Kids & Shopping...ridiculous comment

[BK2008]

Having raised 4 kids, the youngest of which is now 21 and in college, you just have to learn to say the word "no" and actually mean it. If a six year old thinks he/she can get whatever they ask for, that stays with them the rest of their lives and it just becomes worse. Moms/Dads today are so afraid not to give their kids what they want that the word "no" has no meaning. We would say "no" to our kids when they were little and just dealt with the screaming kid being led out of the store not caring who was looking.

Been there, done that. That's why the 15 minute argument about the shoes with my son yesterday. Or it felt like 15 minutes.

And I have put stuff back and walked out of stores before because of the tantrum issue. Both of my kids, even the 8 year old, when she gets like that, there is no way I'm getting anything.But it still hasn't quite sunk in yet. Tantrums=we're going home. Now.Empty handed.

[arkienurse]

But with 2 kids and a list like this, and if you figure every kid brings this, we are definitely supplying the entire school with stock for the year and probably into the next. These list change depending on the grade.

And I have seen lists from some schools that include a package of printer paper. So yes, we are supplying the school, not just our child.
I am having to buy disinfecting wipes for DD's kindegarten class this year.

[my4devils]

Wow- I am SHOCKED! I cant believe what some of you have to supply for your kids for school. At orientation last year, we were specifically told to not send in anything with our kids- everything will be supplied for them. There is no way that would fly in our area. I was my son's homeroom mom and we had parents that didnt send in a dollar or two for certain things during the year when asked. WOW- I dont know if I feel grateful or just sad.

[AngelinaCat]

And I have seen lists from some schools that include a package of printer paper. So yes, we are supplying the school, not just our child.
I am having to buy disinfecting wipes for DD's kindegarten class this year.

I've heard of school districts that confiscates all the children's supplies that they bring from home, then divide them out amongst the children. So if a child had a set of personlized pencils, as say a birthday gift, then these would be taken away and a generic pencil given in return. I don't have children of my own so have not experienced any of this first hand. I last worked in a private HS in 1992, and nothing of the sort happened there or then.

[BK2008]

I've haven't had that happen yet, but I seriously doubt that these kids go through all of that stuff each of them bring in a year. Of course, factor in there are going to be students that don't bring anything (lack of affordability, lazy parent, or whatever), but I think those numbers are miniscule.

The other thing they are doing is, if your child has a birthday, and wants to invite some of his friends, you now have to invite the WHOLE class so that nobody gets left out.
Good idea in theory, lousy in practice. What if someone is your kids arch enemy?? They don't like each other?? (had that happen last year with my DD)
It puts a burden on the parent pricewise for this party. I'm not talking about a big extravagent blow out, just something at the park with a pinata, cake, etc.
People have forgotten what RSVP means. I always RSVP if they are going or NOT, so that the party giver can delete them from their list of invitees. Common courtesy, currently lacking these days.

[Lacy]

I can totally relate to all this !

With school getting close again for starting I am really worried about my 13 year old son expecting to get all that he is use to getting. But with my husband recently passing away I am not going to be able to buy him things like I use to do. And I have warned him of this but not sure he fully understands yet. Guess time will tell when we go shopping. , which I sure dread ! His into all that name brand stuff like all the expensive latest shoes. And clothes like Abercrombie & Fitch , Holsters , Polo .. and so on. Some times I wish his school would go to all uniforms like some schools have.

[justplaintired]

You have to pay a registration fee for PUBLIC SCHOOL??? OMG, I would never have thought it. There were times during our bk that it would have been impossible to come up with that, especially with 3 kids that first year.


And here I have griped for years because of the school supply. Each teacher in JR/SR High wants the kid to have their own 3 ring binder for their particular class. And it can never be the 97 cent half inch binder.. no it has t be the big 2-3 inch binder at 3 bucks apiece. Man I used to get one binder and dividers so each class had it's own spot.

Oh yes we pay. We pay for book rental. Now mind you these books are used. Not new and we reuse and reuse. And also we pay higher property taxes cause we need new schools with Olympic size pools for these kids. In the small town I live in, county I should say, there are 3 school corporations. We are a community of about 35,000 county wide. All schools are more like college campuses. It's a sore subject among most of us and is prove positive of the overspending that is being done in this country.

Keep in mind none of this money we pay at registration covers school supplies, on top of the money for getting them into school we must also go out and buy a list of stuff the teachers want our kids to have.

