Posts by Kimberly Robinson2

copperheron18 said:Everything said here is true... blunt, perhaps, but true...
She likely hesitated about whether to give him the cash or not (no one is disputing that if she had extra, she would have handed it over without a second thought), but she ultimately chose not to. In the end, the teacher decided to fix the mother's oversight—though, in that moment, the teacher probably didn't realize she was stepping into a minefield or how this would blow up. If she had known, she probably wouldn't have offered anything. Honestly, nobody would have made a fuss if this entire mess hadn't turned into a situation where the teacher is being scrutinized. It seems she is just trying to quiet her own conscience by seeking validation from people on this forum that she did the right thing.

Kimberly Robinson2, tell me: would it have been easier if the teacher hadn't given him the money, leaving him to come home crying because everyone else was eating and he wasn't—blaming you for the humiliating spot he was in? Or would it have been easier if he told you the teacher gave him money and didn't ask for it back? (Personally, the latter sounds even more insulting to me, as if someone were handing my child charity.)

So, she finally made up her mind???😲😲
Wait, am I talking to myself here? Or did I just lose my mind for a second? 🤷😲

In the end, it turns out the teacher decided to step in and fix the mother's mistake—though, to be fair, she didn't even realize she was messing up at the moment, let alone see the mess this whole thing was about to turn into. If she had actually been paying attention, she probably would have just handed him some cash and called it a day.

Fix it? Are you kidding me? What are you even talking about? Jesus Christ, I don't know how some people actually follow what I write...

Honestly, I don't think anyone here would actually care or make a scene if this whole thread didn't end up making her look like she's just fishing for validation. It’s pretty obvious what’s happening—she’s just looking for some kind of backup from the community to quiet that nagging little voice in her head. She needs us to tell her she did the right thing just so she can finally feel okay about herself.

☕

Kimberly Robinson2, would it have actually been easier for you if his teacher hadn't given him the money? Like, imagine him coming home in tears because everyone else was eating and he had nothing—and then blaming you for putting him in that awkward spot. That sounds like a nightmare. On the other hand, would it have been better if he just told you the truth from the jump—that the teacher gave him cash and didn't even bother asking for it back? Honestly, that might have felt even worse to me personally... it’s got this weird vibe of someone handing out charity to my kid, and I don't know about you, but that feels pretty insulting.

Look, you don't know my kid, and you honestly can't claim to know how they’d react. My child isn't one of those kids who's going to have a meltdown over a display of candy at Target—no screaming, no throwing themselves on the floor, none of that. They grew up in a pretty modest household, and even when things started looking up financially, I made sure not to spoil them. It's just how we raised them. Sure, they wouldn't be indifferent to seeing something cool, but I already sat them down before our last trip and told them straight up: we’ll come back for this next time once we've saved up enough cash. And they know me well enough to realize I don't make empty promises or talk just to hear my own voice.

Kevin Bailey2 said:Laura... honestly, your take on this is the absolute worst part of the whole thing.

I mean, how on earth can a mother look at her own kid and tell them they don't have a family?

At that point, you might as well let a bunch of circus clowns raise them—at least they’d provide some actual warmth.

Why are you poisoning a kid's head with this kind of garbage?

You aren't preparing them for the real world or making them tougher. It's the exact opposite. You're just stalling their emotional growth and doing something totally counterproductive that only hurts them.

Look, I get that things are rough for you, but for God's sake... you've always got to try and find the silver lining. If not for your own sake, then definitely for your kids.

Don't use your child as a punching bag for all your frustration, resentment, and general bitterness.
Take it out on someone who can actually handle it. Don't put a ten-year-old in a position where they're telling their teacher that they "don't have a family" and that's why they can't finish an essay.
Instead of running your mouth to everyone else, just sit down and talk to your kid about what's bothering them and why they're struggling.

