Need quick answer: can we get a refund if someone in our party doesn't go?

[moopdog]

It must be something with 13 year olds. Mine is doing the same thing, could they be speaking with each other !?!?!? ... [/COLOR] !!!

This is hysterical...not to laugh at you... just WITH you. There is definitely something with "13". Does she happen to act as if she is 21 instead of a barley a teenager too? That's ours... she is upset that we have so many limits at our house and she has almost none at her mothers. I can understand the fact that it may be hard to adapt but we just can't tolerate some of the language she uses and TV shows she watches when we have two little ones (2 and 4) running around who idolize her! [Laguna Beach and The Real World are NOT good shows for 13 year olds PEOPLE!!]

Okay before someone flames me, I'll keep my trap shut. Just had to get that off of my chest. It just cracks me up becuase my MIL thinks we're crazy for not letting her watch these particular shows when she (MIL) has never had the chance to catch an episode. BOY.... would she have a cow if she did... I'd pay good money to see that actually

 

[rantnnravin]

I'm going to poke my nose in here and probably come out charred, but here goes:
she probably has a very legitimate list of the "whys" of not going. But the truth be told, the girl made a commitment which you counted on and invested in. If it's okay with you that she not go, then she and her mom should be responsible for the money you laid out.

Last November, my five year-old's dance class was fitted for their costumes. $65. I asked DD then, do you want to be in the recital? Yes yes yes. Well, in March, when things began to get serious, she began complaining that she didn't want to go to dance class anymore, she was too tired, she didn't want to be in the recital, it's too hard...etc. I simply explained to her that when i asked her months ago if she wanted to do it, she made a commitment and mommy spent money based on that commitment and she had to follow through, whether she "felt like it" or not. And next year, if she didn't want to do dance class, she could choose not to. Well, she danced the recital, had a blast, and was excited to go back to dance class this year.

I think it's important for parents to instill the concept of commitment in their children at an early age. When you start something, you finish it. When you say you'll do something, you do it.
good luck with the sitch. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[moopdog]

I just got off of the phone with DSD and she was supposed to have made a decision...which she did and it is to "not" go, however she was crying the whole time on the phone. I feel like she could say "wait - I change my mind" at any moment. I hate that she is so torn. I just wish she would say "I don't really WANT to go" and then I'd say okay and feel okay about it.

But she says "I DO want to go, but feel like I can't keep my grades up if I do". She talked to her algebra teacher yesterday who (supposedly) told her that she would have a VERY hard time catching up if she missed 7 days of school and that really set my SD off. She has never been one to care very much about grades, so I still think there's other things she's worried about missing (socially) but she was told IT HAD BETTER BE ALL ABOUT SCHOOL NOT ANYTHING ELSE! so she really isn't at liberty to admit those other things.

In the meantime - if we make her go or persuade her to go and she's miserable and fails algebra and we're all miserable because she's in a bad mood (13 year olds have a tendency to bring everyone up or down based on their mood!) - it will royally suck!

However, if she stays and is miserable here while we're there - I will never forgive myself for going without her. I know my little ones will cry when the find out she's not going and I know that we'll be thinking of it often and having a hard time enjoying ourselves.

This is a very crappy situation. I should be happy since we're 5 days away not feeling depressed.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Sorry if I sounded harsh earlier...

I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip
What's done, is done..... Look foward to your magical trip with the little ones