Would you do this?

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If you are trying to determine If it is a good idea or not, then ask your child.

Some might be okay and others might not. At that age, I would have not been okay...but that was due to the stepdad and his conduct, not me being a teen embarrasses of her parents if that made sense. I would not have minded my mom staying at the same hotel. My step dad was rather...uncivilized. That is the nicest way I can put it. When I was in college, mom finally figured that out and divorced him.

 

[Pembo]

First, the chaperone question - parents of upperclassmen are picked first for chaperones. (I wouldn't want to anyway, 17 hours on a bus, blech).

Second, the director suggested to us staying at the same hotel.

Third, ds is an Aspie and if this trip was next week, I wouldn't trust him to be on his own. We're hoping that in 7 months that will change.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

 

[Pembo]

double

 

[design_mom]

When I was a senior in high school, my marching band played in the MK. We stayed off site. My parents were not chaperones, but stayed in the same hotel. (I think our band director also encouraged non-chaperone family members to stay in the same hotel. I bet they got a bigger discount if they reserved a bigger block of rooms.)

I didn't really mind. They didn't bug me and their room was in a different area than mine. I did stuff with the band, and they intersected where appropriate and left me alone otherwise. (Honestly, while we were at the MK, I would have *rather* gone off with my family. It seemed like all the band kids thought they were "too cool" for WDW and claimed that they'd "done it all or didn't want to do it" by lunch. As if! My family had a great time that day and I... well.. didn't.)

If it were me, I'm not sure I'd want to stay at the same hotel (a lot of kids were noisy and obnoxious... but I wasn't... and I would have behaved the same way whether my parents were there or not.) But not *all* kids will mind their parents being there. If you think your son needs/wants you there, then do what's best for you.

 

[eeyoremum]

why not? You won't be in the same room. You get to know some of your child's friends. You might just find out it is a whole lot of fun.

We were parent chaperones on my son's band cruise last December. 23 teens, 11 adults and 1 10 year old (ours). We had a blast. We spent some time with the kids, spent some time on our own, and spent some time as a family. Our son roomed with one of his band mates we had a room on a seperate floor it worked out great.

Let me just say we did not go because we don't trust our kid. We did go because heck we had never been on a cruise and we got a great group rate. Our son did not mind in the least we told him we knew it was HIS trip and we would see him as much or as little as HE chose. We went to his performances and ate together as a group every evening (teachers request for bonding as a group and any announcements).

He spent one port day with us only because he was buying himself a watch and we didn't really want him being taken advantage of because of his age. We also put it on our CC so he wasn't carrying around a large amount of cash.

Go and have fun.

 

[ksjayhawks]

First, the chaperone question - parents of upperclassmen are picked first for chaperones. (I wouldn't want to anyway, 17 hours on a bus, blech).

Second, the director suggested to us staying at the same hotel.

Third, ds is an Aspie and if this trip was next week, I wouldn't trust him to be on his own. We're hoping that in 7 months that will change.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

This info should have been included in your original post. I think it changes the dynamics of the situation. It is probably good for you to be in the same hotel and close to your son in case ds needs you for any reason or you need to step in and help him with boundaries/behaviors/etc.

 

[NHdisneylover]

First, the chaperone question - parents of upperclassmen are picked first for chaperones. (I wouldn't want to anyway, 17 hours on a bus, blech).

Second, the director suggested to us staying at the same hotel.

Third, ds is an Aspie and if this trip was next week, I wouldn't trust him to be on his own. We're hoping that in 7 months that will change.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

I agree with the PP that this was important information to leave out of the OP. In that scenario, yes I think it is fine.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

Just curious why no parents for chaperones? I recall way back when I was in marching band all the chaperones were parents.

I didn't elaborate, sorry. No parents are permitted to come, only teachers. They found out in previous years (before my time) that some parents were not "chaperoning" their students. The school district eliminated parents coming for the children's safety.

I love the idea that the teachers are the chaperones. I feel there is probably more control over the students. There is one teacher for about 8 children. The teachers sleep in their own rooms. Then they hire security guards that stay up at night in the hallways to monitor the rooms. Our trips leave Thursday night when there is an inservice day on Friday and stay until Sunday evenings.

Hope that clarifies my previous post.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

Second, the director suggested to us staying at the same hotel.

Third, ds is an Aspie and if this trip was next week, I wouldn't trust him to be on his own.

Now knowing this, I would change my suggestion. If the band director is recommending this, he probably feels this would make a better transition for your child.

So I think you need to go with what is right for you and your child. Have a great vacation ...

 

[charming23]

As someone whose parents and Aunt stayed in the same hotel as me when our high school band went to Washington DC, I would say stay else where. As the child I was horrified that I would run into them at the hotel. I was all about hanging out with my friends and relaxing when at the hotel.

Although in their defense, parents were encouraged to stay at the same hotel and were even invited to tour with us around DC.