I just made someone happy

[tworgs]

Just canceled my sons reservation on the Fantasy for Easter week.My wife or should, I say I am steaming.My son and daughter in law don't want to take our 8 year old grand daughter out of 2nd grade. the shame is this was my wife's birthday celebration.Thank god we still have one sane son and daughter in law.Sorry just needed to VENT.Oh by the way I am a lurker, been on the boards for years

 

[kathie859]

Can you re-book for the 2nd grader's spring break?

Did you reserve without first checking with your DS and DDIL? I can't imagine how frustrated you must feel trying to so something nice for your wife

 

[tworgs]

it's the week before Maiden voyage

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Just canceled my sons reservation on the Fantasy for Easter week.My wife or should, I say I am steaming.My son and daughter in law don't want to take our 8 year old grand daughter out of 2nd grade. the shame is this was my wife's birthday celebration.Thank god we still have one sane son and daughter in law.Sorry just needed to VENT.Oh by the way I am a lurker, been on the boards for years

I know you're unhappy but I can't help but think that the "sane" son you're referring to IS the one who refuses to disrupt your granddaughter's education. I've refused to let my son take more than a day off from school for trips, too.

Relax, have a great time. I hope your wife has a lovely Bday. Try not to alienate your DS & DIL over something as silly as a vacation.

 

[Zandy595]

I can see your son's side of the situation. I took my son out of school for a 7-night cruise when he was in 3rd grade. He had so much work to do while on the ship that he didn't get to enjoy the trip. And I felt horrible for making him stay in the cabin and do the work. He asked us to never take him out of school for that long again.

 

[OurDogCisco]

All parents comfort levels are different even on these boards. There are some that will pull their kids out of school all the way through College. I think, college is pushing it. We use to take our kid out of school for week until 2nd grade. We went on a cruise in May (great time, cheap rates). We came back the teacher basically punished my child. She spent the entire week in the classroom during recess doing stuff she missed. I was even more pissed when I found out the stuff was art projects for open house. Plus, she missed a field trip. After that trip we never pulled our kids out of school again. We have other times to vacation. I know it is more expensive but we don't have to do a cheap vacation to have fun. Good luck but I wouldn't let it rule relationship because that is like pitting one brother against the other brother which I don't think is fair.

 

[gotdbltrbl]

I've taken my children out of school in both elementary and middle school, and I have to say it was easier for them to catch up in the elementary school work. If you let the school know ahead of time and your children (grandchildren) are not behind in their work, I find the schools didn't have any problems, at least not my kids school. Everywhere is different, but the teachers I dealt with were very good about it. For me, I think these days family time is something that you can never get back. Now my kids are in high school and we won't be taking them out because we know what kind of work load they have and how hard it will be to catch up, so this time for us is done. And if does make me sad, because I can't afford and wouldn't want to go to Disney at school vacation time. My most favorite souvenir is the journal they had to write in for the elementary school teacher. We have both trips in one book (I loved what they wrote so much, I made them write about the second trip in the book), and I just love to look back at it and re-read what they thought of the trip, the little things I didn't realize they did or saw and found fun or interesting. This is just my thought, I would love for my kids to have an opportunity to do such a wonderful vacation with their Grandparents, and I can see why your upset. But it is their choice. Have fun with those you go with, bring something special back for those who don't make it. And enjoy every moment.

 

[camarks1234]

I didn't read all the responses but these are my .02 worth (fwiw).

I can see your son's side, young parents, concerned about education and schedules.

I was like that once.

Then my 7 yo son woke up one morning and had to be life-lined by helicopter to Riley Children's Hospital because he had a brain tumor. (he is in remission now)

LIFE IS TOO SHORT! It was a huge wakeup call for us. We now take time to enjoy life and seriously, taking a child out of 2nd grade for a week is a lot easier than if he/she is in High School. I would do it in a heartbeat because you just don't know what hand life is going to deal you tomorrow.

Anyway, sorry you will be missing the company of some of your children and grandchildren. Hope you have a good vacation anyway.

 

[godalejunior]

I agree, everyone's philosophy on taking children out of school is different. Heck, we are taking our fourth grader out for a week at the end of the month and he just started school a couple weeks ago. He is well above his grade level in all subjects, does his homework that is assigned to him when he is on vacation, and does his nightly reading on the trip as well. I know these trips are limited as we will not be taking him out of school during middle and high school.

I respect the parents that choose not to do so. You need to do what is right for your family and parents often know what is best for their child.

 

[DVC Jen]

Something no one else has mentioned.. not sure what it is like where the OP (or anyone else lives) but when my girls were in school (both in college now) if they had unexcused absences and even excused absences over a certain amount we risked being taken to court.

When our oldest DD was in kindergarten her Grandfather died unexpectedly. We immediately flew to PA and were there for just over a week. We got back home and she went back to school. Then 2 weeks later she was out of school for just over a week again - brain surgery. We had to plead our case with the school district so they didn't take us to court. NUTS! But sometimes when we are not the ones with the child in school we don't realize exactly what parents are facing now.

2nd grade now is not as carefree as 2nd grade used to be. School is getting harder and harder and missing as much as a week really can make a big difference.

