‘I don’t have to hear my kid whine’; well, your kid’s chaperone does

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in public school long enough to know that if this was a widespread problem, then it is the fault of the organizers. Sorry.

Schools are horrible communicators. If lots of kids were poorly dressed, then the organizers did not adequately communicate to families what the event would be like -- how much walking would be involved, whether it was outdoors or indoors, whether the kids would actually be spending time at the park having fun or they would just be performing and attending an awards ceremony.

Parents aren't mind readers. Most kids would be fine at school on a rainy, 55 degree day in shorts and crocs. I see them do this all the time. In fact my kids who are not allowed to wear shoes like that to school at all complain to me about being too hot in socks because they are indoors and buildings are not heated or cooled well.

Lesson to the organizer -- next year, specify that all kids should wear closed toed shoes with socks regardless of weather, and bring an outer layer in the event of rain. I wouldn't dictate pants or shorts and if kids wore shorts and complained, I'd just let them complain.

When it's a few kids, it's on those parents or kids for not planning well enough. When it's tons of kids, then this should be part of the planning process and it means the kids and families were not adequately informed about the event.

OP here and nope. Communications were thorough, frequent and great. INCLUDING a night-before warning about the weather. Sorry, if you don’t get that amusement park = outdoors and walking, you are ridiculous. It takes 20 seconds to check a weather app or Google the weather and tell your kid to prepare for cold and rain. Sorry, you tried it, but nope.

Look, I've never sent my kid to Hershey park without a raincoat. But if the majority of kids were not prepared for the event, the communications were bad. That's it. Like dud everyone get that night before message about the weather? Was it clearly worded? Was it sent at 7pm or 11pm?

And honestly, there shouldn't be a night before message. I'm telling you if I was planning this event, my takeaway here would be that all students are required to wear closed toed shoes and socks and bring a jacket, regardless of the weather, and I would put this in all caps in the permission slip with the note that kids who are not properly attired will not be permitted to board the bus. Problem solved.

This is an organizer problem. Yes, planning events like this is like herding cats. But then brush up on your cat herding skills because that's the gig.

And this is not even unique to parents or middle schoolers. I've planned events for executives. People can be dumb and sometimes you have to spell it out for them. If most of the people at your event have the same issue, it's no longer their fault, now it's yours.

Nope, checking weather before preparing for an event is a grown-up thing, not an organizer thing. I’ve been to numerous outdoor weddings. I didn’t need the bride and groom to tell me to check the weather. I know not to wear spike heels at an outdoor wedding, I know to always have a rain jacket or an umbrella, at least in the car. They don’t even have to tell me to wear sunscreen and bring sunglasses on a sunny day! I’m a Big Girl Now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in public school long enough to know that if this was a widespread problem, then it is the fault of the organizers. Sorry.

Schools are horrible communicators. If lots of kids were poorly dressed, then the organizers did not adequately communicate to families what the event would be like -- how much walking would be involved, whether it was outdoors or indoors, whether the kids would actually be spending time at the park having fun or they would just be performing and attending an awards ceremony.

Parents aren't mind readers. Most kids would be fine at school on a rainy, 55 degree day in shorts and crocs. I see them do this all the time. In fact my kids who are not allowed to wear shoes like that to school at all complain to me about being too hot in socks because they are indoors and buildings are not heated or cooled well.

Lesson to the organizer -- next year, specify that all kids should wear closed toed shoes with socks regardless of weather, and bring an outer layer in the event of rain. I wouldn't dictate pants or shorts and if kids wore shorts and complained, I'd just let them complain.

When it's a few kids, it's on those parents or kids for not planning well enough. When it's tons of kids, then this should be part of the planning process and it means the kids and families were not adequately informed about the event.

OP here and nope. Communications were thorough, frequent and great. INCLUDING a night-before warning about the weather. Sorry, if you don’t get that amusement park = outdoors and walking, you are ridiculous. It takes 20 seconds to check a weather app or Google the weather and tell your kid to prepare for cold and rain. Sorry, you tried it, but nope.

Look, I've never sent my kid to Hershey park without a raincoat. But if the majority of kids were not prepared for the event, the communications were bad. That's it. Like dud everyone get that night before message about the weather? Was it clearly worded? Was it sent at 7pm or 11pm?

