Mistake?

[Frozenfingers]

for those that still remember.. we are fast coming up on the date..

Airline tickets were purchased last November.. when the oil prices were climbing and I thought I jumped on a good deal.. (who was to know what June would bring?) As planned, the ticket is on us.. the girls got seats together (and separate from us older folk) so they can giggle to their hearts content..

Reservations with a car rental company were made.. and it was a real struggle. Dad wants a convertable to cruise the coast in.. but, had to settle for a full size with luggage space.. Like... luggage from three women would EVER fit in the trunk of those convertables...

The young lady jumped though all of daddy's hoops all year long and got her license ANDa job. She worked and saved her money, and she has the target amount we suggested. Still kept up good grades as well. just a great young lady.

Over the winter, serious planning took place and it was decided that the middle weekend, we would go to Ft Lauderdale. So we searched and researched and got an apartment on the beach. We are also doing the Jungle Queen dinner cruise Friday night, and the luau at the MaiKai Polynesian Resteraunt Saturday. Sunday after church, we will do an airboat excursion in the everglades before heading back to Orlando. The reservations are all in place and confirmation notes firmly packed away in the planner.

In April, we sent a power of attorney to the parents for them to sign giving us authority to deliver healthcare for the child, should something happen. We waited, and waited and started to get worried.. finally we call, and they never got it.. after several attempts, I learned my domain has been blocked from hotmail.. evidently some spammer got my address so I can't send to Hotmail or MSN.. Finally, we connect, and we wait, and wait, and wait. DD's friend tells us she taped the paper to the microwave to hurry the process along a bit.. FINALLY last Sunday she brings it over, all signed, notarized and ready to go !!

7 Day premiere MYW tickets were ordered from the mousesavers link, and they arrived several weeks ago, as promised, and are tucked safely in the planner as well.

We leave for Minneapolis THIS Sunday at 930 and will spend the day with nephews and neices.. sons and daughters.. then board the airplane Monday morning. Wheels touch down in Orlando monday at 1 PM...

The girls are JUST BESIDE themselves !!! Like... they can even concentrate on the final days of school??? NOT !!!

Those 10 days are just gonna fly by... but what FUN we are gonna have !!

 

[Swimnoid]

Have a GREAT TIME!! and thanks for the follow up! What a happy ending to a great story.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'm so glad this is working out for the girls! What a great trip they will have. Please post after you return and let us know how it went.

T&B

 

[michvin]

Have you thought about asking the friend to go when she turns 18...as she will be legal by then (and hopefully making more of her own decisions because of that) and able to make and spend her own money without having the guilt baggage attached to her by the family. It really a shame that her parents aren't letting her experience things in life that they aren't able to do....That's what parenting is about. Good Luck and have a great trip.

 

[Frozenfingers]

Ah Michvin, ... you have misread my posts. It was a struggle frought with obsticles and non communication, but the young lady IS joining us.

The whole purpose of this saga was to provide opportunity for the girls to have a lifetime memory maker. After graduation the girls will be focused on other things (work, post secondary education, bill paying, etc) and I expect that they will drift apart. My wife and I hope this trip will be so special that years from now, regardless of each girls circumstance, the girls can remember this trip, and think of each other and what a good friendship they had. Maybe it will be enough to stimulate them to pick up the phone and ask each other what they are doing... who knows.. you can only provide the tools, the rest is up to the kids.

101 hours till the wheels touch down at MCO !! (Not that we are counting)

As a side note: the family will not be attending the wedding in California (hence NOT going to Disneyland).

 

[buzzmom3]

I'm in shock! I just found this thread, what an incredible family you are! Someday both girls will realize what a gift you have given them, hopefully your dd's friend will too! i hope you have a wonderful time and hope to find more people like you!

 

[jenr812]

Ah Michvin, ... you have misread my posts. It was a struggle frought with obsticles and non communication, but the young lady IS joining us.