I am sorry your plans are not working out as you wanted. In December of this year my DH and I will be reaching our 25th wedding anniversary. Due to college and work schedules - we aren't celebrating until next May on our 5 night cruise on the Magic. We had to be flexible... maybe if you are willing and or able to be, you could celebrate on a cruise that is easier for your entire family to attend?

Please.... do not make your son and his wife feel badly about this. It's a cruise. It's ONE birthday. It's just not worth the potential long term hard feelings.

 

[Zandy595]

Please.... do not make your son and his wife feel badly about this. It's a cruise. It's ONE birthday. It's just not worth the potential long term hard feelings.

I agree.

IMO, you should be proud of your son for putting his daughter's education first.

 

[traveljen1027]

I'm confused...did the OP check with his son & DIL before making the reservations? That might have saved a lot of heartache. I personally do not take my children out of school unless it is an emergency - my DD has only been late to school one time to accomodate our passport renewal appointment time, and even then I felt super guilty. Hopefully the OP and his family can take another vacation that works around everyone's schedules!!

 

[OurDogCisco]

I sympathize with everyone's view points about whether or not they should take their child out of school and I think we should honor everyone's decision. My point is no parent should ever be judged on their choice.

Every person here I bet has a story to share and everyone experiences life in a different ways. Of course, family time on vacation is important but Disney (gasp) isn't the only place to take your family on vacation in the summer. One of my best vacations I ever took with my kids was to Yellowstone park and the Grand Tetons. My kids had the best time.

 

[m&m's mom]

I didn't read all the responses but these are my .02 worth (fwiw).

I can see your son's side, young parents, concerned about education and schedules.

I was like that once.

Then my 7 yo son woke up one morning and had to be life-lined by helicopter to Riley Children's Hospital because he had a brain tumor. (he is in remission now)

LIFE IS TOO SHORT! It was a huge wakeup call for us. We now take time to enjoy life and seriously, taking a child out of 2nd grade for a week is a lot easier than if he/she is in High School. I would do it in a heartbeat because you just don't know what hand life is going to deal you tomorrow.

Anyway, sorry you will be missing the company of some of your children and grandchildren. Hope you have a good vacation anyway.

I hear ya! My, at the time, 45 year old, perfect health, marathon running DH, had a massive heart attack out of nowhere. He flat-lined twice before they got the stents in. He recovered quickly but we had to cancel a trip planned to WDW that was supposed to be in 2 weeks.
When school started 2 months later, I told my DD's 1st grade teacher I was pulling her out for a week for a rescheduled trip due to a family emergency. They said "No" and I said the same thing...Lifes too short- we are taking her anyway. Very glad we did.

OP- I would talk to your son. I know here in TX so much funding is lost for unexcused absences that they automatically give the kids a "0" for every day they miss. That is pretty near impossible to recover from.

 

[tworgs]

The problem is this is not the first time when our granddaughter was in kindergarten they did a similar thing.This time they gave us the dates and then canceled. I am a painting contractor have a# of teachers as customers and all of them have said talk to the teacher get there work than after the 4th grade never take them out.

 

[narsibvl]

You guys are making me feel guilty, We will be taking our 1st grade son out for a week in December...sheesh, now i am depressed !! What a parent I am !!!

 

[traveljen1027]

The problem is this is not the first time when our granddaughter was in kindergarten they did a similar thing.This time they gave us the dates and then canceled. I am a painting contractor have a# of teachers as customers and all of them have said talk to the teacher get there work than after the 4th grade never take them out.

I can see why you're mad!! If they gave you the dates and then backed out, that's a totally different situtation, especially when you made a point to accomodate their schedules.

 

[OurDogCisco]

You guys are making me feel guilty, We will be taking our 1st grade son out for a week in December...sheesh, now i am depressed !! What a parent I am !!!

Don't feel guilty... I think until you do it then, you can make the decision as to whether it is the right thing for your family. Go and have fun...

 

[OurDogCisco]

The problem is this is not the first time when our granddaughter was in kindergarten they did a similar thing.This time they gave us the dates and then canceled. I am a painting contractor have a# of teachers as customers and all of them have said talk to the teacher get there work than after the 4th grade never take them out.

Why didn't you say that originally. Sounds like they had second thoughts about their decision and decided it would not work for them.

My in-laws are the same way about my decisions too. They never understood anything I decided for my kids. I don't want to be a debbie downer but my in-laws refuse to wear a seatbelt driving. They don't see the big deal at all. It is very annoying and as result my kids don't drive with them anywhere. They are older and feel that I'm making a big deal out of nothing. It really has put a strain on our relationship. They don't always make the best choices for my kids but they expect me to respect whatever they decide even if it is unsafe. I would keep the peace and be okay with their decision.

Sounds like you are going to have a great time anyways with your other son's family.

 

[Zandy595]

I can see why you're mad!! If they gave you the dates and then backed out, that's a totally different situtation, especially when you made a point to accomodate their schedules.

Maybe they didn't know at the time of booking that it would be hard on the granddaughter to miss that much school. School just started, maybe they are realizing now that she has more work then they thought she would.