And honestly, there shouldn't be a night before message. I'm telling you if I was planning this event, my takeaway here would be that all students are required to wear closed toed shoes and socks and bring a jacket, regardless of the weather, and I would put this in all caps in the permission slip with the note that kids who are not properly attired will not be permitted to board the bus. Problem solved.

This is an organizer problem. Yes, planning events like this is like herding cats. But then brush up on your cat herding skills because that's the gig.

And this is not even unique to parents or middle schoolers. I've planned events for executives. People can be dumb and sometimes you have to spell it out for them. If most of the people at your event have the same issue, it's no longer their fault, now it's yours.

Nope, checking weather before preparing for an event is a grown-up thing, not an organizer thing. I’ve been to numerous outdoor weddings. I didn’t need the bride and groom to tell me to check the weather. I know not to wear spike heels at an outdoor wedding, I know to always have a rain jacket or an umbrella, at least in the car. They don’t even have to tell me to wear sunscreen and bring sunglasses on a sunny day! I’m a Big Girl Now!

OP is not interested in making sure the kids aren’t cold and wet. She doesn’t care, otherwise she wouldn’t keep fighting these points about communication. She’s here to slam other parents and to get us to tell her wonderful she is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here and I just double-checked and, yep! Allllll the notifications and permission slip and info forms all had reminders for people to check the weather and prepare accordingly, and said that proper walking shoes are encouraged. Wowie zowie!

I don’t need an announcement, a reminder, or a form to know to check the weather before a big event, but apparently, some of you have reached the ripe old age of 30s/40s without learning this.

OP, sorry you had a bad experience.

But you are digging in really hard on "I am a great parents and ALL the parents of the majority of the kids on this trip are stupid jerks" and there's no way that's true. Something went wrong here. It sucked for the kids and you, hopefully everyone learned lessons and will do better next time. But you are pouting like a child over this.

Also I simply do not believe you that a bunch of parents bragged on Facebook about sending their kids on this trip dressed wrong for the weather. If that was the case, you wouldn't be complaining here. You'd be in Facebook replying to them to let them know that their kid was freezing and miserable and that they owe you $$ for the ponchos. You're exaggerating for effect because you're extra mad.

[Anonymous]

Teachers, we see you. You’ve got parents who literally won’t lift a finger to check the weather before an all-day, largely outdoor event in another state.

So thankful for the teachers and administrators who have to put up with entitled, selfish, negligent parents every day. And no, chucking a $10 Starbucks gift card at them twice a year is not “appreciation,” doing the basics of your job as parents is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in public school long enough to know that if this was a widespread problem, then it is the fault of the organizers. Sorry.

Schools are horrible communicators. If lots of kids were poorly dressed, then the organizers did not adequately communicate to families what the event would be like -- how much walking would be involved, whether it was outdoors or indoors, whether the kids would actually be spending time at the park having fun or they would just be performing and attending an awards ceremony.

Parents aren't mind readers. Most kids would be fine at school on a rainy, 55 degree day in shorts and crocs. I see them do this all the time. In fact my kids who are not allowed to wear shoes like that to school at all complain to me about being too hot in socks because they are indoors and buildings are not heated or cooled well.

Lesson to the organizer -- next year, specify that all kids should wear closed toed shoes with socks regardless of weather, and bring an outer layer in the event of rain. I wouldn't dictate pants or shorts and if kids wore shorts and complained, I'd just let them complain.

When it's a few kids, it's on those parents or kids for not planning well enough. When it's tons of kids, then this should be part of the planning process and it means the kids and families were not adequately informed about the event.

OP here and nope. Communications were thorough, frequent and great. INCLUDING a night-before warning about the weather. Sorry, if you don’t get that amusement park = outdoors and walking, you are ridiculous. It takes 20 seconds to check a weather app or Google the weather and tell your kid to prepare for cold and rain. Sorry, you tried it, but nope.

Look, I've never sent my kid to Hershey park without a raincoat. But if the majority of kids were not prepared for the event, the communications were bad. That's it. Like dud everyone get that night before message about the weather? Was it clearly worded? Was it sent at 7pm or 11pm?

