My 17 yo son's community service trip to Africa was cancelled. Need a solid backup. Any ideas?

[Anonymous]

whenever someone posts in this thread "well, it's a great experience for the kids/they learn and grow etc", I'm hearing "my kid's ~personal growth is more important to me than the people in the communities he's going to "help"", which makes me furious but I guess is par for the course in DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:whenever someone posts in this thread "well, it's a great experience for the kids/they learn and grow etc", I'm hearing "my kid's ~personal growth is more important to me than the people in the communities he's going to "help"", which makes me furious but I guess is par for the course in DC

Who cares what makes you furious? I sure don't. Especially as it relates to my child.

Expecting a 17 year old to do anything other than grow personally is ridiculous. A person needs to focus on growing fully before you can expect them to give to anyone else.

Let the ADULTS go make a difference in the lives of those in those communities. My child needs to grow up and seeing/"helping" in distressed areas can help him do that. Heck, just seeing the depressed areas can help.

And let's not underestimate whatever contributions the child may or may not be making. Frankly I don't think the motive matters. If a 17 year old helps dig a well in a village to help pad his resume, so what? The village has a well and my child has a great experience and resume pad. Life can be win-win sometimes, you know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Putney runs great trips. All of you people who suggest volunteering at home answer this: why is it any different? It's still the same wealthy kid who travels to a different part of the city or country to get his/her hours in, no difference. I agree that all of these volunteer trips don't mean much for college apps, but they do offer something for the kid doing them and that is not a terrible thing.

Exactly! Some people are so sanctimonious it's not even funny. It's obvious they don't even think about what they're typing. They simply want to be disagreeable and rain on someone else's accomplishments. These are TEENAGERS we're talking about for goodness sake. What do you want from them? It's a wonder so many are suicidal. Nothing they do will ever be enough for some people. Thank God for the sane parents who are committed to their child's growth and well-being instead of trying to create some perfect person they've imagined in their minds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:whenever someone posts in this thread "well, it's a great experience for the kids/they learn and grow etc", I'm hearing "my kid's ~personal growth is more important to me than the people in the communities he's going to "help"", which makes me furious but I guess is par for the course in DC

If the well-being of some total stranger in a remote part of the world is more important to you than your child's personal growth, you are a FAILURE as a parent. PERIOD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:whenever someone posts in this thread "well, it's a great experience for the kids/they learn and grow etc", I'm hearing "my kid's ~personal growth is more important to me than the people in the communities he's going to "help"", which makes me furious but I guess is par for the course in DC

Who cares what makes you furious? I sure don't. Especially as it relates to my child.

Expecting a 17 year old to do anything other than grow personally is ridiculous. A person needs to focus on growing fully before you can expect them to give to anyone else.

Let the ADULTS go make a difference in the lives of those in those communities. My child needs to grow up and seeing/"helping" in distressed areas can help him do that. Heck, just seeing the depressed areas can help.

And let's not underestimate whatever contributions the child may or may not be making. Frankly I don't think the motive matters. If a 17 year old helps dig a well in a village to help pad his resume, so what? The village has a well and my child has a great experience and resume pad. Life can be win-win sometimes, you know?

so you don't have any qualms about basically using people in under developed countries to help your kid grow up? About the damage your kid's ~emotional journey will do to the people he is supposedly serving and their economy? About the message you're sending your kids about the white savior industrial complex and your place in upholding and reinforcing it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:whenever someone posts in this thread "well, it's a great experience for the kids/they learn and grow etc", I'm hearing "my kid's ~personal growth is more important to me than the people in the communities he's going to "help"", which makes me furious but I guess is par for the course in DC

If the well-being of some total stranger in a remote part of the world is more important to you than your child's personal growth, you are a FAILURE as a parent. PERIOD.

You do know it's possible for people to grow without negatively effecting other people, right? Your special snowflake can become a good person without making other people's lives more difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
so you don't have any qualms about basically using people in under developed countries to help your kid grow up? About the damage your kid's ~emotional journey will do to the people he is supposedly serving and their economy? About the message you're sending your kids about the white savior industrial complex and your place in upholding and reinforcing it?

Clearly you know nothing about service trips if you would write this. Are you one of those people who are constantly criticizing private schools too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
so you don't have any qualms about basically using people in under developed countries to help your kid grow up? About the damage your kid's ~emotional journey will do to the people he is supposedly serving and their economy? About the message you're sending your kids about the white savior industrial complex and your place in upholding and reinforcing it?

Clearly you know nothing about service trips if you would write this. Are you one of those people who are constantly criticizing private schools too?

read this, then tell me all about how much your child's heavily photographed trip to Kenya changed him as a person. If you have to send your kid to a developing country in order for them to start being a decent person, maybe you need to step up your parenting game.
https://medium.com/race-class/b84d4011d17e

[Anonymous]

PP again you prove you know nothing about service trips if you assume that the kids are going to a "developing country".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP again you prove you know nothing about service trips if you assume that the kids are going to a "developing country".

Exactly! That poster sounds so ridiculous it's amazing.

Methinks she's upset she can't afford that opportunity of a lifetime for her own child.

But instead of simply accepting her reality, she'll attempt to make herself feel better by going over the deep end.

