eating forbidden ice cream after camp?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Before everyone else piles on, let me add that I am a single parent who scrapes together the money for summer camp. I drive an old car, wear old clothes and bring a lunch I pack every day to a job where I am underpaid. My budget simply does not allow for $30 a week for ice cream at camp.

Some of you assume that I am denying my children something I was given (we ate ice cream at home, not from the ice cream truck). My parents, who were not wealthy, saved to pay for four years of college and most of my professional education as well. That is my priority for my children as well.

And no, I am not the same mom whose kid spent $18 on a lunch at the museum.

But flame away. I wish you could walk a mile in my worn down shoes.

Well, those are sorta important details you left out in your original post OP. You painted a very different picture so that's why the first 2 pages of this thread are harping on you.

Even so, OP, you are not making this a lesson about needs/wants. The true reason is b/c you can't spare the pocket change for ice cream 5x/week for 2 kids. But what is the alternative? Your kids are still going to be hot and hungry.

And you have 3 pages of people telling you to find a compromise - MWF for a treat, etc.

Also, have you told your kids that you simply can't afford to shell out money for ice cream? And honestly, there are no other places in the budget for a bit of wiggle room on a cold treat after camp with friends?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to reevaluate your like if you can't afford this.

Hey asshole. Single moms are the hardest working people in this world. My sister is one. I have watched her struggle to raise great kids with little help from their father. Believe they examine their mistake every night when they get into bed exhausted from work and worry. You need to STFU!!

You can't generalize like that.

Why did she choose such a loser to have kids with? We all make our own decisions we have to live with. She made shitty ones, I'm not gong to out her on a pedestal.

Did it ever occur to you that she might be a widow?

It's called planning, life happens. That's why responsible people get life insurance. Especially when kids are little.
again, personal responsibility.
BTW I was replying to the bonded part, not the OP. The dad is not dead.

Do you feel better about yourself now that you have torn someone else down? Seek help. You have issues.

I have no issues. Life is good. I certainly don't flip out about "forbidden ice cream".
Can't imagine living like that. Why even have kids if they can't do anything normal and fun like have a basic ice cream.

[Anonymous]

Deal with this issue with your own kids or camp staff. The letter to the other kid's parents was unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

I would stop eating for a few days to allow my kids a treat.
I would find the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Deal with this issue with your own kids or camp staff. The letter to the other kid's parents was unnecessary.

The letter was totally over the top. OMG. The other kid was just being nice, maybe his parents are normal so he doesn't see the big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to reevaluate your like if you can't afford this.

Hey asshole. Single moms are the hardest working people in this world. My sister is one. I have watched her struggle to raise great kids with little help from their father. Believe they examine their mistake every night when they get into bed exhausted from work and worry. You need to STFU!!

You can't generalize like that.

Why did she choose such a loser to have kids with? We all make our own decisions we have to live with. She made shitty ones, I'm not gong to out her on a pedestal.

Did it ever occur to you that she might be a widow?

It's called planning, life happens. That's why responsible people get life insurance. Especially when kids are little.
again, personal responsibility.
BTW I was replying to the bonded part, not the OP. The dad is not dead.

Do you feel better about yourself now that you have torn someone else down? Seek help. You have issues.

I have no issues. Life is good. I certainly don't flip out about "forbidden ice cream".
Can't imagine living like that. Why even have kids if they can't do anything normal and fun like have a basic ice cream.

Oh, you do have issues. I can tell from your statements. You are an unhappy, soulless harpy who has probably been ladled from one opportunity to the next her whole life. You exhibit a remarkable lack of introspection, empathy, and compassion. Why even post because you are insipid.

[Anonymous]

OMG Let them have ice cream!

[Anonymous]

OP, I applaud your life lessons. But even despite your difficult life situation, I think you're still a little overboard on this. Your children are 7 and 9 and it's hard being in a situation with other kids getting treats, especially ice cream, and not being able to partake. I understand why you do it; but I think it is very hard on kids that age. I personally would find a way for your kids to earn some allowance (perhaps a set of chores that they can do to earn 25c, 50c or $1 at a shot) and teach them that they only get to have treats like this when they earn enough money to pay for it. That can still teach the life lessons that they need to earn the money before they spend it without completely denying them treats. Then they get to decide if they want to blow 2-3 weeks worth of chore money on ice cream on a hot day or on something fun for themselves. It also teaches them the value of money because they'll be able to calculate how hard they had to work to earn that amount of money and evaluate future purchases based on how much they want to work to earn that.

[Anonymous]

Kids have particularly low blood sugar in the afternoon. That is why most kids (and adults) have an afternoon snack. Your kids are starving hungry and they have to watch everyone else eat ice cream while they are forced to believe they are too poor to eat when they are hungry. Let me guess: You packed them low-calorie carrot sticks to eat instead. Hungry kids need more than rabbit food, especially when they've been very active all day. It's really cruel!

[Anonymous]

What camp takes kids to buy ice cream at the end of the day?

[Anonymous]

If you really and truly can't afford to buy them ice cream, make sure you pack them a treat in the afternoon. Active kids need more than breakfast, lunch, and dinner. How about a pack of Oreos or some homemade chocolate chip cookies. Those are cheaper than ice cream and they won't feel like everyone has a treat except for them. Also, at the least, consider letting them buy ice cream once or twice each week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What camp takes kids to buy ice cream at the end of the day?

I'm guessing the ice cream truck shows up at some point. I went to a camp like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids have particularly low blood sugar in the afternoon. That is why most kids (and adults) have an afternoon snack. Your kids are starving hungry and they have to watch everyone else eat ice cream while they are forced to believe they are too poor to eat when they are hungry. Let me guess: You packed them low-calorie carrot sticks to eat instead. Hungry kids need more than rabbit food, especially when they've been very active all day. It's really cruel!

You have a very active imagination PP to speculate all this as fact.

$30 for overpriced good humor bars in a week is crazy compared to the tub of Eddy's on sale at the grocery store for $2.50.

OP. I emphasize. I think 7 is too young to truly grasp what's going on. I think the 9 y/o probably gets it, but gets caught up in the moment.
I think you need to find a happy medium - maybe 2 days of the week and build that cost into your savings for camp as a cost of doing business?
Maybe your kids could do extra chores in the build up to "earn" the money as others have suggested?

[Anonymous]

Are you "field trip mom's" sister?

[Anonymous]

This morning (as I had no cash on my person) I had to go to the store to buy something to get cash back to repay the $12 they wasted on ice cream. I wrote a long note to the parent of this other child, commending her son for being kind and thoughtful, but explaining that I am trying to teach my children the difference between a need and a want, and the difference between a quick treat now versus saving up for something big and special. I also spoke with the camp director, who was unaware this had happened but said he would remind the children that if someone's parent wanted them to have ice cream, that parent would have provided the funds.

omg, this letter sounds AH-MAY-ZING. How I wish I could read it!

Next time, try this:
"Larla told me that Joey generously treated her to ice cream yesterday. Here is the money to repay. We appreciate his kindness, but please ask Joey not to do it again, as Larla knows she is not supposed to eat ice cream after camp."

Why the need for the long letter explaining how you are a better parent for teaching money management and delayed gratification through ice cream denial? And to be clear, I don't see a problem with saying "no" to ice cream after camp. I was the kid that was never allowed to buy soda at rec department camp. I still remember coveting that soda, but I didn't feel neglected over it. My parents chose not to give me money for it, and I knew I was not supposed to have any.