I am one of those perpetually upbeat and outgoing people. I can't STAND it when someone doesn't like me. I think it is my personal mission to make those around me smile. For instance, when I was elected to the PTO, there was this one teacher who was always grumpy. She never smiled, she never attended afterschool functions. She was burnt out after teaching for 25 years.
I would speak to her in the hallways, and the most I would ever get was a grunt in return.
I made her my personal mission that first year. Little surprises in her mailbox, quick visits to her class to read stories to her kids so she could go to the bathroom. Pats on the back and praise. Within 6 months it went from grunts to "Hey Mrs. Mickie, how are you doing today??" And THEN, she showed up to cheer her kids on at the talent show last February. The Principal was SHOCKED! She said, "how in the world did you manage THAT?!?" I just smiled.
So, I couldn't leave without giving them a piece of my mind. I just couldn't help myself. This is what I wrote...
I am going to post one last time, and then I will not be visiting this thread anymore.
First of all, the tax refund we get is they money that we ourselves, pay in. Don't worry, not one penny of YOUR precious tax money is going to me. Well, we DO get EIC, but let's just say that THAT money is from my sister, aunts, uncles and grandmother. Not yours.
I stayed up half the night 2nd guessing my decision to go to WDW. AT 4 AM I finally came to the conclusion that I would be crazy not to go. My family has had a rough few years, and we NEED this trip.
My children are 8, and they LOVE to eat in restaurants. Eating in themed restaurants is very exciting for all 4 of us, as eating out is not a treat we enjoy often.
Since this thread has been pretty negative, I am going to pat myself on the back. (and thank you so much to those of you who were kind to me)
I have spent the last several years of my life taking care of sick family members. Those of you who have not done this have no idea how taxing it is on your family.
How wonderful of me to sacrifice practically my whole life to help others!
We have ONLY been in this financial situation for the last 4 months. I have fought HARD with careful budgeting NOT to get on public assistance. I could go right now and get food stamps, welfare, medicaid, the works. I have never once been late on a mortgage or utility payment. Not once.
Good Job, me, for not taking the easy way out!!
And before anyone says it, unemployment is NOT public assistance. It is actually an insurance that employers pay for.
Contrary to what alot of you seem to believe, my children do not walk around in Tom Sawyer-esque attire. They are clean, well fed, and happy. Just because their clothes may come from Target instead of the mall does not mean they look "poor." They both have 2 pairs of sneakers and a pair of
Crocs. All fairly new, actually one pair is brand new. I have a cabinet full of OTC medicines, in case they get sick. And when they need to go to the doctor, they go. No matter what. We always have food. My children have never once gone hungry.
My children are very kind, intelligent people. They are both reading 2 grade levels above the average. They are both in the gifted and talented program. They consistently make the Honor Roll. They never get in trouble at school, and they are kind to others. Heck, I don't even let them eat the slop they serve in the lunchroom, though we qualify for them to eat free. I pack their lunch.
Great job, Me! For raising such kind, intelligent children under less than perfect circumstances!
Since DH and I made the decision when they were born to not put them in daycare, I started making cakes for money. I am self taught, and I am an artist.
Good job, me, for finding a satisfying and artistic way to help support my family!
I have decided to go to school, because, believe it or not, I have no intention of financially struggling the rest of my life. I am starting in May, and am going for computer science. I am determined to make a better life for myself and my family.
Great job, me! Going back to school at my age is intimidating, and I am proud of me for doing so!
Well, that's it! Would you look at that, I am actually a darn good person! Whoda thunk it?!? And all this time I thought I was some irresponsible money leech out to take your tax dollars! Huh.
Rather than throw my grandmother's incredible gift back in her face, and demanding she downgrade so we can stay within our normal range of experience, I am going to go to Walt Disney World in 2 weeks with a light and happy heart. I am going to file my taxes. I am going to take out 1/6 of that money and take it with us, so yes, I can tip well, and yes, I can buy things for myself and my children. I understand everyone's point of view. I really do. I feel that taking $1,000 out of our tax refund is a little irresponsible. Now, I feel that were I being TOTALLY irresponsible would be taking the original $3000 we had intended.
Sure that money could be spent on other things. But we will still have thousands of dollars to meet our needs when we return. What better way could I find to spend that money than to give us memories that will last a lifetime? My children will remember this trip when they are 30, NOT that their jeans came from Target.
PLUS, as I have stated before, DH will be working when we return. And I will be making wedding cakes worth SEVERAL hundred dollars a pop beginning the first week of March. And I am already booked up until almost June. Wedding season is my busiest and most profitable time of year, and it begins almost immediately when we return from our magical trip. Were I not to have income coming in soon, I probably would rethink my decision to take $1,000. I would probably check in, downgrade, and make the best of it. But thankfully I don't feel the need to do so.
Well, I guess that's it. I hope all of your have a WONDERFUL time when you next go to WDW. I hold no malice in my heart for those of you who have been so cruel to me. I honestly feel a little sorry for you. I would NEVER speak to someone so cruelly. I can't even fathom doing so, unless someone had actually struck me, or done some other bodily harm. I truly hope that you can find happiness and peace in your life. Money is not everything. My kids are wonderful, and my husband is my best friend. My marriage is more rock solid than those of many of my more moneyed friends. Their kids get in trouble for making fun of other people at school. My kids are the ones saying "Leave her alone!!"
Feel free to flame or not to flame. I won't be visiting this thread again, because it upset me way, way too much yesterday. I cried in front of my children for the 2nd time in 8 years. It scared them, and NOTHING is worth that. Have a wonderful day!
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to make sure her power was on, she had plenty of food, etc etc. We got to talking about the message board, and how mean people were being to me, etc.. 
BTW I stopped reading at pg 3 because I knew what was coming. It happens all the time on the CB. 
