Is this a bit much?

[janette]

My 12yo DD had a classmate in her private kindergarten whose mom hired 3 limos for the class to take on a field trip.

The year before she had spent $30K for the kids birthday party, we missed it since my DD wasn't in his class then

He attended my DD's birthday party that year and brought a gift from Neimans worth over $100, I had to exchange it for a different size. I was tempted to get the $$ but thought that would be tacky.

Before the end of the year she was under indictment for securities fraud. I never did find out what happened, don't know if she ended up in jail or what but I don't think she was spending so freely anymore.

 

[C.Ann]

My parents only rode in a limo once..

I don't think Daddy enjoyed it much - he was in a coffin..

And I doubt that Mom enjoyed it much either - she was in the family limo behind him..

And then people wonder why kids today have this mind-set that they have to have everything - and they have to have it yesterday!!!

Sadly, ALL of us will pay for this indulgence sooner or later.. I too am frightened to think what kind of adults these kids will become...

 

[monarchsfan16]

One word. PATHETIC. Around here we don't even have a 5th grade graduation, because we're in the same school for 1-8. But if we did, I can assure you, I'd maybe get a dinner out but that would be it. I even see the 5th grade graduation gifts as being a little extreme. For 8th grade, the school put on a dinner dance, but the rule was no limos. No prom dresses either. They really stressed that it was a night for us to be with our friends more than anything. We had a big graduation ceremony, even had a red carpet down the middle of the gym. No caps and gowns though. Just our little "Auburn Village School" diplomas, and the showing of our class video. But that was a slightly bigger deal than a 5th grade graduation would be. People don't even get limos for high school graduation. Prom-yes. In fact the school encourages it. But that's just because there are a whole lot of people that will find some way to get drunk, and they don't want them driving. For prom, limos are a safety net. I can see throwing a party after an 8th grade graduation, but certainly not after a 5th grade one. THat's just taking things beyond extreme.

 

[disykat]

Way over the top IMO. We only have celebrations at the end of K and 6th (nothing at 8th) - they are not graduations. IMO it's not a graduation unless there's a diploma (a real one, not a pretend one). In my family those celebrations will be attended because we attend eveything at school. We'll be proud like we always are. (I say we, but truly don't plan on dh taking the day off work for an event like that unless ds gives a speech or something.)

I have much higher goals for my kids than to successfully complete grammar school - I'm not going to act like they went to the moon because they did. We might have a special dessert or go out to eat as a family, but we do that at the end of every school year.

 

[mudnuri]

Okay my bomb proof suit is on now...

It's funny, here on a board talking about Disney vacations (which not many of the kids in my DDs school have ever gone on) spending big $$ on....we dont all stay offsite for 39 bucks a night, now do we?

Some of us spend 300 a night on a concierge room...never anyone BALKING at that amount of money.....some of us by annual passes because we spend so much time there.....nobody ever says anything about that...imagine huh?

So someone rents a limo for a 5th grade graduation....hmmm I'm thinking $100 bucks.....wow....tons of dough considering we spent more than that for a crappy meal at Chef Mickey's. less than a month ago!

I guess I'm not the norm here, because fathers day weekend, my bil/sil are hosting a dual bday/fathers day party for my nephew and my DD's 8th birthday...it's a huge shindig...we've got a band, pig roaster, fireworks (legal, with a company from CT coming up to shoot em off)...a clown and tons of more stuff. We've got family from CT coming up, and all of us from here will be in attendance....

But then again, I'm also the one who spent $38 on fanny packs...IMAGINE THE SPOILED KIDS IM RAISING!!!

okay...rant off...

Brandy

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Originally posted by Big V
That's just the parents showing off, in my opinion.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by mudnuri
Okay my bomb proof suit is on now...

It's funny, here on a board talking about Disney vacations (which not many of the kids in my DDs school have ever gone on) spending big $$ on....we dont all stay offsite for 39 bucks a night, now do we?

