From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Grumpelstiltskin

G P Do you know Giants Causeway is National Trust as well ?

Greying_Pilgrim

badmemory said:

I suspect that LG has had around double the experiences of their classmates this holiday.  I also suspect that they will have difficulty realising that.  Maybe reminding them not to draw attention to any classmate who may not have been able to have the many experiences they have had so as to avoid those classmates receiving bullying.

I hear what you're saying, badmemory - but LG isn't the type to venture forth information anyway.  They will listen to everyone else whanging on about "3 weeks in......" or "daddy bought me an eye-pad because I was bored", but they are always reluctant to say what they have done, or what they have achieved.  We had all this last term when one classmate declared that LG "shouldn't be allowed" to be in the 'top' group for school swimming lessons.  The opinionated child had no idea that LG could swim further than they could, by about 10x......... and had every right to be in that class - despite the fact that school swimming is now reduced to about 4 half hour sessions per year, and the Nat. Curric. considers it's job done once you can swim 50m.  

LG wouldn't mention about someone not going on holiday or having something in a sneering/bullying way - it's not in their nature.  More often than not, they are on the receiving end of ridicule for not having X, Y,  or Z.   

Greying X

rtandon27

I know in theory we are not supposed to teach our children to tell others to 'go forth and multiply' but honestly whomever is bullying LG needs a good slap by a parental unit! (...and yes I realize we are not supposed to slap a child either...)

Greying_Pilgrim

rt - I think it's a society thing, to show what you have.  The kids are pretty much just aping the adults in their lives.  It's gone on for years, but I do think it's broader now - more kids have more (bought/procured by whatever means), so the 'have nots' are actually fewer in number.  And yes, I'm talking about 'stuff' goods/chattels/experiences.  When I was LG's age, there were more of us that had 'less' and fewer who had the holidays/the piles of gifts at Christmas/the extravagant birthday parties etc.  There was less opportunity to feel 'lack' as there is now. I know in my own heart that LG loves being with DH & I, 'together' doing something - even if it's a car picnic in the rain......  They would never tell you outright, but I know that they value that.  There would be absolutely no point in them vocalising that satisfaction to a classmate, there would be few, if any that would 'get' it.

And, as if I didn't know this would be the case, LG hasn't mentioned holidays to any classmates today (not in school - they had a brief convo with a chum on the walk to school, and found out they'd been to a similar area in the holidays), and they have no idea where anyone else went, as apparently it wasn't talked about......

Greying X

themadvix

Greying_Pilgrim said:

...sets an extra place for tmv at the table....... 😁


Greying X

I'm there 🤤

We'll do the marble arch caves next time we're in NI I think. Greying, we stayed at Crom NT campsite - tents or pods, if you prefer. Would highly recommend and not too far from there to the caves. LG would love the adventure of the night ferry over too! Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge (near GC and also NT) would definitely test the fear of heights out!). GC was very busy when we were there (mid-week in June) - we did find some peace out on the stones, but not the usual haven of tranquility that I find NT properties to be. (Carrick was fine, because we went there first, before the coaches get that far.)

Re the having less - I think the freely available consumer credit can be blamed for fewer people 'having less' (even if actually they don't own it/have a huge pile of debt) - the kids neither know nor understand that going without can be a sign of self-sufficiency and liquidity.

Sunshine_girl2

GP , I know you may be all outing outed , but someone told me about heritage open days today from 12th -23 September . I had a look on the website it's all free and in my area there is a grade one listed church opening its doors . I have wanted to go in this church for ages but it is no longer open for services so I am going to see it You may find something in your area of interest , it covers two weekends . You may already know about this , but if you didn't thought I would pass it on. 

badmemory

I never do explain myself well, sorry.  I did not mean that LG would say those things, I can tell from what you say that they wouldn't, but that if you said not to say them it may make them think.

Greying_Pilgrim

tmv - I hope you realise I make a note of all the info you so generously share 😁I was looking at the '50 things' list today - and realised just how many of them we could tick off as LG having done - for sure not just this holidays, but to this point.  

Update on the curry - it's 'ok' - I think it would be improved if you had really tasty tatties, but I must say, the pineapple is gorgeous.  It was a 'golden pineapple', produce of Costa Rica from MrL.  Because it was in the box, it was well ripe, so it tasted nice anyway, but warmed through in the coconut milk - "chefs kiss" 🥰

Sunshine_girl2 - I did 'kind of' know about the Heritage Weekend - but didn't take in the actual dates (ie that it covers two weekends0, but as it happens we're going to see a industrial heritage site that is not routinely open to the public - happens to be the first weekend of the event - otherwise you can only get in as an organised group etc.  But I will go and have another look at the list for the relevant weekends.  Thank you for mentioning it - I would always rather folk mention things several times than not 😁  You never know who you can help on these threads 😁

badmemory - from what LG says, the kids who lack "materially" are relatively few and far between.  The ones who appear to lack emotionally, however.........

Greying X

Watty1

i started to type something about the Dover Castle tunnels and realised I might just out myself so all I'm going to say is that I had the luck to see them before they were properly open and they were incredible.  I will one day go back to see how they have "dressed them up" to "present history" to visitors 

In a few days the holidays will be forgotten and Christmas will be "the thing"

Cheery_Daff

I've got a couple of things earmarked for the heritage weekend -one of which I've been meaning to go to on heritage weekends for several years 🙄😂 This will be the year!! One is a mine, which I drive past very regularly, and the other a factory, which I only realised existed last weekend - if it has to be one or the other I think the mine deserves it this year 😂