And honestly, there shouldn't be a night before message. I'm telling you if I was planning this event, my takeaway here would be that all students are required to wear closed toed shoes and socks and bring a jacket, regardless of the weather, and I would put this in all caps in the permission slip with the note that kids who are not properly attired will not be permitted to board the bus. Problem solved.

This is an organizer problem. Yes, planning events like this is like herding cats. But then brush up on your cat herding skills because that's the gig.

And this is not even unique to parents or middle schoolers. I've planned events for executives. People can be dumb and sometimes you have to spell it out for them. If most of the people at your event have the same issue, it's no longer their fault, now it's yours.

Nope, checking weather before preparing for an event is a grown-up thing, not an organizer thing. I’ve been to numerous outdoor weddings. I didn’t need the bride and groom to tell me to check the weather. I know not to wear spike heels at an outdoor wedding, I know to always have a rain jacket or an umbrella, at least in the car. They don’t even have to tell me to wear sunscreen and bring sunglasses on a sunny day! I’m a Big Girl Now!

If you attended a wedding where like 70% of the attendees were miserable because their shoes were getting stuck in the grass or all the chairs were wet and they had not all brought something to sit on, would you walk around thinking "omg you are all idiots, why can't you be a BIG GIRL like me and check the weather and realize you needed to change before you came?" Or would you think "huh, the wedding organizer should have planned for this."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in public school long enough to know that if this was a widespread problem, then it is the fault of the organizers. Sorry.

Schools are horrible communicators. If lots of kids were poorly dressed, then the organizers did not adequately communicate to families what the event would be like -- how much walking would be involved, whether it was outdoors or indoors, whether the kids would actually be spending time at the park having fun or they would just be performing and attending an awards ceremony.

Parents aren't mind readers. Most kids would be fine at school on a rainy, 55 degree day in shorts and crocs. I see them do this all the time. In fact my kids who are not allowed to wear shoes like that to school at all complain to me about being too hot in socks because they are indoors and buildings are not heated or cooled well.

Lesson to the organizer -- next year, specify that all kids should wear closed toed shoes with socks regardless of weather, and bring an outer layer in the event of rain. I wouldn't dictate pants or shorts and if kids wore shorts and complained, I'd just let them complain.

When it's a few kids, it's on those parents or kids for not planning well enough. When it's tons of kids, then this should be part of the planning process and it means the kids and families were not adequately informed about the event.

OP here and nope. Communications were thorough, frequent and great. INCLUDING a night-before warning about the weather. Sorry, if you don’t get that amusement park = outdoors and walking, you are ridiculous. It takes 20 seconds to check a weather app or Google the weather and tell your kid to prepare for cold and rain. Sorry, you tried it, but nope.

Look, I've never sent my kid to Hershey park without a raincoat. But if the majority of kids were not prepared for the event, the communications were bad. That's it. Like dud everyone get that night before message about the weather? Was it clearly worded? Was it sent at 7pm or 11pm?

And honestly, there shouldn't be a night before message. I'm telling you if I was planning this event, my takeaway here would be that all students are required to wear closed toed shoes and socks and bring a jacket, regardless of the weather, and I would put this in all caps in the permission slip with the note that kids who are not properly attired will not be permitted to board the bus. Problem solved.

This is an organizer problem. Yes, planning events like this is like herding cats. But then brush up on your cat herding skills because that's the gig.

And this is not even unique to parents or middle schoolers. I've planned events for executives. People can be dumb and sometimes you have to spell it out for them. If most of the people at your event have the same issue, it's no longer their fault, now it's yours.

Nope, checking weather before preparing for an event is a grown-up thing, not an organizer thing. I’ve been to numerous outdoor weddings. I didn’t need the bride and groom to tell me to check the weather. I know not to wear spike heels at an outdoor wedding, I know to always have a rain jacket or an umbrella, at least in the car. They don’t even have to tell me to wear sunscreen and bring sunglasses on a sunny day! I’m a Big Girl Now!

If you attended a wedding where like 70% of the attendees were miserable because their shoes were getting stuck in the grass or all the chairs were wet and they had not all brought something to sit on, would you walk around thinking "omg you are all idiots, why can't you be a BIG GIRL like me and check the weather and realize you needed to change before you came?" Or would you think "huh, the wedding organizer should have planned for this."