Some of us spend 300 a night on a concierge room...never anyone BALKING at that amount of money.....some of us by annual passes because we spend so much time there.....nobody ever says anything about that...imagine huh?

Brandy

I've been thinking the same thing.

I guess people can look at us and say we're over the top with this Disney thing. Aren't we spoiling our kids will repeat trips to the World? There are kids here that have been to WDW more times than any adult I know.
What about the amount of money we spend once we're there?

I have read post about kids who won't stay at a value resort. Some of us wouldn't think twice about doing the princess tea. I think it's about $200.00 for tea,snacks, and a
doll. I could go on and on.

We do these things because we want to make the trip special and something our kids will always remember.

I believe that parents who go all out for graduations and parties do it for the same reasons. They want to make the event as special as they can.

 

[Blondie]

Originally posted by Big V
That's just the parents showing off, in my opinion.

I agree. Sometimes I think the parents do it more for themselves than anyone else.

Some of us spend 300 a night on a concierge room...never anyone BALKING at that amount of money.....some of us by annual passes because we spend so much time there.....nobody ever says anything about that...imagine huh?

While this may indeed be true for some folks, it's not as "in your face" as showing up on the last day or to 5th grade graduation in a limo for all to see. JMHO.

 

[jimmalru80]

Way over the top.

 

[mudnuri]

While this may indeed be true for some folks, it's not as "in your face" as showing up on the last day or to 5th grade graduation in a limo for all to see. JMHO.

I dont think it's anything like that really. It's no more than a woman getting an engagement ring and showing it to her friends/co-workers. What if her's is a rock, and a friends is only a small one? Is that in your face? I don't think so.

We do these things because we want to make the trip special and something our kids will always remember

I agree 100%. There are things that some do for our kids that others don't. Each year since my DD's birth we have purchased them a pearl to be added to a necklace...is this for any reason other than a special event? no, the DD's will get them on their wedding day....they know about them, they come with us when we have the jewler add one each year.

My children are both very well-rounded children, they've had a lot of good things happen to them that most kids probably won't. They've been all over the USA, they've spent weekends in NYC and Boston, they travel to CT just to have Pizza, they have big birthday parties, we have huge cookouts/pool parties on Sundays all summer, they go to bed happy, and they wake up happy. What more could I ask for?

If DH and I worked as hard as we have to be able to afford these luxuries why not show our children that hard work pays off? DH spent the first 20 years of his work age life busting his hump in a family business, to sell it and branch out on his own into a company he owns himself. He grew up in a family that worked and played together. They only had vacations that fit into work. They'd "drive to Chicago to pick up a new truck"...yeah- fun vacation...the first time DH flew was to Montana with DD's and I 6 years ago...

So yeah, we might in some people's eyes spoil our children, but for pete's sake, THEYRE ONLY YOUNG ONCE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brandy

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Originally posted by disneyjunkie
Some of us wouldn't think twice about doing the princess tea. I think it's about $200.00 for tea,snacks, and a
doll. I could go on and on.

It costs that much?! I hope you get a really good doll!

 

[stinkerbelle]

Some of us spend 300 a night on a concierge room...never anyone BALKING at that amount of money.....some of us by annual passes because we spend so much time there.....nobody ever says anything about that...imagine huh?

I think splurging on vacation is a totally different thing.

A limo for a 5th grader is still a bit over the top IMO.

(This is the woman speaking who rented a H2 for the weekend for her mother last year for mother's day...)

I think there is a time and place for 'spoiling'...and yes they are only young once...but if you set the bar THAT HIGH when they are young - god help you when they are teenagers!

Not a flame - just my 2 cents.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I have a 5th grader "graduating" this year, as well as an 8th grader. They're not even called "graduations"...forgot what they are called.

For my 5th grade DS, they have a 1 PM ceremony at the school, and give some awards. They might have ice cream or a cake. During the year, they've had events sponsored by the parents, like a luau party, a swim party at the "Y", a skating party.

