WWYD - cancel or not?

[StephMK]

Ugh, we thought we picked a great week - 5/30-6/5 - early enough that the kids would just be out of school, not as crowded or quite as hot as later in the summer.

We bought SW tickets that will expire in Aug. Since part of payment was SW LUV voucher, I didn't realize that all payment as part of that will expire at same time. SIL/BIL is letting us use their timeshare & that has been booked ($248 exchange fee). Apparently, they had cancelled a previous ressie on this week so we can't change.

We found out last week that show choir has a mandatory meeting on 6/3 & fittings that week. DD15 did not make it last year and has been WAITING to try out again. I emailed the director to see if there were any "exceptions" but didn't get a good answer either way. They don't know who makes it until 5/22DD is sick thinking that she might make it & not do it because she's gone. But feels guilty if we cancel & she doesn't make it. The director might be ok with it but it was really hard to read from her emailed response.

So what would you do? We are taking a trip later this summer that I'd planned to drive but could use the $ to fly instead. We'd really only be out the timeshare & the chance to go to Disney. Otherwise, we have to wait another year or two for timing to be right. IF we cancel now, the flights are pretty cheap for where we need to go in July. But we could keep the trip in case she doesn't make it & that could take her mind off the disappointment.

We could also wait & cancel last minute if needed (if SW lets us cancel w/in 2 weeks of flight) but then the July tickets will probably be more expensive.

Advice, help?

 

[srwarden1928]

I think it is unfair for the school to have "mandatory" things at unexpected times during the summer. DW and I both teach. Both of us were approached within the last week about things the school wanted us to do in the summer. My response was "I will be out of town June 13-28." DWs was similar, although she mentioned that it was a preplanned family vacation. We both refused to be bullied out of our trip that we have been looking forward to for months.

 

[ancestry]

This is a hard decision but if it were me I would not cancel our family trip that was already planned for something that *might* happen or not happen.

I would do the trip as planned and if my daughter made the choir I would do my best to work out some type of alternate arrangements with the director. If the director was so inflexible that he/she wouldn't be willing to work with me (considering our trip was already booked long before I knew of the choir's dates) then I don't think I would want my child to be a part of such a group.

 

[StephMK]

I should have added to be fair, we found out after we booked that the last day is supposed to be 6/3 (1/2 day). It will probably be moved back to 5/29 per usual since the kids only used 1 snow day. We thought it was 5/29 unless they needed to extend it to 6/3 so my boo-boo.

 

[Darcy03231]

This is a hard decision but if it were me I would not cancel our family trip that was already planned for something that *might* happen or not happen.

I would do the trip as planned and if my daughter made the choir I would do my best to work out some type of alternate arrangements with the director. If the director was so inflexible that he/she wouldn't be willing to work with me (considering our trip was already booked long before I knew of the choir's dates) then I don't think I would want my child to be a part of such a group.

I agree. We ran into this with dance. There is a mandatory dress rehearsal every year. If you don't go to the dress rehearsal you can't dance in the recital. One year my step-daughter's grandfather died and the funeral was that day. The dance studio had absolutely no issue with her missing the rehearsal and still being allowed to dance in the recital. They even sent flowers to the wake. I think they tell everyone its mandatory otherwise people wouldn't come. If she makes it I would try to work something out with the director either before you leave or right after you come back.

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

I wouldn't cancel my trip for that. If the director can't respect that you are out of school and planning summer vacation and work around that then I don't think activity should have children in it.

 

[saratogadreamin09]

If you are going later in the summer I would cancle.

 

[sk!mom]

I would keep the trip, let her audition, and then if she makes it, I would let the director know that you will be out of town on the day of the fitting and nicely ask for an alternate day.

Since the fitting day is after the end of school, I can't imagine that if you're unable to attend- you're out. I wouldn't say too much to the director now as you don't want her to decide that you're DD would be high maintanence before the fact.

I completely feel your pain about scheduling vacations around a teen. We have decided for the next several years we will have to vacation in early August. It's the only conflict free time period.