Just needed to vent ...

[disneysteve]

Money is neither love nor caring.

Thank you. I was thinking the same thing. "She cares enough to spend $50 on him" just makes no sense to me. It might have been even more caring to say no and explain why.

[PrincessPerky]

And people wonder why we homeschool

I do understand the theory that a slow kid will learn more from a fast kid than from being shuffled with other slow kids, however that theory only holds in small group settings, and a public or private mass center is anything but small group!

Anyway, teach your own ideals, you cannot change the world but you can control your own self and encourage your own children to be the best they can be.

[jmjj215]

While we probably won't be homeschooling, we'll be "parenting" when it comes to our kids' education either way. The lack of care from parents these days about their kids' education is alarming.

But they're all really good at navigating MySpace. That has to be worth something.

[Scanner]

I think our school does a pretty good job.

I know the teachers are under pressure to get students to pass the No Child Left Behind tests but my 9 year old son is learning stuff that I didn't learn until 12 years old.

I don't think I could homeschool as well as our public school does.

Our district seems average too. . .in relation to the other districts where doctors and lawyers live and send their kids.

[vsjhoc]

Our district seems average too. . .in relation to the other districts where doctors and lawyers live and send their kids.

Doctors and lawyers here send their kids to private schools. I think that's where my friend's son acquired his taste for the finer foods in life.

[PharmacistRealtor]

I volunteer coach track and field at a private school because I find the parents are more involved. It's a neat mix of students from dirt poor to exhorbitantly wealthy...many have sacrificed a $50 meal or two for themselves to get their kids there but I just find it fascinating that there is so much interest on this $50 for a 10 year old. I know my kids in track have no concept of money. They just know that their parents compare each other by it and sometimes they have the pain of not getting to go to camp or something because their parents don't have it.

[PharmacistRealtor]

took it out of context...cares enough to spend it on her child rather than herself....

[PharmacistRealtor]

I disagree with money is neither love nor caring...going to work on your day off so you can provide more for your family shows caring...

[Coleroo]

wow... I consider it expensive when a meal for my hubby and I alone costs $50 total. I couldnt imagine going to a restaraunt with such expensive eating. I think the most expensive meal i ever ate was a nice seafood buffet where it cost $48 a head to eat - and that was on my high school senior trip and already paid for. Right now, a $50 entree would be considered a once in a lifetime extravagance. No way would I spend that much on a child's meal, even it he were my own. If by some chance I DID do it it would be because of a known special occassion that our whole family is sharing and is special to us -- a one time thing --- and I wouldn't complain about it afterwards because of knowing it was a special one time thing.

I see extravagance way too much in kids around here. I grew up as a "poorer" person in a private christian school with lots of upperclass rich kids so I thought it was bad back then but kids nowadays are even worse. I know a family with 3 little girls (14, 11, and 9) - and those kids always get 500 to 600 $ worth of presents at christmas. 2 years ago all 3 got real laptops and cell phones. Within 4 months 2 of the laptops had been broken and tossed to the side... one of the cell phones was considered "boring" and the oldest was begging for another. *sigh* I really dont think they have any any any concept of money.

[Duchesse]

I know some people who "seem" to be complaining but actually they're bragging. This may not be the case here but it's possible.

[JBinKC]

What did he order? foie gras.

Being exposed to both sides of the wealth spectrum. You have to realize there are more people than you think that $50 to them is like a penny to the average person and that some people are raised in the environment of privilege where money for ordinary items are never an issue to them.

[vsjhoc]

What did he order? foie gras.

Being exposed to both sides of the wealth spectrum. You have to realize there are more people than you think that $50 to them is like a penny to the average person and that some people are raised in the environment of privilege where money for ordinary items are never an issue to them.

It was a seafood platter in a rather ordinary restaurant.

My point wasn't so much that I thought that $50 was a lot for a meal. It was that the parent thought it was expensive, yet she wouldn't say no.

[JBinKC]

Vsjhoc I am sure the reason why the parent didn't object is you and your friend were present and perhaps didn't want to create a scene in public.

I agree kids today are spoiled brats because our society has allowed it.

[vsjhoc]

Vsjhoc I am sure the reason why the parent didn't object is you and your friend were present and perhaps didn't want to create a scene in public.

I agree kids today are spoiled brats because our society has allowed it.

JB, I appreciate your giving my friend the benefit of the doubt. But her family was not present. She was telling my friend and I (repeatedly) about the last time she was at the same restaurant with them.

[JBinKC]

JB, I appreciate your giving my friend the benefit of the doubt. But her family was not present. She was telling my friend and I (repeatedly) about the last time she was at the same restaurant with them.

Apparently the fact she was telling you about it makes me think she was somewhat bothered by it or she would have never had mentioned it. I would have perhaps made a brief opinion about it then and there.

The lack of teaching kids about the value of a dollar is poor parenting in IMO especially in a time where I believe future generations are going to have a tougher time at making ends meet.