rescheduling breaking your child's heart?

[madoug]

Several posts during the recent storms and a few others discussing other situations include concerns that if your plans need to change the child(ren) will be heart broken. I just wanted to post in defense of today's children. You are underestimating their feelings of empathy. They can handle the change; they are by nature flexible. If disaster, death, or major illness should disrupt your cruise plans, have faith in your children. They will rise to the need. If on the other hand we have this many kids who can't handle the need to reschedule than I fear for the future of our society.

 

[FL_Librarian]

I was concerned about telling my children ages 7 and 4.

But...They took it exceptionally well. They never complained about the trip being shortened or missing Castaway Cay. My oldest said that we should just be thankful that we get to have family vacations because many of her classmates "never go anywhere."

 

[TMTIP]

Originally posted by madoug
Several posts during the recent storms and a few others discussing other situations include concerns that if your plans need to change the child(ren) will be heart broken. I just wanted to post in defense of today's children. You are underestimating their feelings of empathy. They can handle the change; they are by nature flexible. If disaster, death, or major illness should disrupt your cruise plans, have faith in your children. They will rise to the need. If on the other hand we have this many kids who can't handle the need to reschedule than I fear for the future of our society.

Well said! I could not agree more. I don't think parents give their children enough credit these days. Children adapt, it's the parents that usually have a hard time with change.

 

[KEH]

Spot on, madoug. Unfortunately disappointment and change happen to all of us through life and sadly we all learn this sooner or later. Kids are unbelievably adaptable - mine surprise me sometimes with how they react to situations.

 

[little_susan]

I was so proud of my kids (7 and 4) when we had to reschedule from December 2003 to May 2005! We were building a house and unexpected things came up that ate our entire vacation fund. So not only did they have to move from a neighborhood they loved dearly(but a house that was falling apart LOL- that didn't matter much to them), but they also had their promised first time to Disney World + cruise vacation cancelled. I can guarantee you I had many more sleepless nights about the 'disappearance' of our vacation than they did. My kids are pretty spoiled otherwise, so I think it was actually a good thing they have to see that sometimes you have to put some things off because of circumstances outside of your control. C'est la vie!

 

[ivanova]

I truly think a lot of it has to do with the parent's attitude also - if the parents exhibit a great deal of grief, disappoint, hearts broken, etc. then of course the kids will pick up on that and react the same way.

 

[mmouse37]

Thank you for posting that!!!! I was thinking the same type of things when reading how many disappointed kids there would be when plans changed.

I agree it can be disappointing to everyone but they need to know life doesn't run on schedule and to roll with the punches.

I could never in a million years imagine my father worrying that we would be disappointed in not getting something.....I grew up in the era of do it or else!!! We had five girls in our family and I can remember going to McDonald's was a huge treat for us....did we get to decide what we wanted....no way!! It was five cheeseburgers, five fries and five cokes....if you don't like it, don't eat it. My dad was a Marine and he ran the family like one. We are no worse for the wear and we all appreciate the strength we have in dealing with things.

We treat kids these days like they will have a breakdown if we disappoint them.


MJ

 

[Mjasp]

Originally posted by TMTIP
Well said! I could not agree more. I don't think parents give their children enough credit these days. Children adapt, it's the parents that usually have a hard time with change.

SO TRUE!

 

[Debbie H]

mmouse37,
my dad and my brother are Marines, remember, once a Marine, always a Marine! No such thing as was!

 

[musicgirl]

Great thread!!!

Just like adults, kids have to learn to deal with disappointments in life. Sometimes I think we try to make sure our kids don't have to deal with disappointment of any kind. I'm sure I do with ds-14.

I think I would be more disappointed then he would!!! LOL!! And he loves DCL and "talks" with a bunch of kids he met on board still.

Again, great thread. Lorie

 

[SandraLee]

mmouse37 . . . Are you one of my sisters? LOL!

I am one of 5 girls in my family and my dad was in the Marines! I laugh these days at people who talk about their 2 boys sharing a bathroom (at age 5 and 8) and too much arguing about it. Can you believe this family actually moved to a bigger house?

In my house there were 5 girls; one bathroom; no boys. It was nothing to have 3 of us in there at the same time -- toilet; shower and sink going all at once!

Yes, children as so resilient -- they reflect the behavior and attitude they see in their parents.