Wedding planners don’t plan for footwear choices of guests. I understand that even under tents or with carpets down, outdoors = possible dirt, grass, water, bugs, etc. I’ve lived through enough seasons on Earth to always have an umbrella at least in my car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers, we see you. You’ve got parents who literally won’t lift a finger to check the weather before an all-day, largely outdoor event in another state.

So thankful for the teachers and administrators who have to put up with entitled, selfish, negligent parents every day. And no, chucking a $10 Starbucks gift card at them twice a year is not “appreciation,” doing the basics of your job as parents is.

If your position here is that most parents are "entitled, selfish, negligent" then what is your solution?

My kid shows up for school daily on time, well rested, fed, not sick, with homework done, and appropriately attired. But I think OP is being childish. Sometimes sh!t happens. Most parents are trying their best. Parenting is hard and there is so much to keep track of and I get that not everyone can be perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in public school long enough to know that if this was a widespread problem, then it is the fault of the organizers. Sorry.

Schools are horrible communicators. If lots of kids were poorly dressed, then the organizers did not adequately communicate to families what the event would be like -- how much walking would be involved, whether it was outdoors or indoors, whether the kids would actually be spending time at the park having fun or they would just be performing and attending an awards ceremony.

Parents aren't mind readers. Most kids would be fine at school on a rainy, 55 degree day in shorts and crocs. I see them do this all the time. In fact my kids who are not allowed to wear shoes like that to school at all complain to me about being too hot in socks because they are indoors and buildings are not heated or cooled well.

Lesson to the organizer -- next year, specify that all kids should wear closed toed shoes with socks regardless of weather, and bring an outer layer in the event of rain. I wouldn't dictate pants or shorts and if kids wore shorts and complained, I'd just let them complain.

When it's a few kids, it's on those parents or kids for not planning well enough. When it's tons of kids, then this should be part of the planning process and it means the kids and families were not adequately informed about the event.

OP here and nope. Communications were thorough, frequent and great. INCLUDING a night-before warning about the weather. Sorry, if you don’t get that amusement park = outdoors and walking, you are ridiculous. It takes 20 seconds to check a weather app or Google the weather and tell your kid to prepare for cold and rain. Sorry, you tried it, but nope.

Look, I've never sent my kid to Hershey park without a raincoat. But if the majority of kids were not prepared for the event, the communications were bad. That's it. Like dud everyone get that night before message about the weather? Was it clearly worded? Was it sent at 7pm or 11pm?

And honestly, there shouldn't be a night before message. I'm telling you if I was planning this event, my takeaway here would be that all students are required to wear closed toed shoes and socks and bring a jacket, regardless of the weather, and I would put this in all caps in the permission slip with the note that kids who are not properly attired will not be permitted to board the bus. Problem solved.

This is an organizer problem. Yes, planning events like this is like herding cats. But then brush up on your cat herding skills because that's the gig.

And this is not even unique to parents or middle schoolers. I've planned events for executives. People can be dumb and sometimes you have to spell it out for them. If most of the people at your event have the same issue, it's no longer their fault, now it's yours.

Nope, checking weather before preparing for an event is a grown-up thing, not an organizer thing. I’ve been to numerous outdoor weddings. I didn’t need the bride and groom to tell me to check the weather. I know not to wear spike heels at an outdoor wedding, I know to always have a rain jacket or an umbrella, at least in the car. They don’t even have to tell me to wear sunscreen and bring sunglasses on a sunny day! I’m a Big Girl Now!

If you attended a wedding where like 70% of the attendees were miserable because their shoes were getting stuck in the grass or all the chairs were wet and they had not all brought something to sit on, would you walk around thinking "omg you are all idiots, why can't you be a BIG GIRL like me and check the weather and realize you needed to change before you came?" Or would you think "huh, the wedding organizer should have planned for this."

Wedding planners don’t plan for footwear choices of guests. I understand that even under tents or with carpets down, outdoors = possible dirt, grass, water, bugs, etc. I’ve lived through enough seasons on Earth to always have an umbrella at least in my car.

Wedding planners 100% plan for stuff like this and do not assume that guests will know to plan for uneven, wet, muddy, or buggy conditions. They do not assume everyone has an umbrella in their car (or will arrive to an even in their car). The whole point of event logistics is planning stuff like this. The assumption that hundreds of people are all going to prepare for a wedding, or a field trip, like a Girl Scout leader planning a camping trip, is simply unrealistic.

