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

[Anonymous]

I recently went on a field trip w/ my son to the Newseum. He got chicken tenders, fries, a banana, and a juice and it cost $18. These places are expensive!

[Anonymous]

Wow, you are a terrible mother. Imagine, he could have come home, told you all about what he did and saw, you could have asked questions, and really engaged and listened to him and had a real conversation. You could have smiled, given him a little squeeze, told him you are glad he had a fun day. When he told you about lunch, you could have rolled your eyes, told him he shouldn't have borrowed money for a souvenir if he spent all his money on lunch, and told him to plan a little better next time.

Instead you made your kid feel like crap and sucked the joy out of his day. He is about to go to middle school. I can just about guarantee that he will start to pull away from you and stop telling you things because he won't want to share anything with you because you will overreact to any minor infraction. Next time he will know to just lie.

[Anonymous]

why are you so angry? at the money or the amount of food? Are you poor?

My parents were poor immigrants. they always felt bad they couldn't give me more. they never made me feel bad for buying food. that was the one thing we always had. I would not have had money to buy nice clothes, toys or souvenirs.

I went on a zoo field trip last month. A hot dog, chips and a drink cost like $13. Another mom bought everyone in our group a hot dog meal. My child is 6yo. If your child is almost 11 and hungry, I don't think it is unreasonable to get both a hot dog and a hamburger.

I don't really keep track but I think we spend $30-40 at food courts at museums for myself, 4yo and 6yo. Fruit isn't cheap. Yogurt usually costs $2-3.

[Anonymous]

OP, you are cray-cray.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1000. I can't imagine getting that upset over one lunch on one field trip.

Also, my 7yo could easily eat the amount of food OP's 10yo bought. I don't think the amount was unreasonable (sure, you could debate whether or not it was healthy, but...field trip!)

[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 and no it's not. I could totally see a kid that age thinking that way. The poster was spot on.

If you don't eat out downtown very often, it's easy not to know just how pricey food is there. I am always amazed when I go out to the burbs and see the difference in prices.

[Anonymous]

So, OP, do you realize you overreacted?

[Anonymous]

You won't even talk to him about his trip because of this? Holy overreaction OP. Do better.

[Anonymous]

The poor kid. Are you this control freakish about everything?

[Anonymous]

How old is he? Sounds like he was really hungry and bought two lunches. That is about what two sandwiches and a large soda would cost at many places

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What school system has having field trips now???

I was thinking the same thing... OP must not be from around here. Hence, being upset over $18 lunch.

[Anonymous]

Also, maybe OP'S son was being nice and buying lunch for a friend or classmate who's parents didn't give him food money and was hungry. I could totally see my son doing that.

[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.

What piece of crap did he buy for $10 that was so much more important to you than making sure he got a decent lunch?

[Anonymous]

Wow. I feel sorry for this kid. He was hungry. Lunch isn't cheap...plus he is 10 years old! Refusing to talk to him because he spent 'too much' on lunch is just crazy. Poor kid.

[Anonymous]

Wow, feel so sorry for your son. Is his father in the picture?