WWYD- coat stained at school harvest festival?

[eeyorethegreat]

It sounds like the OP has decided how she is going to handle this. She asked what others would do and many responded. As always there is never full agreement on any issue here. The OP will surely do what she thinks is best in this situation and the school will give her the response that they believe to be best. Sounds like this thread has run it's course...

 

[mom2my3kids]

I would just take it to get cleaned at a dry cleaner, maybe say something but I would not expect them to replace or clean the coat. They have always told us do not send kids in anything you do not want paint etc on because in kindergarten they do alot of activity's..

 

[jjenniboo]

If you didn't know in advance that your child was going to be doing crafts outside while wearing her coat I would complain, maybe not with the expectation that you would get your money back just so that something like that woldn't happen again. But, if you were aware of it then I think it's an error on your part. Good luck with the dry cleaning.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

Thanks again I have made my decision to speak w/ the office concerning the paint incident. NO were did I state I expected the office to reimburse me for my dd coat. At the time I was unsure how to handle it but after thinking about it. I will go to the office and address my concerns. Our school does want to hear feedback from the parents.

ajk912 posted :

I am not sure if I buy the "I am poor, we only get one coat/pair of shoes/etc a year" excuse because you are posting on a DISNEY forum so obviously you have the funds to pay for a computer, internet, and have probably taken a Disney vacation (and those aren't cheap).

First of all I was not crying poor -- NO where did I ever state that. My kids do only get 1 pair of sneakers, 1 pair of winter boots and 1 pr of sandel, 1 winter coat 1 backpack and 1 lunch box. Why should they have mulitple pairs???? They get a new pair when they outgrow it or they wear it out. I grew up w/ only one of each too. By no means does that mean I am crying poor. It means I spend our money carefully. Yes we do vacation at disney - it is the vacation we take yearly thanks to my careful spending.

Obviously it was a mistake on my part to look for assistance/guidance in how to handle a situation that I never had to deal w/ before. I support our school and support the teachers 100%. I spend more time at school than at home some days.

I am asking that this thread gets closed bc it when way beyond the scope of where it started. I thank those who had kind comments.

 

[ckrum]

I only read the first few pages & the last one, so forgive me if this has already been said. OP, I am a teacher & can't tell you how many times a child has left his/her mark on me while painting I am almost always successful getting the paint out, but it usually takes more than 1 washing. Also, be sure not to dry it in the dryer until the stain is gone. OxyClean has also worked wonders for me. Let it soak for a while & rewash.

 

[mmouse1239]

The only thing that going to the office will accomplish is that the kids won't be able to do fun activities in the future. It's just the same old "entitlement" mentality that clogs up our courts with ridiculous litigation and prevents us from doing a lot of the fun things we used to be able to do because everyone's afraid of being sued. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? I would try all means to get the stain out, but I would buy my kid another coat at a yard sale before I would go to the office to complain....for everyone who posted and said that this whole thing is ridiculous...I agree.

 

[dawnball]

What would I do? I'd clean it as best I can, then I'd send my kid to school in a coat that had paint on it. Paint doesn't substantially affect the warming ability of a coat.

 

[RobinFabulous]

If the coat is very light try using boiling water and making an oxyclean paste. I've found that using really hot water and oxyclean gets out more than any other stain remover. I worked in a children's resale boutique for a few years and restored a lot of outfits using that method.


OP I'm sorry the jacket got ruined. I have a kindergartner that comes home with his pants cut from his scissoring skills (he has special needs and a hard time with his hands) I've just sewn them up. He did it with several pairs. Then, two weeks ago, during class he cut the straps off of his backpack. Luckily it was the adjustable part and I was able to sew that back together too.

Our teacher is WONDERFUL, but she has a classroom with 18 kids by HERSELF. They sneak past me to do stuff here and there's only 3.

I agree the school should have used more washable paint, but what's done is done, and I seriously doubt they're going to cover the cost of cleaning. I' bet other kids got stained up as well.

 

[jenniferma]

Sorry-- I didn't read all of the posts-- but I would HIGHLY recommend BIZ -- it works me nearly every time. (including preschool paint)

I would get the powder Biz and not liquid though-- I swear it works better. Just soak and wash on the hottest water possible for the coat.

good luck-- jen

 

[fraggie]

I think it would be wise to bring iit to the office's attention. My DD had a halloween party at preschool this week. I was told that they would change their cloths after the party so not to get costumes messed up. I sent extra clothes and shoes for her to change. She is 3. When I got to school to pick her up that afternoon, she was playing on the playground with her Minnie costume on. It was a mess. I did go right into the office and voice my dismay. The offered to pay to get it cleaned, but that is not what I was wanting. I just wanted to let them know how upset I was that they let her keep it on when they told me they would change her and I specifically told her teacher that morning that she had extra clothes. Her costume came clean, but it took 2 washings to get it back to normal.

As a school administrator, I would want to know if I had a parent upset with something that happened in my school. It is called good communication. I may not be able to fix the problem, but I can communicate with the teacher to maybe make the activity more successful in the future.

 

[MousekeMommy]

I heard a "quote" back when I was a teenager babysitting, by a very wise mother who normally had immaculate, well-dressed children, but who laughed when they were a mess: "clean kids have no fun!" Stop worrying about whether your child looks "clean" and start worrying about whether or not he/she has had fun or has learned something new!!!
Your child will probably remember having fun creating a mural and will never remember the marks on his/her coat in a negative light!!!
Good luck removing those stains! Fight the "good fights!"

