****Sigh*****

[Laurabearz]

I just found out that the 'big show' at my girls dance studio is June 18th.. the day we return from HHI. And over a week after all the schools let out... little miffed that we werent given more notice... and that the show wasnt planned before school let out.. but that is another thread.. lol

DH and I talked about coming back a day early, but my girls would still miss the last dance class before the show...

I just got off the phone with MS to see if we could push the trip back a week and I am on the waitlist, but not hopeful. I am too nervous to waitlist day by day (3 outta 7 nights were availible). SO the whole chunk would have to come up..... Plus airfare from Chicago to HH stinks, and I like to book early.

My girls would really love to be able to do the show....

*****Sigh*****

 

[AJKMOM]

What sacrifices we make for the kids. I have had to plan many a vacation around: dancing recital, summer camp, and mandatory cross-country practices. It stinks, and there isn't a good answer. I just hope it all works out.

 

[disgirl]

I hate when you think you have all things worked out and then suprise suprise... Sorry this has happened. Hopefully, things will work out for you. Sending pixie dust your way!!

 

[snowbunny]

Hilton Head will still be there but these special moments (for them and for you) like dance recitals do not come back. Just my advice, put the dance show first

 

[rocketriter]

Hilton Head will still be there but these special moments (for them and for you) like dance recitals do not come back. Just my advice, put the dance show first

I agree. But I'd also make sure that the dance group clearly understands how much their spazzing around cost you, and I'd look around for a different group next fall.

 

[Cinderelli]

I feel your pain. Our dance recitals were always the 2nd - 3rd week of June, too. Why they don't have them completed before school lets out is beyond me! Now my girls cheer and it starts mid-July. We are completely booked with practices/games/competitions from mid-July thru Thanksgiving. Then, it's spotty thru February. Seems like the older they get, the more difficult it is to plan trips to the World (and they are only 8 and 11). Geesh!

Not to mention my 9 yo DS's activities.

I hope the waitlist works out for you.

Lissa

 

[loribell]

I was so glad that my DS - 13 finally got to school ball stage (been playing since he was 3) so that we didn't have to wait to take our vacations in July. I am always ready to go as soon as school gets out! This summer we are leaving 1 week later.

It really stinks that they put of the planning and then didn't plan it till after they were all out of school. Here's a ton of pixie dust that the waitlist comes through!****************************************************!

Don't know if this will help any but last summer the kids decided they wanted to go to VB. I called and got some days and put on the wait list for others. I kept calling back and one day the wonderful MS rep asked me to hold on and through some sort of miracle came back and had me my extra days that weren't there when she first checked. Maybe thay can do that for you too! I'm thinking they probably used a room that was for supposed to be for a cash ressie but I'm not sure.

Good luck,
Lori

 

[Laurabearz]

Hilton Head will still be there but these special moments (for them and for you) like dance recitals do not come back. Just my advice, put the dance show first

True.... but I think the girls would vote for 8 days HHI in lue of the recital. This is their first year of dance..... the girls are 5 and 4 with plenty more recitals in their future. Plus a week with both mom and dad doing nothing but hanging with them doesnt come back either.... and last year at HHI both girls put on a wonderful show for us and other tourists on a stage near the resort.

If the wait list doesnt come in month, we will go when we origainlly planned and next year I will take the dance recital into consideration before booking 7 months out.

 

[Lesley]

Good luck with your waitlist. I agree that at 5 and 4 the vacation is probably more important than the dance recital. My dd had her first one last year when she was 4yo....and though she talks about it occasionally or watches her DVD (where her group of tiny little Peter Pans stole the show...) in the long run she probably won't remember it much.

When they're older and really *into* their performances its different...but I know last year my dd didn't really quite "get" what they were doing. She didn't even take dance this year.

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

I'm on the waitlist too for HH!! For the 5/22 to 5/27 for a 1 bedroom. So Pixie dust for us both.