For my 8th grade DD, they have a dance in the school cafeteria, basically like all the other dances...snacks and beverages, and they sign each other's yearbooks, which they'll get that night. They have "forbidden" (as much as they can) kids going together as "dates". The girls wear skirts or dresses...nothing close to semi-formal. They also have a day at a day camp with other schools.

What we'll do for our kids is go out to eat (conveniently, the last day of school is also DH's birthday...kill 3 birds with one stone!) and get them both a gift certificate to somewhere...probably in the $25 range.

DD (15) DID take a limo to the Sophomore semi-formal, with about 10 other kids...they all chipped in (DD paid for herself), and they all met at her DB's house.

When oldest DD turns 16 this summer, I'll probably let her have a swim party in the backyard.

The day I pay for any of my kids' limos is their wedding day.

 

[tmq2766]

WOW You guys are acting like a limo is something that you would have to save for years to rent... Around here a limo is like 65.00. WOOPEE........ I do and will continue to spoil my child for as long as I can and really could care less what anyone else thinks! I think every child deserves to be spoiled as long as it's not spoiled rotten and there really is a difference! My DD9 is spoiled but still has her head on straight. For all you know these kids who were picked up in a limo have NEVER been to Disney unlike 90% of us on the DIS!

 

[leighe]

Wow - I've never even heard of such a thing! I had a sixth grade graduation but it wasn't that big of a deal. I think I got a few nice gifts from my grandparents and parents. It seems a little silly to me to have a limo for 5th grade graduation but I'm sure there are people who think that going to WDW twice a year is silly too!

I think one of the biggest problems that comes from overindulging children is that they have a really hard time learning to entertain themselves or just be satisfied with not being entertained for a while. I am a teacher and have students who are incapable of sitting still for five minutes (these are high school kids). "I'm bored!" they'll whine. It's like they expect fireworks and a circus non-stop.

 

[Deb in IA]

Originally posted by stinkerbelle
I think splurging on vacation is a totally different thing.

A limo for a 5th grader is still a bit over the top IMO.

(This is the woman speaking who rented a H2 for the weekend for her mother last year for mother's day...)

I think there is a time and place for 'spoiling'...and yes they are only young once...but if you set the bar THAT HIGH when they are young - god help you when they are teenagers!

Not a flame - just my 2 cents.

I totally agree, stinker .

To those who disagree: Better reserve that Lear Jet for their high school graduation!! Too bad the Concorde is grounded now; that would have been nice, wouldn't it? Heck, why not pull out all the stops and just go ahead and rent the ENTIRE QM2? After all, they only graduate from high school once . . .

 

[disykat]

Who said people here don't get bothered by the amount of money people here spend at Disney? There are many of us here who seldom go and are budget travelers and are totally freaked by many of the things on this board. That has certainly been discussed here before - how people afford to do this. That wasn't the question that was asked.

The limo issue is not about money IMO. It is about turning a 5th grade "graduation" into something it's not. It's about turning EVERYTHING your child does into a celebration to the point where they expect adulation for every childhood milestone. It's about taking an occasion that used to mean a piece of cake or an ice cream cone and turning it into a "let's one up the Jone's" ordeal.

IMO that kind of thing doesn't belong anywhere near an elementary school. Neither do flower deliveries, balloon deliveries, etc. If a family wants to do a big deal they should do it at home. Singling your child out as if they are more special than anyone else doesn't do anyone any favors. IMO if a parent wants to make it special they should volunteer to help with the ceremony so their child can have a special event with their classmates - not single them out.

 

[tmq2766]

QUOTE: Heck, why not pull out all the stops and just go ahead and rent the ENTIRE QM2?

Not a bad idea!!!!!!!
Like I said before it is just a car it's not like they are buying them a diamond tiara.

 

[stinkerbelle]

well said disykat

 

[Sandy V.]

Disykat, I totally agree with everything you wrote.