 

[disneybound31]

It is no small undertaking for some of us to clothe our children. Sometimes the budget from year to year to clothe multiple children has to be stretched and when an article get ruined it may not be so simple for some of us to replace. In that sense I TOTALLY get the OP concern.

With the same conviction, however, I also say- life is too short and clothes, while necessary, are a material thing that mean almost nothing in the bigger picture. My kids go to school (1st and 4th) in clothes that have been stained by the playground tire mulch from the school playground. No matter how much I treat and wash some items these black smudges never go away. Drives DH nuts, but it is what it is. DH also hates that their shoes get so blackened.. but let kids be kids I say. Don't raise them to value material things more than experiences. (Not that I think OP thinks that way... I'm just expressing a point.)

 

[roxy83]

Wow! I am amazed at the tone of the posts on an otherwise super friendly board. Having said that I have a similiar complaint. My dd goes to private school and has to wear uniforms. These uniforms are very expensive. Last week their class did paper mache globes. The kids had fun but many uniforms were ruined due to the glue mixture. I was quite upset about it because I try to get a whole school year out of our uniforms...more if I can. However, I did not complain because she kept talking about how much fun she had in class. Am I frustated? ABSOLUTELY. Can I do anything about it? probably not so I am just sending her to school in clean but ugly uniform pieces.

 

[dizkids]

I have a double sink in my bathroom. Thank god because i have something soaking in sink #2 just about every night.

This was mentioned before but i buy the hugest box to last me almost a very long time of Oxy powder. HOT HOT HOT water to disolve and let it soak overnight. If its not all gone...do it over. On occasion i have soaked things 2 or 3 times but i cant remember a stain i never got out.

I was even successful with items that have been washed and dried.

Good luck.

 

[dahrjo]

At DS7's Halloween party this week, they used fabric paint to decorate bags. I do feel bad for all the clothes that were ruined. Fabric paint is not going to come off. The kids just kept dipping their shirts into it. I kept pulling kids sleeves up, but it didn't help much. I was surprised the room Mom did that type of project with no smock and no notice of bringing painting clothes. Normally painting is not done in everyday clothes and definitely not winter coats. I'm sorry for OP who's coat was ruined! We don't expect them to come home clean, but not totally ruined due to a school project.
I will be surprised if no one calls the teacher on Monday about a shirt being unwearable because of the fabric paint used.

 

[NEDisneyFans]

When I send my kids to school, I'm sending them knowing that whatever they are wearing might get trashed. Yes, it sounds like the activity turned out to be too messy, and maybe they won't do it again next year. However, if schools had to reimburse parents for every clothing item that got stained or ripped in school, they'd be broke! I've thrown out many an item ruined by washable paint.

They are already broke -- most schools aren't even able to provide "school supplies" and books -- I'd be furious if they were reimbursing anyone for clothing!

Dressing kids for school is always a gamble -- don't "bet" anything you aren't prepared to lose.

 

[Cindy F]

OP, I just wanted to apologize for all of the snappy, unkind, unnecessary comments you received. People often don't ask themselves "is this something I would say to a stranger's face?" Many of the comments contained inflammatory language with snide comments that had very little tone of helpfulness. The relative anonymity of the internet can sometimes reduce the good manners most people have in person.

Having said that, I am glad you posted your question because some of the comments were very helpful and useful! Ignore the snappy posts (remember-snappiness usually means something unhappy/hurtful is going on in the snappers life) and focus on the helpful ones on how to get the stains out or camouflaging with designs (GREAT idea!).

Good Luck! and please post if you were able to get the stains out with some of the ideas or if the camouflaging worked well--it could really be helpful to those of us in the same boat one day.

 

[jennyerin]

While I agree that kids should be able to have fun, I experienced something similar at an after school activity. The parent at the activity table assured me that the paint was washable so I wasn't too worried until I got a look at the container. As a result my DD's dress was ruined. I don't feel the school was responsible or anything like that, but I think the people organizing such crafts need to think about the supplies they are using. If paints aren't washable, parents would have no problem sending in or bringing a smock or play clothes. I don't see many parents sending kids to school in paint covered clothing so that means they are having to purchase other clothing which is a hardship for some families.
Lynn

 

[SalandJeff]

Thanks again I have made my decision to speak w/ the office concerning the paint incident...

Obviously it was a mistake on my part to look for assistance/guidance in how to handle a situation that I never had to deal w/ before. I support our school and support the teachers 100%. I spend more time at school than at home some days.
I am asking that this thread gets closed bc it when way beyond the scope of where it started. I thank those who had kind comments.

OP, I can totally understand your frustration about your son's coat. However, you did open this thread by asking others what they would do, and seem very offended that they responded with their opinions. JMHO, but people did offer assistance/guidance, they just didn't happen to agree with what you were going to do. (Obviously, some people respond in less than nice ways.)

I find really good deals at Once Upon a Child consignments (especially for the 5 yo). You can get an extra coat and keep one for "good occasions".

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

I haven't read all of the posts, but OP - I just sent you my fave stain remover tip in a pm...hope it works.