Look, Doa, that’s not even what I meant—it’s more about the fact that his father isn't actually here with us. When he draws a family portrait, he just draws me and himself, which is basically only half the picture. 😢
Even though my boyfriend does end up playing the dad role when we hang out with friends...😁

Hannah Davis18 said:I mean, the professor’s got a point. Honestly, this whole thing could've been handled way more gracefully. Like, once they realized the meal was paid for, they should've just sent over the cash the next day and called it a day... I guess she would've rather gone into debt than have some school administrator footing the bill for a kid's lunch...

Nobody actually asked her to...

And besides—if you rack up debt knowing your income is about to dry up, how exactly do you plan on paying it back? You think you'll just work off the interest? 🤷🤣

Whatever. I'm going for a run...😛

I’ve been sitting here watching this series on the Discovery Channel about that British chef, Jamie—he headed down to some rural province in Italy, found a local cooking school, and is basically just documenting how they do things there.

One thing that really jumped out at me from the cookbook descriptions is that they don't even bother with meat dishes there; you won't find any burgers unless you hit a McDonald's. They even mentioned that a local McDonald's actually shut down after just three months because the kids there simply refused to eat it!

Man... if our public school cafeteria staff saw that, they’d probably try to keep those doors open for another few months just to stay in business....🤣

It’s pretty interesting stuff, honestly. Check it out.

Joshua Parker11 said:Look, you literally admitted right here that you take your kid to McDonald's whenever you get the chance. From what I can tell, you weren't even bothered by the fast food trips or the fact that the teacher covered the kid's lunch. The real issue is that she actually had the nerve to ask for that money back.
Yeah, this whole mess wouldn't even be an issue if the woman hadn't demanded repayment.
If she hadn't, everything would be fine.☕

Do you even have a clue how many times that actually happens in a year?

You have no idea... but hey, at least you finally figured out what you actually wanted.

Whenever I get the chance, I try to fit about two to five of these trips into my life story every year... which, honestly, sounds like a massive amount, doesn't it? ☕

I’d honestly rather just take him to the community pool for that same amount of money.

You're right about one thing—this wouldn't even be an issue if she had just handled things like an adult. But she didn't.

driftingbear10 said:Laura74, did the little guy get some popcorn when he went to the movies? 🍿

No way. First off, you don't eat in a movie theater—it's just not how it works.

And that question of yours? It’s pretty damn provocative, isn't it?

And for all those people who keep insisting that he "borrowed" it—or that she "lent" it to him—let me stop you right there: that’s just plain wrong. He didn't ask for it, and I certainly didn't go asking her to lend it to him. She just handed it over because she didn't want to be the only one sitting there without anything to eat. Fine, whatever... but let's play this out—if I hadn't signed him up for that summer camp in the woods, would she have "lent" him that, too?

The whole thing boils down to her deciding—all on her own, mind you—that she was going to lend something out. Nobody actually asked her to do that. Look, I’m glad she stepped up and was generous, really, I am, but I feel like I've said this a hundred times already: she could have just made it simple. She could have just sent her mom to the school to handle it, but no—instead, she tells him to tell me, and then somehow it turns into me having to send the money through him! It's just unnecessary drama.

Joshua Parker11 said:And everyone went to McDonald's. EVERYONE in his class goes!🤷

So, it's really just the teacher's fault.
And I'm repeating $1.75 because you could have just bought fries.
And I'm repeating the part about leaving a kid in that situation because YOU are the one at fault here, and you just don't see it.

Anyway, I sign off on everything Jacob Sanders34 said, from start to finish.

How on earth was I supposed to know?? 🤷
I knew about the beach trip because there were three different parent meetings about it.

And where exactly did I say she was the only one to blame? 🤷
We are talking about the basic principle of supply and demand here!

It was nice of her to give him money, sure, but she didn't need to pull him aside again the next day and ask if he brought it, knowing full well I couldn't give him anything since I didn't have any. And if he told her I'd come down to the school... Well, since she was asking him, I ended up heading over there to find him.

