Posts by Andrew Rivera3

The movie was a blast even though Cameron Diaz isn't really my thing. One scene was super gross, but honestly, it wasn't even that bad. All in all, it's a good flick.

The movie is honestly amazing—it hits you with all the laughs and then totally breaks your heart.

Sixth grade reading list says "fairy tale" is mandatory. They say Regoč is just for fourth graders. But honestly? That’s total BS. The whole book is actually assigned in fourth grade. Why 👎🤷😕?

Required reading is basically just a way to get kids who hate books to actually pick one up. It gets them thinking, though.

Rachel Jones8 said:Honestly, those seem like massive amounts to spend on a 14-year-old's gift. (I mean, looking at average salaries here in the States, right?)

In some parts of the US, the big graduation thing happens during sophomore year of high school.

wearypilot15 said:I’m scrolling through these posts and honestly, I can't believe my eyes

Kudos to everyone dropping massive amounts of cash on this... by all means, keep at it if that's what you want to do.

It’s wild how the church has turned things into a competition—everyone just measuring who gave what and who outdid whom. It’s pretty grim, actually.

Faith and love aren't supposed to be about material stuff. If we keep raising our kids to think this way, we're never going to get it right.

Just ask any of the older folks how things used to be. And I don't mean because people were broke—not everyone was struggling back then—but because they actually understood the point of everything. If a priest can't explain the core meaning behind it all, then what are we even doing?

Oh, come on, please🙄... The gifts aren't everything, but it's a tradition for a reason.🙂.

I can't believe people are actually debating this... like, seriously? It's such a mess. says:
Every single day?

Man, that bag was weighing a solid 22 pounds yesterday. 😲 😲 😲They had a math teacher and five other subjects too.

Linda Price5 said:They’re absolutely delusional.

Yeah, it’s brutal. Just look at how much that bag weighed yesterday... ouch. 😢 🙄.

Jason Ortiz5 said:Is that a little bit of nervousness I sense because someone doesn't agree with YOUR plan? 😁

Personally, I think the idea about using lockers and just keeping the books at school is actually pretty decent. Of course, since it's always way harder to squeeze money out of the federal budget than it is to grab some cash from parents' pockets, I don't see that happening anytime soon.

That would be a killer idea for the cabinets.🙂😉They should just carry the books they actually need for homework—like maybe two workbooks, one textbook, and a notebook. They wouldn't be lugging stuff around like pack mules, and they still wouldn't be short on anything they need to learn.

Charles Murphy6 said:

Is it really that much to ask to adapt our school system? Is it truly such an impossible task to make learning actually engaging? Why can't we just give these kids concrete problems to solve, actual projects to tackle—things where they have to roll up their sleeves, dig through data, and actually participate instead of just sitting there staring at a chalkboard?

I want to take a moment to give some much-needed credit to my daughter’s teacher. She’s in second grade, and right now they’re working on fairy tales and character studies—sort of like a simplified version of literature class.
The students are split into small groups, and each group tackles a different story. Every child plays a part. They aren't just reading, though; they get these specific prompts—questions they have to hunt for answers to—and they work together to draw conclusions by finding direct quotes from the text.
Honestly, I think it's brilliant. I gave her a story to read at home today, and she sat down and worked through those same prompts all by herself; I was actually stunned by how well she handled it. Even when it came to analyzing character traits, I found myself wondering, "Wait, who helped her with this?" And then it hit me—it was that collaborative teamwork they do in class. I am genuinely impressed.
They hold these thematic workshops quite often, and I truly believe this hands-on approach is going to give them a massive advantage across every single subject they study.

Sounds like a seriously awesome teacher🙂.

Sarah James4 said:I don't get it. Why don't schools just buy the geography atlases and hand them out during class, then collect them all at the end of the period?

Last year my daughter was in 4th grade, and since they had a workbook, a textbook, AND a practice book for math—all packed with problems—they just left the practice books at school.

Jason Ortiz5 said:I’d totally agree if I actually believed there was anyone in this country who wouldn't jump at the chance to inflate costs for an easy buck. Honestly, I can see the big publishing houses pulling the old "well, these are two separate volumes with different production needs" routine. Instead of charging $100 for one book, they’d charge $90 for two. And I really doubt they have any incentive to make books that stay relevant for years.🙂

That only works for stuff used exclusively in class, which isn't much. Kids study at home too, so it makes sense that they'd need textbooks for that.