The whole purpose of this saga was to provide opportunity for the girls to have a lifetime memory maker. After graduation the girls will be focused on other things (work, post secondary education, bill paying, etc) and I expect that they will drift apart. My wife and I hope this trip will be so special that years from now, regardless of each girls circumstance, the girls can remember this trip, and think of each other and what a good friendship they had. Maybe it will be enough to stimulate them to pick up the phone and ask each other what they are doing... who knows.. you can only provide the tools, the rest is up to the kids.

101 hours till the wheels touch down at MCO !! (Not that we are counting)

As a side note: the family will not be attending the wedding in California (hence NOT going to Disneyland).

You are wonderful people I hope your vacation is incredible. It will definitely be memorable As far as the girls drifting apart...don't count on it My childhood best friend and I talk on the phone several times a week - and we now (sadly) live 650 miles apart. We are, however, planning joint family WDW trips in a few years, as well as some girls only trips when the kids are older

 

[puddleduck]

There is something about a dad showing such excitement and emotion over a trip for his daughter and her friend that just about brings tears to my eyes. As much as your daughter's friend will be getting from this trip, it looks like you will be getting much more in return. You seem like such a great dad, much like my dh . I hope you all have a great trip.

Sharon

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Sure am glad this is the last kid..

DD came home Monday and said she had a talk with the mom again, seems DD misinterpreted the previous conversation she had with her about the invitation. The mother didn't know anything about it!! ?? .... and I thought my family was dysfunctional.. I think they are brewing gin in the bathtub.

So, after a lengthy discussion between DD, DW and myself, we have come to the conclussion that we have no idea what is going on... DW insists the dad gave the pseudo ok, DD insists her friend's sibs are acting up about the invite, and I give up...

Tuesday.... DD comes home and says "buy the plane tickets" "the parents say ok" . According to DD, her friend needs to get a job this summer as part of the deal... (I'm ready to hire her myself just to end the misery!)

Still no word from the parents... the girls are already dreaming and planning.. (and worrying about the cost, God bless them!) There will be NO joy in this house if the rug gets pulled out from under therm now, but, I am not going to invest any $$$ till I get a firm committment from the parents... so there is still hope Beth!

I'm gonna have to agree with you here...totally dysfunctional behavior! Let's get past the horrible communication with each other (the dw and dh of the other family) and the fact that they are stringing you along with no clear explanation of WHEN you might have an answer or even IF you will have an answer...unacceptable IMO!!! Let's move on to their "family policy". I'm a former mental health professional (SAHM now) and also the older sister of a special needs "kid" (he just turned 18). It is understandable that they don't want to single out any of their children for "special treatment"...but the fact is, they aren't singling their dd out. HER FRIEND'S FAMILY has generously offered to take her! I think it is very damaging to the special needs child to think that NO ONE can have any "extras" or gifts or FUN without that child also having something given to him/her (sorry...can't remember boy or girl?). As a child one of my mom's best friends had the same policy for her kids (we were all close in age and good friends, too...none were SNK, though) and it was very annoying to not be able to go ANYWHERE without either inviting all or none of them. My mother didn't say too much about it at the time, but we all knew she thought it wasn't a good idea. They were very poor, also, and basically all their mother did was ensure that NONE of them had any extras. And there would've been plenty to "even things out" over time, as well...if one doesn't go to the water park this time, she will go to the zoo next time. KWIM? And I may have missed some info about the SNK...if he/she isn't able to fully comprehend the "unfairness"...then either don't attempt to "make it up to" that child OR if there is a "little" understanding then offer a small token gift...maybe ask that the dd going to WDW bring back a very inexpensive souvenir for each sibling? Good luck to ya, OP. You're sure gonna need it! Bless you for trying to make a difference in this girl's life. Your own dd will never forget it, either, and will surely learn some great lessons about kindness and PATIENCE!!! from you.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Took your advice T&B and I sik'd the wife on 'em.. and, I guess they had a nice conversation. DW spelled it out very plainly that the trip was for the girls and unless they gave us a committment now.. we would not be going. They apparently understood that we would be going regardless.. but DW said we wouldn't go without their daughter, period. Now THAT was news to me!!