I hope people who plan school events are reading this thread and recognizing that stuff like this is just part of planning. People need to be handheld a bit. ESPECIALLY middle schoolers and their parents. It's just reality. Most people are well intentioned but everyone comes to the table with different resources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers, we see you. You’ve got parents who literally won’t lift a finger to check the weather before an all-day, largely outdoor event in another state.

So thankful for the teachers and administrators who have to put up with entitled, selfish, negligent parents every day. And no, chucking a $10 Starbucks gift card at them twice a year is not “appreciation,” doing the basics of your job as parents is.

I’m in total agreement.

Thank you to teachers, administrators, and parents who chaperone / help out!

Some of the replies on this thread are eye-opening. Being upset because the school didn’t tell you enough times to prepare for weather? Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in public school long enough to know that if this was a widespread problem, then it is the fault of the organizers. Sorry.

Schools are horrible communicators. If lots of kids were poorly dressed, then the organizers did not adequately communicate to families what the event would be like -- how much walking would be involved, whether it was outdoors or indoors, whether the kids would actually be spending time at the park having fun or they would just be performing and attending an awards ceremony.

Parents aren't mind readers. Most kids would be fine at school on a rainy, 55 degree day in shorts and crocs. I see them do this all the time. In fact my kids who are not allowed to wear shoes like that to school at all complain to me about being too hot in socks because they are indoors and buildings are not heated or cooled well.

Lesson to the organizer -- next year, specify that all kids should wear closed toed shoes with socks regardless of weather, and bring an outer layer in the event of rain. I wouldn't dictate pants or shorts and if kids wore shorts and complained, I'd just let them complain.

When it's a few kids, it's on those parents or kids for not planning well enough. When it's tons of kids, then this should be part of the planning process and it means the kids and families were not adequately informed about the event.

OP here and nope. Communications were thorough, frequent and great. INCLUDING a night-before warning about the weather. Sorry, if you don’t get that amusement park = outdoors and walking, you are ridiculous. It takes 20 seconds to check a weather app or Google the weather and tell your kid to prepare for cold and rain. Sorry, you tried it, but nope.

Look, I've never sent my kid to Hershey park without a raincoat. But if the majority of kids were not prepared for the event, the communications were bad. That's it. Like dud everyone get that night before message about the weather? Was it clearly worded? Was it sent at 7pm or 11pm?

And honestly, there shouldn't be a night before message. I'm telling you if I was planning this event, my takeaway here would be that all students are required to wear closed toed shoes and socks and bring a jacket, regardless of the weather, and I would put this in all caps in the permission slip with the note that kids who are not properly attired will not be permitted to board the bus. Problem solved.

This is an organizer problem. Yes, planning events like this is like herding cats. But then brush up on your cat herding skills because that's the gig.

And this is not even unique to parents or middle schoolers. I've planned events for executives. People can be dumb and sometimes you have to spell it out for them. If most of the people at your event have the same issue, it's no longer their fault, now it's yours.

Nope, checking weather before preparing for an event is a grown-up thing, not an organizer thing. I’ve been to numerous outdoor weddings. I didn’t need the bride and groom to tell me to check the weather. I know not to wear spike heels at an outdoor wedding, I know to always have a rain jacket or an umbrella, at least in the car. They don’t even have to tell me to wear sunscreen and bring sunglasses on a sunny day! I’m a Big Girl Now!

If you attended a wedding where like 70% of the attendees were miserable because their shoes were getting stuck in the grass or all the chairs were wet and they had not all brought something to sit on, would you walk around thinking "omg you are all idiots, why can't you be a BIG GIRL like me and check the weather and realize you needed to change before you came?" Or would you think "huh, the wedding organizer should have planned for this."

Wedding planners don’t plan for footwear choices of guests. I understand that even under tents or with carpets down, outdoors = possible dirt, grass, water, bugs, etc. I’ve lived through enough seasons on Earth to always have an umbrella at least in my car.

Wedding planners 100% plan for stuff like this and do not assume that guests will know to plan for uneven, wet, muddy, or buggy conditions. They do not assume everyone has an umbrella in their car (or will arrive to an even in their car). The whole point of event logistics is planning stuff like this. The assumption that hundreds of people are all going to prepare for a wedding, or a field trip, like a Girl Scout leader planning a camping trip, is simply unrealistic.

