Does anyone spend hundreds for their (elementary aged) kids to see Hamilton?

[Anonymous]

I bought tickets at the Kennedy Center for my husband and I to go but I couldn't justify paying hundreds per ticket for my 11 and 9 yo kids. After the fact, they are telling me that THIS friend's parents took them and THAT friend's parents took them. My kids would love to go but spending that type of money on them at this age for Hamilton didn't make sense to me. Should I feel guilty about this?

[Anonymous]

I know plenty. But that doesn't mean you should feel guilty. You made your decision, so own it. How you spend your money is no one else's business.

[Anonymous]

I’m going to take my 11yo instead of my DH because she will appreciate it more. I wouldn’t waste the $ on him or other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bought tickets at the Kennedy Center for my husband and I to go but I couldn't justify paying hundreds per ticket for my 11 and 9 yo kids. After the fact, they are telling me that THIS friend's parents took them and THAT friend's parents took them. My kids would love to go but spending that type of money on them at this age for Hamilton didn't make sense to me. Should I feel guilty about this?

You choose how to spend your money. And deciding not to spend that much money is perfectly valid. However, deciding to spend it on yourself and your husband and not your kids seems kind of . . . I don't know what, but not anything good. If they wouldn't appreciate it, that's one thing. But it sounds like they would, and you just decided to go yourself and arbitrarily not take them based on nothing more than their age? That's not very nice.

We took our 10 yo, and she was over the moon. She was easily the biggest fan in the entire family. In fact, if we'd only been able to get 2 tickets one of the parents would have stayed home and sent her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People paid to take their kids to see Hamilton?

Of course. We take our kids to all sorts of things. If your kids don't enjoy it, or you can't afford it, that's fine, but what's wrong about taking kids?

[Anonymous]

I took my 9, 11, and 14 year olds as a surprise. We had been listening to the soundtrack for a year.

They loved it. I loved it. It was an event we will always remember. Worth every dime.

[Anonymous]

I saw the original cast on broadway over two years ago and I did not bring my oldest who was then 6.
I was away on spring break so didn’t get tickets at the KC. Theoretically I might bring my oldest who is now 8, but tickets would have to fall into my lap

[Anonymous]

Yes, I did. And we are not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination. My DD loved the music and knew every song by heart. I wanted her to experience the live show and she loved it.

[Anonymous]

We will be bringing our 9yo DD to Hamilton and got $199 tickets (I was one who was waiting on line so had choice still of the $99 tickets but decided if I was bringing her then I wanted her to benefit as much as possible not only from the story but to be close enough to appreciate the stagecraft. Right now she is more familiar with the music but before we go we will spend some time learning about the play, the history. We are not wealthy and this is a huge treat for all of us to go. I would much rather spend $200 for an evening at the KC then what I'd spend at Disneyland (tickets/travel/hotel.) I expect the 'fun' part of it will be more fleeting than the WOWS Disney would bring but I think the cultural awakening - especially of this DD who hopes to be an actress - will be long lasting.

[Anonymous]

Your kids aren't toddlers. They will "get" it. They will remember it. It may or may not be worth $200 depending on your tastes and finances, but I find it odd that you think it's totally normal to spend that on you/your DH but totally weird to spend that on your kids having the same experience.

[Anonymous]

No, because I already spent hundreds to take my 11-year old to see it on Broadway. He LOVED it -- we had a fantastic time, along with a group that included 3 other kids between the ages of 12 and 15. Can't think of a better way to spend $200 on my child (given that I can, at least on some special occasions, afford to spend $200 on any non-essential activity.)

[Anonymous]

I spent hundreds getting season tickets to the Baltimore hippodrome last year and this year, but we have gotten to see over a dozen shows, and it has been great. I also would take my son rather than my husband!

[Anonymous]

Yes, and my dh was more on board with spending it on them than I was, and he’s usually the more frugal one of the two of us!

[Anonymous]

We are bringing our 10 yo DD to Hamilton, but I did refuse to bring her to dinner at Pineapple and Pearls. Even though she would have enjoyed it. Everyone has their own red line of finance.

[Anonymous]

If I have the money and I know my kid would like it I would take them for sure. As the PP said everyone has their own red line. I for example, did take my kids to Pineapples and Pearls.