction would be for their heroine scores. That is the one good thing about DS current but not so nice friends, is they don't party. Only a handful at the school that don't .He has no interest in that let alone the $...so he stays with the sober group. For that, I compliment him.

 

[NHdisneylover]

There are REALLY no nicer non clique kids in the entire school? Not any?
That seems odd to me no matter where you live.
Does your son maybe need some help in his social skills? (not meant in a mean way, I am just thinking maybe he has trouble and could use help).