I hope people who plan school events are reading this thread and recognizing that stuff like this is just part of planning. People need to be handheld a bit. ESPECIALLY middle schoolers and their parents. It's just reality. Most people are well intentioned but everyone comes to the table with different resources.

But the OP has already stated that the school DID send out that information. The problem appears to be they didn’t DIRECTLY tell the parents how to dress the kids.

I’m an adult. If you tell me it might be cold and raining, you don’t need to go the extra step of telling me how to dress for that.

The fact we need schools to hand-hold that much is scary.

[Anonymous]

So many shitty parents who think their lack of parenting is somehow helping their kids by “letting them suffer the consequences.” It’s not. Parent your kids!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in public school long enough to know that if this was a widespread problem, then it is the fault of the organizers. Sorry.

Schools are horrible communicators. If lots of kids were poorly dressed, then the organizers did not adequately communicate to families what the event would be like -- how much walking would be involved, whether it was outdoors or indoors, whether the kids would actually be spending time at the park having fun or they would just be performing and attending an awards ceremony.

Parents aren't mind readers. Most kids would be fine at school on a rainy, 55 degree day in shorts and crocs. I see them do this all the time. In fact my kids who are not allowed to wear shoes like that to school at all complain to me about being too hot in socks because they are indoors and buildings are not heated or cooled well.

Lesson to the organizer -- next year, specify that all kids should wear closed toed shoes with socks regardless of weather, and bring an outer layer in the event of rain. I wouldn't dictate pants or shorts and if kids wore shorts and complained, I'd just let them complain.

When it's a few kids, it's on those parents or kids for not planning well enough. When it's tons of kids, then this should be part of the planning process and it means the kids and families were not adequately informed about the event.

OP here and nope. Communications were thorough, frequent and great. INCLUDING a night-before warning about the weather. Sorry, if you don’t get that amusement park = outdoors and walking, you are ridiculous. It takes 20 seconds to check a weather app or Google the weather and tell your kid to prepare for cold and rain. Sorry, you tried it, but nope.

Look, I've never sent my kid to Hershey park without a raincoat. But if the majority of kids were not prepared for the event, the communications were bad. That's it. Like dud everyone get that night before message about the weather? Was it clearly worded? Was it sent at 7pm or 11pm?

And honestly, there shouldn't be a night before message. I'm telling you if I was planning this event, my takeaway here would be that all students are required to wear closed toed shoes and socks and bring a jacket, regardless of the weather, and I would put this in all caps in the permission slip with the note that kids who are not properly attired will not be permitted to board the bus. Problem solved.

This is an organizer problem. Yes, planning events like this is like herding cats. But then brush up on your cat herding skills because that's the gig.

And this is not even unique to parents or middle schoolers. I've planned events for executives. People can be dumb and sometimes you have to spell it out for them. If most of the people at your event have the same issue, it's no longer their fault, now it's yours.

Nope, checking weather before preparing for an event is a grown-up thing, not an organizer thing. I’ve been to numerous outdoor weddings. I didn’t need the bride and groom to tell me to check the weather. I know not to wear spike heels at an outdoor wedding, I know to always have a rain jacket or an umbrella, at least in the car. They don’t even have to tell me to wear sunscreen and bring sunglasses on a sunny day! I’m a Big Girl Now!

If you attended a wedding where like 70% of the attendees were miserable because their shoes were getting stuck in the grass or all the chairs were wet and they had not all brought something to sit on, would you walk around thinking "omg you are all idiots, why can't you be a BIG GIRL like me and check the weather and realize you needed to change before you came?" Or would you think "huh, the wedding organizer should have planned for this."

Yes they are idiots. And non functioning adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in public school long enough to know that if this was a widespread problem, then it is the fault of the organizers. Sorry.

Schools are horrible communicators. If lots of kids were poorly dressed, then the organizers did not adequately communicate to families what the event would be like -- how much walking would be involved, whether it was outdoors or indoors, whether the kids would actually be spending time at the park having fun or they would just be performing and attending an awards ceremony.