Most all our property taxes in Indiana go to the schools and now the best part, our schools are failing!! Yes they have lovely schools to attend but the education they receive is not up to snuff!!

Sorry, got off track of the purpose of this thread. Just it's getting close to time and I am so worried about having enough money to get my kids in school. I worry more about paying the school their registration fee then clothes right now and that just doesn't seem right.

[justplaintired]

I've heard of school districts that confiscates all the children's supplies that they bring from home, then divide them out amongst the children. So if a child had a set of personlized pencils, as say a birthday gift, then these would be taken away and a generic pencil given in return. I don't have children of my own so have not experienced any of this first hand. I last worked in a private HS in 1992, and nothing of the sort happened there or then.

Oh they do that here and it just ticks me off!! To me, these list these teachers come up with are bizarre. I have actually purchased crap on their list that my kids bring home brand new at the end of the school year!! How dare they be allowed to make these list that first off alot of people can't afford, but to make a list and include things they won't even use!

You know what our smart school district did? Got rid of teacher to save on the budget, because they spend money they didn't have building the deluxe schools!! Yes class size will be bigger now, with failing schools, but they had to trim the budget. What has America come to when our kids aren't getting what they need in the classroom because some idiot on the school board decided we need these buildings?

Like another poster said, I believe school uniforms are the way to go. Atleast that would do away with some peer pressure on these kids and as parents would make our lives so much easier.

[sisterfunkhaus]

I hate those wheelie shoes. Do you know how many times some kid has almost run me over at walmart or the grocery store? Thank God I don't have boys anymore. We wouldda already had a fight over them. I do love the idea of a mag light taped to them. I can just see it now.

I have no idea where any parent ever got the idea that it is okay for their kid to rollerskate inside public places. Drive me nuts.

[sisterfunkhaus]

The other thing they are doing is, if your child has a birthday, and wants to invite some of his friends, you now have to invite the WHOLE class so that nobody gets left out.

At the schools here, that is only if you want to give out invites at school. In reality, if you send invites out in the mail, they have no say over who you invite. No amount of rules can allow them to infringe upon that freedom. So, as long as you aren't giving out invites at school, you can ignore the invite everyone rule.

[sisterfunkhaus]

I've heard of school districts that confiscates all the children's supplies that they bring from home, then divide them out amongst the children. So if a child had a set of personlized pencils, as say a birthday gift, then these would be taken away and a generic pencil given in return. I don't have children of my own so have not experienced any of this first hand. I last worked in a private HS in 1992, and nothing of the sort happened there or then.

As a teacher, that is what we did, BUT if a child bought a personal set of markers or special pencils in addition to the required ones, they could keep those. Part of the reason we do this is b/c so many kids forget to bring supplies to class. If they need markers that day, then they need them. If 1/2 the class forgets them, you have a serious problem. I had 150 students, so the markers and such always got dried out quickly. I had to buy additional supplies myself for them to last until the end of the year. I did not get any kind of supply stipend.

And at any school I have worked at, teacher have no say in supplies. The school board decides what should be needed.

[momof5]

. Each teacher in JR/SR High wants the kid to have their own 3 ring binder for their particular class. And it can never be the 97 cent half inch binder.. no it has t be the big 2-3 inch binder at 3 bucks apiece. Man I used to get one binder and dividers so each class had it's own spot.

Isnt this just crazy! Then when school starts the teachers want more, extra composition books,boxes of tissues, special graph paper and so on. We try to reuse what we can from last year but those binders are just basically cardboard and break real easy. Or the rings dont line up and the paper falls out.
Last year my grand total on school supplies for all 5 kids was: $217.58! this did not include any clothing or shoes. I do not hesitate to let teachers know that I am buying for 5... and that if the 2 inch binder is $3 dollars less than the 3 inch one requested then so be it...they will use the 2 inch.

I often wonder how those that struggle to make ends meet afford to send their kids to school.

To the OP: $35 is not bad especially if they are good leather shoes. I have found with my boys ,that the older they get that it is definately more cost effective to spend a little more as they tend to have soles that are stitched in rather than glued and will last a couple months longer.

[gymbo]

I have a 4 year old. I pay $800/month for her to go to preschool (4 days a week) AND I get a looooooong list of school supplies I have to buy every year... easily $60... plus I have to supply sunscreen (spray only) every year AND they are always holding fundraisers and encouraging you to "support" them. (books - food - etc)

On the bright side I'll be prepared when school starts