Fair point. Personally, I think it would be amazing if we had actual after-school programs here where kids were supervised and got real help with their homework and studying. And yeah, I’d happily pay for that. My little one starts school this year, and I am already stressing about the logistics. She gets out around noon, I don't get off work until 4:00, and my husband is... well, he's a bit of a free spirit, so I can't really count on him to step in. I mean, it’s fine if she learns to be independent, it's not the end of the world, but all our quality time—playing, reading, just talking—is going to turn into nothing but checking homework and drilling facts. If she could knock out the heavy lifting at school, we’d actually have time for the fun stuff.

Or maybe I'm just panicking because my baby is growing up and starting school... 🤷

Does that school even have an after-school program starting up? That's how some people I know handled the whole situation.

The math book is bundled with a workbook—they come as a pair for each semester. But since it’s an American curriculum set, you get the textbook, the workbook, a heavy reading assignment, a separate reading workbook, and a notebook.

Linda Price5 said:I was wondering if we’re talking about a standard backpack weight, or if this includes the entire haul—textbooks, notebooks, workbooks, atlases, the pencil case, and all that gym gear. 🙂

Not every single day, sure, but carrying 18 pounds for five periods straight? That's brutal.

Linda Price5 said:Every single day?

We don't weigh ourselves every day.

jadetinker85 said:I don't feel like typing a novel here, but in short: I think the American education system is largely outdated, both in terms of tools and actual curriculum.
The simple fact that first graders are lugging around backpacks heavier than they are is frustrating enough. I really hope things change before my kid starts school, because I'm not going to let him struggle through that.

It feels like the curriculum doesn't align with how kids actually develop cognitively; if it did, we wouldn't be seeing such poor results on national standardized tests.

Since there are plenty of successful models out there globally, I hope we stop trying to reinvent the wheel and instead just adopt what works—like taking what the Finnish system does well and adapting it for the US. It would be ideal if we just translated their textbooks and resources for our teachers; that could be done for almost every subject.
My little one isn't old enough for school yet, but I hope that when the time comes, school is a place where he can actually thrive and grow, rather than just a source of frustration.

Fifth grade backpack = 18 lbs. 😠 😳.

Andrew Rivera3 said:My daughter got a bunch of stuff for her First Communion: a watch from my maid of honor, $100 a gift from my godmother, $333 something from cousins out of town, a gold cross from family, an old gold bracelet from my aunt, a coral bracelet from my mother-in-law, a lapis lazuli ring from my parents, and a gold ring with a blue stone from me and my husband

On top of all that, she also got this silver bracelet with little hanging flowers and butterflies.

If I were picking out a gift for a First Communion, I'd go with some jewelry, a nice watch, maybe an interesting religious book, or even just cash plus a Bible.

Mine kid actually got a children's Bible too, which I think is such a sweet idea. Seriously, there’s so much cool stuff out there, as long as you don't break the bank!

Justin Allen81 said:Don’t crucify me just yet, but...

Please, stop buying gold jewelry for kids. Seriously.

Most kids can't stand gold chains. They’ll thank you later—they'll look like happy little angels while Mom forces them to wear it on special occasions... and they will absolutely hate it.

I have always hated those kinds of gifts, and from what I know, most of my friends feel the same way. Both when we were children and now that we're adults.

For those First Communions and Confirmations, there is a mass influx of tacky gold—chunky crosses, diamond hearts, gold animals, you name it. Not only is it ugly, but even if it weren't, there's a slim chance they'll ever actually wear it.

Do some research into what they actually care about. If they love books, buy them a book. If they play soccer, get them cleats. A gift doesn't need to be "fancy" or "appropriate for the occasion." What matters is that it's bought with genuine love and thought for the child—so buy based on their interests, not what you think the neighbors will approve of.

Personally, I made it crystal clear to everyone around my tenth birthday that I wasn't into gold jewelry. They kept buying it anyway, acting foolishly—thinking, "What does a kid know? They'll wear it when they grow up," and so on. (I ended up with a mountain of tacky, low-quality yellow gold that I despised with every fiber of my being!)
As soon as I moved out from my parents' place (who were quite stubborn about this issue—much like yours, though heaven forbid you try to change them)—I took it all straight to a jeweler and sold it for scrap. I got significantly less than what they originally cost. Then, I took all that cash and spent it on coffee and cigarettes.
Why?

