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.

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.

I understand the lesson you're trying to teach but I don't think you're seeing the forest for the trees.

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?

NP. For me it's not about the money but my DD is overweight and I want her to learn to make good nutritional choices for herself. It's hard on her when everyone else at camp seems to get ice cream at the end of every day, but I don't want her to have ice cream from the ice cream truck every day.

OP, I grew up without having a lot of extra, and I certainly wasn't getting ice cream every day or even every week from the ice cream truck. My parents explained point-blank to us that we could not afford it, and along with that direct message maybe you need to talk to your children about pride, not borrowing or mooching, and making good choices. It's really hard on little kids, and these are hard things for anyone to really absorb, so it's going to be a process. I'm also sure it makes you angry and upset that you are in a position where you have to make these rules for them; no doubt you would love to be able to provide them with ice cream every day. I know it's hard, and you have my sympathy.

I wouldn't have told the other kid off.

But I would have disciplined my own kids and made them "work off" the money they spent by doing deep cleaning chores around the house on the weekend.

Maybe you could tell your kids that if they don't spend any money on ice cream at camp, at the end of the week you'll have sundaes at home?

OP, You did have the money. You were just being cheap.

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.

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!!

That's right!

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!!

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.

To be fair, you did not indicate at all in your OP that this was about not being able to afford it. You need to explain this to your children, and not sugar-coat it as a wants vs needs issue. This is an affordability issue.

Also, OP, if this story is real - which I highly doubt it is - why not ask the camp director if they offer financial assistance? Either for the camp costs in general or for the ice cream costs? Maybe your kids *can* have ice cream, either at a reduced or free rate.

I would find a different camp. I don't like camps for little kids that relies on kids bringing in extra cash for treats...especially everyday. Last day party..fine but everyday is burdensome for the parents and unnecessary for the kids. I would probably try to allow my kids ice cream on Fridays or one day of their choosing.

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

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.

I hear you, OP. Could you work out some kind of a compromise with your kids so maybe they get ice cream once a week and then send them with some kind of a nice snack on the other days so they have something to enjoy while the other kids are having ice cream?

Also, your original post was about teaching your kids want vs need, which is different from simply not being able to afford something.