Does McDonald's even have fries for $1.75? 😕🤷

And where does it say that I don't realize I'm in the wrong? 🤷

graniteseal9 said:I’ve read through most of this thread and wanted to point out a few things:
It seems like most people have just accepted the mother's version of events as absolute truth without considering that perspective matters. If a teacher had started this discussion instead, the reaction might have been quite different.
I agree that teachers—just like people in any profession—can be flawed, but I find it hard to believe parents weren't informed about the trip. Maybe the mom missed the parent meeting, or maybe the kid didn't mention they were heading to McDonald's. It's unlikely everyone would suddenly have the cash for an outing like this without prior notice.
Furthermore, I don't think the mother should take her child's account of what happened at McDonald's at face value. I see many of you arguing that the child didn't ask for money, but... are you absolutely sure? A friend of mine who is a teacher once dealt with a situation where a student, running low on cash during a trip to Central Park, was begging passersby for money to ride the pedicabs—at least until the teacher caught on. Who knows how that actually went down? For all we know, the teacher might have overreacted a bit $7.00. Besides, a ten-year-old is old enough to understand what Mom would or wouldn't approve of and act accordingly.
Regardless, I side with those saying it would have been much worse if the teacher had let the kid sit there eating a peanut butter sandwich and drinking water, staring sadly at everyone else eating burgers. Helping the child fit in so they don't feel inferior isn't about moralizing that "kids can't always have everything"—I agree with that principle—but when we're talking about minor luxuries and trends...
In short: kudos to the teacher.

We didn't get any parental notice about this!
There was this little scrap of paper—I don't have a photo because he already turned it back into the school—where you're supposed to sign off to give permission for the kid to go here and there for a certain amount of money. It didn't mention anything about going to McDonald's, but everything else was laid out right there.

Furthermore, I really don't think a mother should take a child's account of what happened at McDonald's at face value. I see plenty of you writing about how the child didn't ask to borrow money, but... are you actually sure about that???

I'll find out more on Monday. Once I hear the teachers' version of events, too. For now, I know my kid doesn't "beg"—he doesn't even really grasp the concept. He’s just the type who accepts things if someone offers them (like when he's over at a friend's house). Actually, I just found out that the first time he was at a buddy's place, he ate a fried egg... he wouldn't touch an egg like that at home to save his life! But there, he loved it...😍 Though that's nothing compared to this situation. Even at our place, if friends come over and we have food, I offer it to them.

.......... and he just sits there giving those sad looks to the others eating their hamburgers, wishing someone had helped him feel equal to everyone else so he wouldn't feel less than them......

And how exactly am I supposed to help that kid so he doesn't have to stare sadly at happy families? He sees them everywhere—moms and dads taking their kids to the store to pick out treats and gifts, getting them something nice for Christmas, while he won't! Because he doesn't have a family. It's not his fault, and it's not anyone else's fault—it's mine. I'm the one who didn't want my kid to deal with constant fighting and crying... the one who ended up divorcing his father because he didn't care about the kids, only about his own mother and doing whatever she wanted... yeah, the kid isn't to blame, but seeing this, seeing how he looks at all the other children who get everything they want, it's heartbreaking. Though, personally, I didn't actually see him looking sad.

The only thing is, for Saint Nicholas, he asked for ONLY candy and firecrackers! Nothing else. He got a little gift bag for Saint Nicholas ($3.25 there was a Saint Nicholas themed bag at Walmart with a few chocolate balls for the tree)... and he was absolutely thrilled, though I didn't buy the firecrackers. He got a few tears in his eyes since he couldn't find them, but I just told him I bought them and it just wasn't time for them yet. And that kept the peace.

People are making such a huge deal out of $1.75 for ice cream! Seriously, it’s summer! He never gets ice cream at McDonald's because it’s just not the kind he actually likes. He strictly sticks to a burger for a few bucks plus fries, a soda, some ranch, or just grabs a Happy Meal. But the kid can't even figure it out himself—he's just too quiet, too passive. I barely even drag him out for ice cream in the summer (I have to force him to learn how to just go buy a scoop). I asked him if he could order what he wanted on his own, and he said no. I know he needs to learn independence, but he’s honestly never been to McDonald's without me. And honestly, I try to avoid going there anyway since it's all junk food. He doesn't care for pizza at all, but he likes other things. I’d much rather spend my money on stuff he actually enjoys that's higher quality than what you get at McDonald's.
And regarding those famous $1.75 for ice cream—my kid would be the only one licking it while everyone else ate, and then what? What would they even do with that? Nothing. I'd just end up being the "bad mom" again...