SOoooo, the mother said for us to go make the plans,... THE GIRLS ARE GOING TO SEE MICKEY!!!!

Should've read ahead...YAY!!!!!!!!
Good for you for persisting. I know it will mean so much to both girls. You win the Great Parenting award for this one, for sure!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

for those that still remember.. we are fast coming up on the date..

Airline tickets were purchased last November.. when the oil prices were climbing and I thought I jumped on a good deal.. (who was to know what June would bring?) As planned, the ticket is on us.. the girls got seats together (and separate from us older folk) so they can giggle to their hearts content..

Reservations with a car rental company were made.. and it was a real struggle. Dad wants a convertable to cruise the coast in.. but, had to settle for a full size with luggage space.. Like... luggage from three women would EVER fit in the trunk of those convertables...

The young lady jumped though all of daddy's hoops all year long and got her license ANDa job. She worked and saved her money, and she has the target amount we suggested. Still kept up good grades as well. just a great young lady.

Over the winter, serious planning took place and it was decided that the middle weekend, we would go to Ft Lauderdale. So we searched and researched and got an apartment on the beach. We are also doing the Jungle Queen dinner cruise Friday night, and the luau at the MaiKai Polynesian Resteraunt Saturday. Sunday after church, we will do an airboat excursion in the everglades before heading back to Orlando. The reservations are all in place and confirmation notes firmly packed away in the planner.

In April, we sent a power of attorney to the parents for them to sign giving us authority to deliver healthcare for the child, should something happen. We waited, and waited and started to get worried.. finally we call, and they never got it.. after several attempts, I learned my domain has been blocked from hotmail.. evidently some spammer got my address so I can't send to Hotmail or MSN.. Finally, we connect, and we wait, and wait, and wait. DD's friend tells us she taped the paper to the microwave to hurry the process along a bit.. FINALLY last Sunday she brings it over, all signed, notarized and ready to go !!

7 Day premiere MYW tickets were ordered from the mousesavers link, and they arrived several weeks ago, as promised, and are tucked safely in the planner as well.

We leave for Minneapolis THIS Sunday at 930 and will spend the day with nephews and neices.. sons and daughters.. then board the airplane Monday morning. Wheels touch down in Orlando monday at 1 PM...

The girls are JUST BESIDE themselves !!! Like... they can even concentrate on the final days of school??? NOT !!!

Those 10 days are just gonna fly by... but what FUN we are gonna have !!

I seriously thought this was a 2005 OP, but now I see I am wrong. DUH! I was REALLY late posting!

 

[Frozenfingers]

We just rolled up the driveway not more than an hour ago.. we are beat and exhausted.. but it was a great time! The TS Arlene spoiled a few of the days, mainly the entire weekend.. and I can tell you what hotel NOT to rent an apartment at.. but all in all..it was an adventure that all will remember for some time to come.

I'll let ya all know what we did when we get our lives organized again.

 

[scrapperjill]

Now that your back..I can't wait to hear more about it.

 

[pigget74]

Can't wait to hear how it went.

 

[lillygator]

can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[momxx5]

Wow- what an exciting and interesting thread.

As a mom of 5 children, I cannot imagine the hard decision to let one of their children go on such an amazing trip. At the same time I cannot imagine not letting them go. I am sure glad to not be in that position(although it sounds like that family has a lot of issues)

Please post a trip report. We want to hear all about the fun.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I just read the entire thread, and this is better than the Young and the Restless! It's a mini-emotional rollercoaster to read, so I imagine actually living it must have been...challenging. Kudos to your entire family for getting through the pre-trip trauma.

I can't wait to read your trip report!

 

[javaj]

What a great story, you and your wife are such wonderful parents! Welcome back and I can't wait to hear about the trip.

 

[TNKBELL]

Just discovered this thread today!!! Please post your trip report to this thread if possible or let us know where you are posting it!! Thanks!

 

[tn_disney_addict]

Have we got a trip report yet!!?!? We are taking DD7's best friend in September! I can't wait to here how it went!