Parents aren't mind readers. Most kids would be fine at school on a rainy, 55 degree day in shorts and crocs. I see them do this all the time. In fact my kids who are not allowed to wear shoes like that to school at all complain to me about being too hot in socks because they are indoors and buildings are not heated or cooled well.

Lesson to the organizer -- next year, specify that all kids should wear closed toed shoes with socks regardless of weather, and bring an outer layer in the event of rain. I wouldn't dictate pants or shorts and if kids wore shorts and complained, I'd just let them complain.

When it's a few kids, it's on those parents or kids for not planning well enough. When it's tons of kids, then this should be part of the planning process and it means the kids and families were not adequately informed about the event.

OP here and nope. Communications were thorough, frequent and great. INCLUDING a night-before warning about the weather. Sorry, if you don’t get that amusement park = outdoors and walking, you are ridiculous. It takes 20 seconds to check a weather app or Google the weather and tell your kid to prepare for cold and rain. Sorry, you tried it, but nope.

Look, I've never sent my kid to Hershey park without a raincoat. But if the majority of kids were not prepared for the event, the communications were bad. That's it. Like dud everyone get that night before message about the weather? Was it clearly worded? Was it sent at 7pm or 11pm?

And honestly, there shouldn't be a night before message. I'm telling you if I was planning this event, my takeaway here would be that all students are required to wear closed toed shoes and socks and bring a jacket, regardless of the weather, and I would put this in all caps in the permission slip with the note that kids who are not properly attired will not be permitted to board the bus. Problem solved.

This is an organizer problem. Yes, planning events like this is like herding cats. But then brush up on your cat herding skills because that's the gig.

And this is not even unique to parents or middle schoolers. I've planned events for executives. People can be dumb and sometimes you have to spell it out for them. If most of the people at your event have the same issue, it's no longer their fault, now it's yours.

Nope, checking weather before preparing for an event is a grown-up thing, not an organizer thing. I’ve been to numerous outdoor weddings. I didn’t need the bride and groom to tell me to check the weather. I know not to wear spike heels at an outdoor wedding, I know to always have a rain jacket or an umbrella, at least in the car. They don’t even have to tell me to wear sunscreen and bring sunglasses on a sunny day! I’m a Big Girl Now!

If you attended a wedding where like 70% of the attendees were miserable because their shoes were getting stuck in the grass or all the chairs were wet and they had not all brought something to sit on, would you walk around thinking "omg you are all idiots, why can't you be a BIG GIRL like me and check the weather and realize you needed to change before you came?" Or would you think "huh, the wedding organizer should have planned for this."

Wedding planners don’t plan for footwear choices of guests. I understand that even under tents or with carpets down, outdoors = possible dirt, grass, water, bugs, etc. I’ve lived through enough seasons on Earth to always have an umbrella at least in my car.

Wedding planners 100% plan for stuff like this and do not assume that guests will know to plan for uneven, wet, muddy, or buggy conditions. They do not assume everyone has an umbrella in their car (or will arrive to an even in their car). The whole point of event logistics is planning stuff like this. The assumption that hundreds of people are all going to prepare for a wedding, or a field trip, like a Girl Scout leader planning a camping trip, is simply unrealistic.

I hope people who plan school events are reading this thread and recognizing that stuff like this is just part of planning. People need to be handheld a bit. ESPECIALLY middle schoolers and their parents. It's just reality. Most people are well intentioned but everyone comes to the table with different resources.

If you’re too stupid to come prepared you suffer the consequences. I can’t help the fact you’re a moron

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in public school long enough to know that if this was a widespread problem, then it is the fault of the organizers. Sorry.

Schools are horrible communicators. If lots of kids were poorly dressed, then the organizers did not adequately communicate to families what the event would be like -- how much walking would be involved, whether it was outdoors or indoors, whether the kids would actually be spending time at the park having fun or they would just be performing and attending an awards ceremony.

Parents aren't mind readers. Most kids would be fine at school on a rainy, 55 degree day in shorts and crocs. I see them do this all the time. In fact my kids who are not allowed to wear shoes like that to school at all complain to me about being too hot in socks because they are indoors and buildings are not heated or cooled well.

Lesson to the organizer -- next year, specify that all kids should wear closed toed shoes with socks regardless of weather, and bring an outer layer in the event of rain. I wouldn't dictate pants or shorts and if kids wore shorts and complained, I'd just let them complain.