Joshua Parker11 said:The mom actually said herself to treat her kid to McDonald's whenever she can.

I guess I could also point out that people who find $6.75 to be a problematic amount of money aren't signing their kids up for optional summer camps starting at $400.

The real issue here is that the mom didn't step up and handle things with the teacher to make sure this doesn't happen again. Instead, she just let the little guy deal with it on his own while the teacher keeps dragging him along by the sleeve.

Exactly. When we head into a big city like Chicago or take a trip on the SNC, if we have the cash, we go and buy him what he wants to eat.

I could also point out that people who claim $6.75 is too much money aren't the ones paying for optional summer programs for kids from $400.

Optional? That's practically part of the curriculum! You're either there or you're missing class! And everyone goes to the beach. Every single kid in his class goes! Including all those five social cases who somehow always have plenty of extra cash despite receiving government assistance!
And like I already said, I'm not the one footing the bill for that.
Honestly, I hate dropping nearly $200 when that same money could cover more than a week at the beach for the three of us!

The biggest issue is that the mother didn't step in to handle this with the teacher so it wouldn't happen again; instead, she let the little guy handle it himself while the teacher keeps pulling his arm.

Why do you keep repeating yourself?? 🤷
I've already written this a few times...
But since you're asking, I'll say it again—hopefully for the last time:

1. I didn't go because I had another obligation that morning. Plus, we went to the movies!
2. The next day, I decided I was going to pay her back since he took the money himself, just so he learns that if he takes something, he has to return it!

Richard Morris43 said:Man, you are dead wrong on this one... Every single job is grueling, and honestly, if you carry this mindset that teachers don't actually do anything, there is a massive chance your own kid is going to grow up thinking the exact same way and won't give a damn about respecting their instructors later on.
It's because lazy bums in those positions are pulling in checks they haven't earned.🙄

Look, every single profession out there has its share of slackers, so whatever..

Wait, did I ever actually say teachers don't do anything?? 🤷
All I said was that at one particular school, they're running nearly 20 minutes late for every single period! Just do the math—how many hours are they actually supposed to be working versus what they're actually doing?! And is that okay? Not in my book. But clearly, nobody's checking up on them.

Kate Cox2 said:Look, I really don't want to believe this is just a typical daily occurrence... but if it is, then that school is in complete and utter shambles. I suspect situations like that are pretty rare...
In our faculty lounge here, people actually start heading toward their classrooms a minute or two BEFORE the bell rings. That way, by the time everyone reaches the room, they can all walk in and settle down immediately, allowing us to actually begin working right away...
At this rate, I think we probably deserve a higher salary than those professors of yours 😁

That's just how it is at *that* school. For instance, when I went in once for an info session during 4th period, right after the big break, I'd occasionally pop in for another period too, and it was always the same story. Kids are sprinting through the halls, jumping on the stairs, playing hide-and-seek, making a racket, and nobody does a thing. That goes on until those 20 minutes of class time are wasted. Personally, I'd find myself trying to calm them down and ushering them back to class because no teacher was around. But it was just constant chaos—one kid in, one kid out.

Joshua Parker11 said:If the mom had told the kid what to do, he wouldn't have taken the cash from the teacher in the first place.

Oh, aren't you a genius! What else was I supposed to tell my child besides what I did? I told him I didn't have it right then, and he could try again next time when we actually have it.
As if I had some crystal ball knowing this was going to happen.
Now we can all sit here acting smart and handing out perfect advice... "she should have done this," "she should have done that"... well, she could have, but she didn't... and somehow it's on me, right?😕

Melissa Gonzalez2 said:It was just a tiny slip-up on Mom's part—she couldn't have known things would play out like this.