Allison

 

[Laurabearz]

Hi,

I'm on the waitlist too for HH!! For the 5/22 to 5/27 for a 1 bedroom. So Pixie dust for us both.

Allison

Thanks! You too!

 

[snowbunny]

True.... but I think the girls would vote for 8 days HHI in lue of the recital. This is their first year of dance..... the girls are 5 and 4 with plenty more recitals in their future. Plus a week with both mom and dad doing nothing but hanging with them doesnt come back either.... and last year at HHI both girls put on a wonderful show for us and other tourists on a stage near the resort.

Ah, 5 and 4. That does make a difference! My DD is 10 1/2 and she's already so independent that I feel I have to savor every moment I get with her.

 

[ErinC]

I vote for ditching the recital! There will plenty more in your future, plus millions of other obligations to have to contend with and plan your vacation around. Did you ask the girls? Of course with my luck on DD would choose the recital and the other would pick vacation. If you think that they will both pick HH than by all means ask them. That way it will be their "choice". Frankly, I think the family time is much more important, and besides that if your recitals cost what ours do, you'll be saving yourself a lot of money! Between the costume, pictures, flowers, blah, blah, blah, between 2 kids is a chunk of change. Much better spent on vacation!!

 

[Laurabearz]

We are leaning towards skipping the show even if the waitlist does come in... we would loose 1 day on the trip AND be coming home on a Sunday (we much prefer a day at home before school and work start up)

HH is really our fave vacation of the year, and we need every day we can get. LOL

 

[FreeTime]

This is just the post that I needed. I am struggling with the same thing. I have 4 & 5 year olds and if they play soccer or T-Ball then we have to cut our May vacation short or if they do cheerleading it starts in July and we have to cut our October vacation short. DH wants to coach soccer or T-Ball so ther eis no way we can miss because he needs to be there for the other kids. I think vacations are so important, but so is teaching the kids to be there for their obligations. So, I told them that they had to do one or the other. Then as a family we decided we might just do kung fu together.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

When my kids first started taking dance 11 years ago (they did it for years, but no longer), I was surprised to hear that the recital was in November, the weekend before Thanksgiving. But her reasoning was that in June, there are so many weddings, and graduations and graduation parties, and...vacations. And it really did work out well. As a matter of fact, our first trip to WDW was the weekend after Thanksgiving '97, and the theme for the recital was Disney's 25th anniversary, so we were downright giddy in the audience!

I'd say, go for the trip, and forget about the recital this year, and chalk it up to experience...and have a dialogue with the dance studio about next year. Trust me...it will get much more miserable as they get older...like teenagers...trying to work around their schedules.

 

[lenshanem]

Oh, man. They best not do this with our recitals! Every year I'm estimating the recital dates so I can plan our trips. A matter of fact this year we're leaving for VB the morning after. (I hope!)

Good luck, I can understand your pain!

 

[CarolA]

Wow. I am shocked all the 4 and 5 year olds are doing. All I did at that age was play!

Just to keep you from feeling bad about the recital. There is always my nieces.... Age 4. Mom invites everyone from both families.... Niece won't go on the stage at dress rehersal. So... mom panics. Tells niece if she will dance she can have the Snow White Dress from the Disney store. Day of recital... niece goes on stage and STANDS there the whole time hiding her face! LOL! (She did get the dress!)

 

[Laurabearz]

I am feeling better about skipping the recital... It's for the whole dance studio, so my girls would be a tiny part of the big show...
The studio rents out the high school autitorium (ack... I cant speel sorry) for this production... lol

******sigh******

And next year DD5 wants to add soccer to the list, and DD4 is begging for gymnastics.... thankfully the BOY is too young for that stuff, but it is coming....

This way, that way, up, down, the life of a SAHM doenst involve much 'at home' time!

 

[lenshanem]

It is funny how we all build up the recital, isn't it? They're like onstage for three minutes, then you spend the next three hours watching everyone else's kids. Months of dancing classes and then it is all over in an instant.