Furious at DS for spending $18 for lunch at field trip today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So OP, let's say your son went on a typical DC metro area fieod trip to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

The T-Rex platter (cheeseburger and fries) costs $13.25.

Add a drink to it. He tried to be healthier and choose juice because he knows you flip out over soda and fountain drinks.

Minute Maid is $3.60.

So now we are up to $16.85.

Your son knows you aren't a fan of meals of just burgers and fries, so being the good boy he is, he decides to add an apple to his tray.

Fresh fruit at the museum is $1.25.

Which brings your son's food court lunch to a grand total of $18.10.

A cheeseburger. Fries. A bottle of OJ. And an apple.

Think about it OP, then apologize to your son about flipping out over this.

You almost have a valid point, but your armchair psychoanalysis is weird and OP already said her son bought two entrees.

OP hadn't answered when I was typing this. OP is furious and cannot understand how one can spend $18.00 on a food court lunch. It is very easy to do as my post shows.

She is flipping out over something she should not be even a little upset about.

Your bizarre interpretation of the child's thought process is still weird.

[Anonymous]

Just found out he borrowed $10 from his friend and got a souvenir.

No we're not struggling with money, but yes I'm cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just found out he borrowed $10 from his friend and got a souvenir.

No we're not struggling with money, but yes I'm cheap.

Do you work downtown? It's very easy to spend a lot on lunch especially if you're not used to it.

Go easy on him.

[Anonymous]

Wha this wrong with you?? He ate more than you think is reasonable, but obviously he was hungry. And probably not experienced in how to navigate a food court on his own, overwhelmed with choices, and picked two instead of one. Calm down.

[Anonymous]

You are not talking to your 10 year old? Because you gave him $20 and he spent it on lunch? You need to get some perspective. I'm serious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just found out he borrowed $10 from his friend and got a souvenir.

No we're not struggling with money, but yes I'm cheap.

My MIL was pathologically cheap when DH was growing up and he is irrationally generous with money now as a direct consequence because it embarrassed him to no end. e.g., He tips everyone (when no tip is expected). Please unclench and teach your son about reasonable spending, which includes the occasional indulgence. I could see being annoyed at your kid for spending a lot on lunch. But furious? You really need to take a look at yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just found out he borrowed $10 from his friend and got a souvenir.

No we're not struggling with money, but yes I'm cheap.

I'm cheap too, but prices have gone up a lot since you and I were in school and going on field trips. $20 for lunch is a bit high, but nothing crazy at these sorts of places. You need to chill.

[Anonymous]

As a chaperone for the 5th grade, I have seen many boys capable of eating double what you'd think was normal for that age.

I'm cheap AND broke, and if I wanted my 5th grader not to spend so much on lunch I wouldn't have sent him with that much money.

So, OP, it's all on you.
Did you give him precise guidelines about what to buy?
Ask him to spend less than $20 on lunch?
Of course you didn't.
You have anger management problems.

[Anonymous]

My son is a smart kid, but has no freaking idea how to figure out what costs what in his own school cafeteria. I could easily see him thinking he could get several things for one price. Or just be clueless about what it will add to. Or getting excited that he is out on his own.

Make him pay back his friend with his own money for the souvenir.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So OP, let's say your son went on a typical DC metro area fieod trip to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

The T-Rex platter (cheeseburger and fries) costs $13.25.

Add a drink to it. He tried to be healthier and choose juice because he knows you flip out over soda and fountain drinks.

Minute Maid is $3.60.

So now we are up to $16.85.

Your son knows you aren't a fan of meals of just burgers and fries, so being the good boy he is, he decides to add an apple to his tray.

Fresh fruit at the museum is $1.25.

Which brings your son's food court lunch to a grand total of $18.10.

A cheeseburger. Fries. A bottle of OJ. And an apple.

Think about it OP, then apologize to your son about flipping out over this.

You almost have a valid point, but your armchair psychoanalysis is weird and OP already said her son bought two entrees.

OP hadn't answered when I was typing this. OP is furious and cannot understand how one can spend $18.00 on a food court lunch. It is very easy to do as my post shows.

She is flipping out over something she should not be even a little upset about.

Your bizarre interpretation of the child's thought process is still weird.

NP here.
Stop wanting to have the last word, you're wrong anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just found out he borrowed $10 from his friend and got a souvenir.

No we're not struggling with money, but yes I'm cheap.

Only in DCUMland do you find nut jobs like OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Overreacting. Good luck getting him to tell you the important stuff if he can't tell you he spent money on lunch. Why did he have $18 anyway?

This. Let it go, OP. This is not the hill you want to die on.

[Anonymous]

"Furious" and "$18" do not go together unless it involves prostitution or drugs.

[Anonymous]

Was he at a museum downtown? A sandwich is $10, soda $4, and chips $3. Outrageous, but the museums are free. They have to make money somewhere.

[Anonymous]

In all seriousness - use it as a data point on what your child knows / does not know.

So a few times this summer, go out together for lunch. Show him how to read the menu and estimate the cost of the meal. Understand that you can make choices - a cup of water vs a bottle of water.

The "value" of the combo meal etc. My just turned 10 year old would have probably only purchased candy. At least your child get something that looked like lunch.