Exactly... if I had any inkling she was going to LEND them to him, I would've rushed out to swap $17 for about thirty bucks somewhere. They wouldn't be dead without them.

Anthony Gray said:

I suppose we’re moving on to part two of this little saga, aren't we? It feels like we’ve been circling the drain of this particular topic for ages—though, in my defense, I find the nuances worth the extra time. There's something about the way these things unfold that reminds me of those slow-burn legal dramas you see on cable—not the flashy, high-octane stuff, but the kind where everyone sits around a mahogany table in D.C. pretending they aren't completely losing their minds. You think you've grasped the core of the issue, and then—bam—another layer of complexity reveals itself, much like peeling an onion, only with more frustration and fewer tears. Anyway, let's dive back in. I'm curious to see if anyone else's perspective has shifted since our last round of speculation. I tend to be a bit cautious with my conclusions—better to be measured than to jump the gun and look foolish later—but I can't help but feel we're missing a crucial piece of the puzzle. Or perhaps we're just looking at the wrong puzzle altogether? It's a possibility. A distinct, nagging possibility. Anthony Gray says:
It’s truly remarkable how you can walk into a conversation looking for a bit of guidance or perhaps just a second opinion, only to end up caught in a total whirlwind of conflicting perspectives—a complete linguistic storm, if you will. But, I suppose that's the nature of the beast. We have to embrace the chaos and respect the diversity of thought, don't we?😬
It’s certainly not our plane—not by a long shot—but I’ve decided to accept her exactly as she is. Honestly, the woman lets the first graders play games like seeing who can stretch their bubblegum the furthest between their fingers... then there's the dancing on the desks (I could go on and on about that, but I’m terrified I'll end up being summoned to the Principal's office, so let's just leave it at that). At the end of the day, everyone has their flaws—and their virtues, too.

It’s honestly wild how parents just salivate over threads like this—it’s like they’re all lining up to collectively throw stones at teachers. I mean, really. If I follow the logic here, I must be some kind of total failure because I didn't spend my youth backpacking through Europe, and I certainly don't own some high-end MacBook that I "borrowed" from the school library back in the day. Apparently, without those little luxuries, I'm just fundamentally incompetent. It’s quite a ridiculous way to look at things, isn't it?
Laura, look—I know you already paid the money back, but honestly? Handling all that "communication" with the teacher through the kid... I really think you should have just gone in and had a face-to-face talk with her yourself.

I told my little one to tell her I'd be coming by, and she just said he could bring the cash himself. 🤷
But I’m definitely heading down to the front office on Monday to sort this out.

Kate Cox2 said:Oh, absolutely. That kind of thing happens in the staff lounge on a daily basis... 🤦
you probably just happened to stumble upon one of those rare times, maybe four or five times a year, when someone is celebrating something and decides to treat the whole department...

It’s honestly pathetic—not for them, obviously—that they get paid for a full 45-minute class period when they’re really only teaching for maybe 20 or 25 minutes. And don't even get me started on the prep work; by the time they actually settle those little monsters down in the classroom, what’s left of the lesson? 🤷

Look, if they want to celebrate, fine by me—they have their breaks—but they should actually do their jobs properly and save the festivities for after school is out...

Even factory workers eat and celebrate during their 20 or 30-minute lunch breaks, but once that whistle blows, they better be back at their stations!

I can already hear someone typing out some lecture about "educational differences," or asking why a blue-collar worker didn't just go to college to become a teacher instead. To that, I'll say this ahead of time: just shut up and do your job. Stop whining about how low the salaries are when you aren't pulling $667 shifts like a laborer working six days a week for
!
I know it isn't easy for them, but let's be real—it isn't easy for anyone else either.

Terry Ramos60 said:An interesting topic, though I suspect the core issue isn't actually about the $21, but rather that Laura decided to bring this up simply because she felt a little bit called out by the discussion, don't you think?

I don't know what to tell you—some things just never change, no matter how much we pretend they do. It’s that same old cycle, isn't it? Just another day of watching the same patterns play out while everyone acts surprised when the inevitable happens. Honestly, I stopped expecting anything different a long time ago. It's just how the world works. kaže:
I’m on the same page here—it’s pretty obvious she hasn't even sat down with the teacher yet. Instead, they’re just sitting there bickering back and forth over the kid—it's all just noise at this point.

