“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

teafor2

Does DC's school do the whole dress up as a character and buy a book after school in the hall? Used to drive me mad having to buy a costume and then a book. Can vividly remember DD asking for a Jacqueline Wilson one and when I asked how much, it was £12. Asda were selling them for £5 :mad: I know some of the money goes to school but after spending on a costume there was no way I was paying that. Even if you home make one, it still costs. Told her no, took her to the supermarket on the way home and bought it from there.

Brilliant news that DS is going on his trip. Bet he's thrilled. Did you ask if you could pay the money over a longer period of time?

Hope you're feeling a bit better today. Try and slow down a bit over the next couple of days if the end of the week is going to be busy. xx

GeorgianaCavendish

Hope you are feeling a bit better Wannabe. It's lovely that DS will be able to go on his trip, he'll really enjoy it and it sounds like you've got a good plan to be ready for it.

All these extra school activities really add up, don't they? My cousin is always complaining that her girls come home with letters about things that need paying within 1-2 days :mad: It would be good if schools would give a calendar and costs for all these extras at the beginning of the school year so that at least parents know and have time to properly budget, it feels like they are always ambushing with extras!

WannabeFree

I don't buy the books from school Tea nor expensive costumes It will be £1 each to dress up though I think, it usually is.

Haven't told DS yet Want to make sure I can make it work first. I've told school it will be paid over the next 8 weeks I'll work it out around the other two birthdays some how.

GC is constantly something and yeah always last minute for silly things and I'd hate to be the one who's smalls always miss out on these things/or I don't attend.

x

Not really feeling better Got some cleaning to do to keep me busy though.

x

charlies_tribe

Hope you feel a bit better soon Wannabe.

School trips know how to make us feel guilty don't they? My 2 younger DD bought home their residential letters just before Christmas. One for £200 and one for £175. The older ones went and they loved it so I know it will be worth it to hear their excited stories when they get back.

EssexHebridean

Hey lovely - sorry it's been a bit of a wobbly weekend for you and agree that it's appalling that the crisis team let you down, too.

Remember - nobody EVER died because the ironing didn't get done...

Regarding the schools springing things that need paying for on parents with almost no notice - I've said many times on WF's threads and others that I honestly think they should not be allowed to do this - there should be a rule that they *have* to give at least 60 days notice of anything that needs paying for, end of. Would save SO many children missing out on things, and just enough parents ending up struggling to meet costs because they can't bear to see their children missing out. It really needs parents to stand together on things like this - if the majority stepped back when another demand for money was made and said "No - there's not enough notice on this" then it would soon stop happening. Of course it's not that easy though is it due to the number of parents who are probably in more debt than many on here, but are determined to keep papering over the cracks and keeping up with the Jones's! Grrr! :mad:

WannabeFree

I'm sure DS will love it CT. It will do him good to have some time having fun.

The added stress of youngest's tests and things, time of year and other stuff all just a bit heavy. It will pass
x

WannabeFree

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Hey lovely - sorry it's been a bit of a wobbly weekend for you and agree that it's appalling that the crisis team let you down, too.

Remember - nobody EVER died because the ironing didn't get done...

Regarding the schools springing things that need paying for on parents with almost no notice - I've said many times on WF's threads and others that I honestly think they should not be allowed to do this - there should be a rule that they *have* to give at least 60 days notice of anything that needs paying for, end of. Would save SO many children missing out on things, and just enough parents ending up struggling to meet costs because they can't bear to see their children missing out. It really needs parents to stand together on things like this - if the majority stepped back when another demand for money was made and said "No - there's not enough notice on this" then it would soon stop happening. Of course it's not that easy though is it due to the number of parents who are probably in more debt than many on here, but are determined to keep papering over the cracks and keeping up with the Jones's! Grrr! :mad:

Crisis team still didn't get back to me

I've tried with the school, I really have but it just makes it awkward. They don't 'have' to go and they don't see how it makes them feel left out etc. I just give up on the battle no one else is willing to stand on my side at school and I'm really friendly with any of the parents so I just got to plod on with it

x

teafor2

Schools have you over a barrel don't they. I wouldn't have bought costumes either only they whip the kids up into a frenzy in assembly about these things and mine used to come home saying they wanted to go dressed up as such and such. One year I'd had enough and sent DS as The Wimpy Kid. PE kit and a big face on a stick. He won a prize :rotfl: Cost me about £1.50 for the pack of card.

So you have to pay for the trip within 2 months then. That's a shame. A bit longer would have been helpful. xx

teafor2

See that really annoys me because it does make children feel left out if they want to go. Totally different if they decide they don't.

DS's school was brilliant about their residential. The headmaster insisted all 60 children were given the opportunity to go, he thought it was good for them from all points of view. If they were entitled to FSM's the family only had to pay £50 which is still a lot of money but at least we had 12 months notice.

I'm going to PM you later, just need to go and sort some stuff out. xx

GeorgianaCavendish

I was going to say tea , if the school insisted on costumes then I'd be looking for costumes that utilise school uniform as much as possible! Harry Potter or Hermoine, Matilda, TinTin (although maybe not TinTin because I always thought he looked smug ) ... your Whimpy Kid costume is brilliant