Now service trips are 'damaging' to the natives?

Crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:whenever someone posts in this thread "well, it's a great experience for the kids/they learn and grow etc", I'm hearing "my kid's ~personal growth is more important to me than the people in the communities he's going to "help"", which makes me furious but I guess is par for the course in DC

If the well-being of some total stranger in a remote part of the world is more important to you than your child's personal growth, you are a FAILURE as a parent. PERIOD.

You do know it's possible for people to grow without negatively effecting other people, right? Your special snowflake can become a good person without making other people's lives more difficult.

You sound crazy. Now children 'negatively affect' the natives and make their lives more difficult?

I would LOL but I suspect you're serious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:whenever someone posts in this thread "well, it's a great experience for the kids/they learn and grow etc", I'm hearing "my kid's ~personal growth is more important to me than the people in the communities he's going to "help"", which makes me furious but I guess is par for the course in DC

Who cares what makes you furious? I sure don't. Especially as it relates to my child.

Expecting a 17 year old to do anything other than grow personally is ridiculous. A person needs to focus on growing fully before you can expect them to give to anyone else.

Let the ADULTS go make a difference in the lives of those in those communities. My child needs to grow up and seeing/"helping" in distressed areas can help him do that. Heck, just seeing the depressed areas can help.

And let's not underestimate whatever contributions the child may or may not be making. Frankly I don't think the motive matters. If a 17 year old helps dig a well in a village to help pad his resume, so what? The village has a well and my child has a great experience and resume pad. Life can be win-win sometimes, you know?

so you don't have any qualms about basically using people in under developed countries to help your kid grow up? About the damage your kid's ~emotional journey will do to the people he is supposedly serving and their economy? About the message you're sending your kids about the white savior industrial complex and your place in upholding and reinforcing it?

How about my child is BLACK and has been on many service projects in other countries.

Perhaps you should've had the opportunity to do so. Then maybe you'd know what you're talking about.

And YES my child's emotional journey and growth mean more to me than anyone else's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
so you don't have any qualms about basically using people in under developed countries to help your kid grow up? About the damage your kid's ~emotional journey will do to the people he is supposedly serving and their economy? About the message you're sending your kids about the white savior industrial complex and your place in upholding and reinforcing it?

Clearly you know nothing about service trips if you would write this. Are you one of those people who are constantly criticizing private schools too?

read this, then tell me all about how much your child's heavily photographed trip to Kenya changed him as a person. If you have to send your kid to a developing country in order for them to start being a decent person, maybe you need to step up your parenting game.
https://medium.com/race-class/b84d4011d17e

YAWN.

Listen. You raise your kids in whatever way you see fit. And I'll do the same. Mkay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:whenever someone posts in this thread "well, it's a great experience for the kids/they learn and grow etc", I'm hearing "my kid's ~personal growth is more important to me than the people in the communities he's going to "help"", which makes me furious but I guess is par for the course in DC

Who cares what makes you furious? I sure don't. Especially as it relates to my child.

Expecting a 17 year old to do anything other than grow personally is ridiculous. A person needs to focus on growing fully before you can expect them to give to anyone else.

Let the ADULTS go make a difference in the lives of those in those communities. My child needs to grow up and seeing/"helping" in distressed areas can help him do that. Heck, just seeing the depressed areas can help.

And let's not underestimate whatever contributions the child may or may not be making. Frankly I don't think the motive matters. If a 17 year old helps dig a well in a village to help pad his resume, so what? The village has a well and my child has a great experience and resume pad. Life can be win-win sometimes, you know?

so you don't have any qualms about basically using people in under developed countries to help your kid grow up? About the damage your kid's ~emotional journey will do to the people he is supposedly serving and their economy? About the message you're sending your kids about the white savior industrial complex and your place in upholding and reinforcing it?

How is it 'using' people? The kid is helping them out...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:whenever someone posts in this thread "well, it's a great experience for the kids/they learn and grow etc", I'm hearing "my kid's ~personal growth is more important to me than the people in the communities he's going to "help"", which makes me furious but I guess is par for the course in DC

Who cares what makes you furious? I sure don't. Especially as it relates to my child.

Expecting a 17 year old to do anything other than grow personally is ridiculous. A person needs to focus on growing fully before you can expect them to give to anyone else.

Let the ADULTS go make a difference in the lives of those in those communities. My child needs to grow up and seeing/"helping" in distressed areas can help him do that. Heck, just seeing the depressed areas can help.

And let's not underestimate whatever contributions the child may or may not be making. Frankly I don't think the motive matters. If a 17 year old helps dig a well in a village to help pad his resume, so what? The village has a well and my child has a great experience and resume pad. Life can be win-win sometimes, you know?

so you don't have any qualms about basically using people in under developed countries to help your kid grow up? About the damage your kid's ~emotional journey will do to the people he is supposedly serving and their economy? About the message you're sending your kids about the white savior industrial complex and your place in upholding and reinforcing it?

How is it 'using' people? The kid is helping them out...

PP must've been off her meds.

Or just really trying to feel better about the fact that her child will never have those opportunities of a lifetime. There's some real insecurity in her posts. I've never heard of anyone going off the deep end about kids helping out in other countries.