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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Feeling Vanquished

Vanquish- beat or overcome.
I feel like I have been the one vanquished.
Right now I am frustrated and I am at a complete loss as to do.

My daughter's school is going on a trip to London and Paris in 2014.
It is the trip that may only come around once for her.

The problem is paying for it.
If we had the money, than we'd decide if she should go.
She is so young, but she is not little anymore.

What to do?

They take payment plans.
But, they have to be paid up a month before the trip.
So, it's $3500 or $250/month.

It's not like there are a ton of jobs around here I could get to pay for it.

So, like any good parent that wants to do for her child and doesn't know what to do- I feel very vanquished.

Shouldn't parenthood get easier as the kids get older?

19 comments:

  1. I don't know exactly how you feel as I am not a mother, but I do know that there are times when my siblings wish they could give their kids these advantageous things like this trip. One of my dearest friends has an opportunity for her daughter to do a U.N. Leadership conference in Washington DC, but the program is 1800 dollars alone not including air fare there and back plus meal expenses etc. Hugs!

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    1. Melissa, thanks for the hug. There have been so many things we have not been able to give her and it would be so nice to do it. It's tough.

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  2. My goodness, how can anyone afford that? I'd be upset with the school for planning such a lavish trip. They're setting kids up for disappointment - unless their parents are ultra rich. Are they planning 200 bake sales or any other ways to help raise funds? I don't know, Ruth. It's not your fault for not having a spare $3500! Geeze.

    xoRobyn

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    1. Robyn, unfortunately it is the haves and have-nots around here. They have had more expensive trips in the past. I know it is not my fault, but I still wish I could figure it out.

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  3. It does seem awfully expensive.I like Robyn's idea about fundraisers at the school. Good luck Ruth!

    Julie

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    1. Julie, any fundraisers the school has is for the school, not so kids get to do anything. Thanks!

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  4. I would be very unhappy if my school organized something like that for my kids. I know I would have to say "no". Our schools don't seem fund raise like they once did either. No more cake sales or chocolates sent home to be sold.

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    1. Mynx, they have done things like that for years. Most likely we will have to say no. Honeyman says we could buy her a car for that and it would last a lot longer. I don't remember the school ever doing bake sales.

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  5. wow, that's a lot of money and a far away trip---i am probably in the minority but i would have a really hard time with this one, on many levels---good luck with it ruth <3

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    1. I know what you mean, Lynn. She'd be 17 and that is young to be so far away. But, a mother of one of her friends is going as a chaperone so that makes me feel a little better about that part. There is always that "Natalie Holloway" fear in the back of my head too.

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  6. I don't have kids and I'm not sure this will help, but when I was in grade school, they had this big east coast trip that my mom couldn't afford (even though they had payment plans, etc.). I didn't end up going and honestly it wasn't even that big of a deal. Sure, people talked about it and I felt a little left out - but it was a blip on the screen. A month (or sooner, actually) after everyone came back, it didn't matter I hadn't gone. I hope this helps! I know your daughter will understand! I sure did!

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  7. Wow, Ruth - I echo everyone's sentiments. And I really like what Nicole said - I've been there too!

    What is the reason for the field trip? Is it for something specific? I find that amount of money to be staggering even if (big if) I was one of the haves.
    Also, is a portion of the money going to pay the cost of the chaperones or do they pay their own way... I sure would be interested for you to get a thorough breakdown of the cost.

    With all that aside, Ruth, I have one last question... what does your daughter think - she's old enough to know that this must be causing some stress. You've obviously talked about this with Honeyman, as I support his car thought, but what about dialoguing with your daughter. Maybe after a heart to heart she will see that Paris can wait for a later date.

    It really is a heartbreaker - I wish you luck and I'm sending you some tightly wrapped hugs (I hope they get there in one piece) :)

    Let us know how it all turns out in a later post, please. More hugs...

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    1. Jenny, it is just something that school has always done. I believe they even did it back when Honeyman went there.
      She knows it is a long shot. She knew before she mentioned it that we probably couldn't afford it.
      Everyone has to pay for their own way, except for maybe the two teachers that coordinate everything. So, if I wanted to go as a chaperone, I'd have to pay and my amount would be higher since I am an adult.
      Thanks for the hugs. They got here just fine.

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  8. I totally understand. While we want to give our children the best opportunities ever, sometimes the price can make dreams seem impossible. Will the group be doing any fund raising? Any grand parents who could supplement the trip? Good luck. I hope she gets to go.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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    1. Unfortunately not. The school leaves it up to the parents. And no on the grandparents. Thanks.

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  10. Unless I could go, too, for a major discount...

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Thanks for commenting.