Give me a break... I only started this thread thinking all the ladies on here would come rushing to my rescue—you know, asking for my routing number so they could chip in a few bucks to help me out. Honestly, it’s much better to just frame it as a tragic little story about needing a handout rather than actually coming out and saying, "Please, help me!"

🤣🤣🤣

🤦🤦

Me, ashamed? Please. I haven't stolen a single thing from anyone in my entire life...
Look, let’s get one thing straight—there’s no debating this. I already gave her the money back. Period.

Charles Murphy6 said:I’ll go on record right now saying it’s a much easier gig than people give it credit for. If anyone actually cares to verify my claim, just grab a calendar and do the math on their days off—both the single days and the long stretches. You've got 30 days of vacation, plus winter break, plus spring break, and let's not even get started on summer vacation, where nobody actually shows up based on some official HR decree; they just drift back in for the first semester session.

Now, if you want to argue that kids these days have absolutely zero discipline, fine, I'm with you there. And if you think every generation is sliding further down the gutter, yeah, I agree with that too. There’s just no respect left in the world—not from the parents and certainly not from the kids—it’s all gone downhill.
That being said, we shouldn't be underestimating anyone's profession or title.
A bus driver carries the responsibility for their passengers just as much as a Teacher carries the weight for their students.
At the end of the day, nobody forced anyone into these careers; the choice was entirely up to the individual.
And look, if there are massive flaws in the system—well, they're flawed, plain and simple.

After spending three years in my kid's school, I saw the reality of it firsthand:
- when the bell rings to start class, most teachers don't even bother showing up until five minutes later—and the last ones to finally drag themselves in show up after a solid 19 minutes. (I was waiting there to get some info, and honestly, I never even saw her)
- after waiting around for 25 minutes, I realized my teacher hadn't even bothered to head to the faculty lounge to type things up. No, she was just sitting there... with a WHOLE TABLE covered in sodas, pastries, snacks... basically living in paradise. It’s no wonder they find it so hard to get moving after a mere five-minute break!!!!!!

If I were running the district, they wouldn't know what hit them...🤣

Kenneth Brown5 said:Exactly. I'm pretty sure the little guy learned his "lesson" and is going to remember that trip—and especially McDonald's—for the rest of his life😢.

🤦🤦🤦 (check out more of her posts) and also look at how she responded to this!

Joshua Parker11 said:I'm all in on Mirottu.

First off, Mom already knew the night before that we were hitting up McDonald's for the trip, so even after all the money we blew... $2.00 For a snack, she really could've thrown in a little more. $6.75 She should've slipped him five bucks, or even just a couple of singles, for some ice cream. She knew exactly what was happening—that kid was staring at his shoes while everyone else was digging in. I mean, if I recall her mentioning it in another post, she wasn't short on cash or anything, so there's really no excuse.
Second off, if I don't have... $6.75 Honestly, if I were in that position, I wouldn't even let my kid go on that trip. It just isn't worth it to put them through that kind of awkwardness or discomfort.
Honestly, the thing I resent most about my mom is how she handled everything after that incident. She basically let the kid sit there for days while his Teacher interrogated him about the money, all while she was busy trashing the school, the Teacher, and the whole trip count on online forums. If she actually cared, she would have walked into that school the very next morning, handed back the cash, and had a real conversation with the administration to make sure nothing like that ever happened again. But no, that’s not her style. Instead, she sent him off to the movies a day or two later just so he wouldn't feel "isolated," which is hilarious because she’s the one who caused the mess in the first place. It’s fine if he feels left out at McDonald's because of her mistakes, but God forbid the Teacher is held accountable. And yet, she still makes sure he goes on every single field trip, even that summer program. $400Even if you try to hide it, it’s still gonna show. No point in pretending otherwise. $1.75 Even if he knows all those kids are heading straight to McDonald's, he's still going for the ice cream.