Because those gifts weren't bought for me; they were bought for the sake of appearances. So, I turned those unwanted gifts into something actually useful.

P.S. I am an adult now. I only wear my engagement ring—which was bought specifically for me, according to my taste, after asking for my opinion—and one silver ring that holds sentimental value.
Believe it or not, zero gold.

It seems "adults" don't always have the best judgment after all!

And now you can tell me all you want about not looking a gift horse in the mouth. But if you give someone a gift without caring whether they actually like it, you should probably just keep it. And if you still insist on giving me some garbage that I've explicitly TOLD you I hate—well, then I'm perfectly entitled to throw that gift in the trash if I feel like it. Because that's exactly what it is.

Mine doesn't like gold crosses, but she absolutely loves gold rings and bracelets, and I don't
love gold at all.

Hannah Wood45 said:Here are a few thoughts—just reflecting on what we used to receive a few years back...
smartphones, iPods, jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets... mostly gold, precious stones, or pearls; the guys even knew how to score a nice tie clip), bicycles, computers, laptops, maybe even some motorcycles, summer trips, cash, watches, TVs, full room speaker systems, phones, lamps, paintings... most things were easily $100 and up, which was roughly the baseline even when people were just handing out cash...
I have this feeling that those who ended up getting a Bible were probably pretty disappointed...

Phones?! iPodi?! Jewelry is fine if it's gold or silver, but pearls and gemstones?
Bikes are okay, but nothing crazy expensive. Computers?! Laptops?! MOTORCYCLES 😲?!?! A summer trip?! Cash is alright if it's not a massive amount. Watches are cool if they aren't insane. TVs?! Whole room speaker systems?!
Spending $100 for a First Communion is honestly pretty weird.

Kimberly Robinson2 said:I honestly don't even know where to start. It’s a long story, and I won't get into everything, but if I'm going to explain this, I have to give some context. I'm a single mom, currently renting, and out of work at the moment while I hunt for something new. I'm living with my boyfriend, but it feels pretty temporary—we're in a total financial coma right now. My kid is technically off the hook for kitchen expenses, but things are tight. We just moved to a new place in a different city, which was a whirlwind. My kid had to switch schools, too.

Here's the second part: the class is constantly going on field trips. The teacher knows my situation. I reached out to social services, but nothing has come through yet. Making the call on the outdoor school trip was brutal—they're heading to the coast in May. It costs over $433 and lasts five days. Since the whole class is going, I figured, fine, I'll sign her up, and maybe I can scrape together those extra $67 somehow to cover the installment.

Then today, they went to a museum in Chicago (we aren't locals here). Total cost was $15. I had to sign waivers for the trip, the museum visit, and the zoo. So, I signed them and paid.
Then I find out yesterday that they're planning to hit McDonald's, too. 🙂
And she actually went ahead and ate there.

What really gets me is how they didn't even ask for parental permission for that! I mean, shouldn't they be asking parents before feeding ten-year-olds?

So I told my kid, "Look, I made you some sandwiches, but I don't have any money for McDonald's. We're in a bit of a crisis right now." Between the utilities and the rent coming due... it's just what it is. I told her, "Maybe next time."

Then the kid walks in the door and says, "I already ate!" 😲
The teacher gave her $10!
And then she tells her to pay her back tomorrow! 😲

I am absolutely floored.
And apparently, they're going to the movies tomorrow, so now I need cash for that, too...😢
Though, as I realized, the teacher gave her change back, so she's actually down $7.00 for the Happy Meal.

I realize it isn't a massive amount of $7.00, but it's the principle—it shocked me that she's essentially asking me for money now. (When I actually had funds, I was always buying gifts and never asked for a dime back). I know that doesn't change the current reality, but what am I supposed to do? I can't keep begging my boyfriend for money for my child, especially since he's tapped out too. He's barely making it until payday.

Is this okay?

Has anyone else dealt with something like this?

I think the teacher should've contacted you before handing the kid money
for a burger. But hey, it's done. Just pay her back once you get the funds.