When it's a few kids, it's on those parents or kids for not planning well enough. When it's tons of kids, then this should be part of the planning process and it means the kids and families were not adequately informed about the event.

OP here and nope. Communications were thorough, frequent and great. INCLUDING a night-before warning about the weather. Sorry, if you don’t get that amusement park = outdoors and walking, you are ridiculous. It takes 20 seconds to check a weather app or Google the weather and tell your kid to prepare for cold and rain. Sorry, you tried it, but nope.

Look, I've never sent my kid to Hershey park without a raincoat. But if the majority of kids were not prepared for the event, the communications were bad. That's it. Like dud everyone get that night before message about the weather? Was it clearly worded? Was it sent at 7pm or 11pm?

And honestly, there shouldn't be a night before message. I'm telling you if I was planning this event, my takeaway here would be that all students are required to wear closed toed shoes and socks and bring a jacket, regardless of the weather, and I would put this in all caps in the permission slip with the note that kids who are not properly attired will not be permitted to board the bus. Problem solved.

This is an organizer problem. Yes, planning events like this is like herding cats. But then brush up on your cat herding skills because that's the gig.

And this is not even unique to parents or middle schoolers. I've planned events for executives. People can be dumb and sometimes you have to spell it out for them. If most of the people at your event have the same issue, it's no longer their fault, now it's yours.

Nope, checking weather before preparing for an event is a grown-up thing, not an organizer thing. I’ve been to numerous outdoor weddings. I didn’t need the bride and groom to tell me to check the weather. I know not to wear spike heels at an outdoor wedding, I know to always have a rain jacket or an umbrella, at least in the car. They don’t even have to tell me to wear sunscreen and bring sunglasses on a sunny day! I’m a Big Girl Now!

If you attended a wedding where like 70% of the attendees were miserable because their shoes were getting stuck in the grass or all the chairs were wet and they had not all brought something to sit on, would you walk around thinking "omg you are all idiots, why can't you be a BIG GIRL like me and check the weather and realize you needed to change before you came?" Or would you think "huh, the wedding organizer should have planned for this."

Wedding planners don’t plan for footwear choices of guests. I understand that even under tents or with carpets down, outdoors = possible dirt, grass, water, bugs, etc. I’ve lived through enough seasons on Earth to always have an umbrella at least in my car.

Wedding planners 100% plan for stuff like this and do not assume that guests will know to plan for uneven, wet, muddy, or buggy conditions. They do not assume everyone has an umbrella in their car (or will arrive to an even in their car). The whole point of event logistics is planning stuff like this. The assumption that hundreds of people are all going to prepare for a wedding, or a field trip, like a Girl Scout leader planning a camping trip, is simply unrealistic.

I hope people who plan school events are reading this thread and recognizing that stuff like this is just part of planning. People need to be handheld a bit. ESPECIALLY middle schoolers and their parents. It's just reality. Most people are well intentioned but everyone comes to the table with different resources.

But the OP has already stated that the school DID send out that information. The problem appears to be they didn’t DIRECTLY tell the parents how to dress the kids.

I’m an adult. If you tell me it might be cold and raining, you don’t need to go the extra step of telling me how to dress for that.

The fact we need schools to hand-hold that much is scary.

Hand holding for a big event like this is normal. I have kids at various ages and it's standard for there to be clothing requirements (NOT suggestions, not "please check the weather, but firm requirements and if you don't meet it you don't participate). Even in high school. Big event involving travel? For sure.

Sounds like the kids wore what they would normally wear to school, even in a rainy day in the 50s, and no one told kids or parents that wasn't sufficient in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many shitty parents who think their lack of parenting is somehow helping their kids by “letting them suffer the consequences.” It’s not. Parent your kids!!!

100% this. You can’t tell me they didn’t realize it was cold and rainy if they didn’t have to drive their kids to school super early to get on the buses. If you walk outside, you notice it’s cold, you tell your kid to go back and get a rain jacket or put on different shoes. That takes less than a minute. If you are so late that you don’t have a minute to spare, you suck. “But they refused” nope, then you refuse to start the car until they are properly equipped for the day. OR be a decent parent and check the weather or instruct your kid to check the weather, then talk it through. It takes less than a minute in either scenario. Bad parenting. Full stop.