Is the Teacher actually at fault here?🙄
The Teacher did the right thing by letting the kid have that cash for a Happy Meal, but I’ve gotta say, I’m not a fan of her asking for those 21 bucks back.
Honestly, I’m seeing a lot of double standards here. You guys are all over this Teacher for asking for a measly couple of bucks, but then you turn around and act like the mom is totally justified in her position. It's pretty hypocritical if you ask me. $7.00 Look, we’re talking serious cash here. How on earth do you guys actually know that Teacher has that kind of money? $7.00 And it's not like we're talking about a massive fortune here, right?

I think you just don't get how things work for some of us... I don't have a job, I don't have any steady US dollars coming in! If I have anything, it's from selling stuff on eBay, but I haven't moved anything lately. It’s easy to talk when you actually have money to spare. I live with my boyfriend and he is drowning in debt—he had it before we moved in together, but we thought, "hey, we can handle this"—except we both have four kids total between us that we're still paying child support for! (I get my portion of the benefits, but he doesn't, so it all comes out of our joint account.) We're at the point where despite being in love, we're considering breaking up because we just can't make ends meet. 😢...He'd go back to his family, and I'd be forced to move back in with my ex, who used to be abusive and would hit me. That's my life. So don't come at me about $6.75! 🙂

because she knew the kid would be staring at the floor while the other children were eating (if I recall correctly from a previous post, she mentioned she didn't have any cash on her, which means she *did* have the money).

Well, I stare at the floor, too—plenty of times. That's just how life goes. And yeah, I did have $17 in my purse, but that was meant for groceries. For dinner.

Second, if I didn't have $6.75 in my pocket, I wouldn't have sent my child on that trip at all just to put them in that kind of embarrassing situation.

I paid for the trip ($15) before they even found out about that infamous trip to McDonald's.
So what now, am I supposed to ask for a refund? I did what I had to do...

Furthermore, what I resent most is that after everything happened, she let the kid spend days waiting for the teacher to ask about the money, while she spent her time on this forum trashing the teacher, the school, and the trip fees, instead of just going to the school the very next day, returning the money to the teacher, and having a conversation to ensure it never happens again.

It wasn't days; I went there the next morning to get the money and sent it the following day. I am NOT trashing the teacher—I said she was fine otherwise—but until I actually speak with her, I can't say anything definitive. Right now, my only grievance is that she made the little guy beg for money. I have my cell phone, and my school is only 60m from my apartment—it's a one-minute walk. But I didn't go immediately because I had other obligations. Am I really expected to justify every single minute of my life? 🤷

No, she sent him to the movies after being out of school for a day or two—just so the kid wouldn't feel left out, right?—but apparently, it’s perfectly fine if he ends up isolated at her McDonald's because of her own mistake rather than the teacher's. I make sure he goes on every single field trip, including that summer camp from $400, yet she won't even pack $1.75 for him for ice cream, even though she knows all the kids will be heading to McDonald's.

They HAD to go to the movies! Go ahead, ask the school why... And he doesn't go on "every" trip. So far, he's only had one freebie. As for summer camp, his stepfather promised to pay for it. He gave him $133 so far, paid the first installment, and now I'll be doing the second one next week...
If we need to back out of the beach trip, we can—they refund everything if you cancel.

Yeah, sure, the teacher is the villain here.🙄
The teacher did the right thing by giving the kid money for a Happy Meal, but I do resent her asking for that $6 back.
Honestly, I see a lot of hypocrisy going on here. You're all attacking the teacher for asking for a measly $6, yet you're totally fine with the mom because you assume $7.00 is a massive amount of money for her. How do you know that $6 isn't also a huge deal to the teacher?$7.00

I've already made my stance clear on this. My only issue is that she didn't call me into the school immediately instead of badgering my son for cash. She could have just told him—perfectly fine, really—that she was just lending it to him and would settle it with his mother. That's where the problem lies.

mellowtiger66 said:So, what did she end up deciding? Did she actually sit down and have that talk with her teacher?

It’s not even Monday yet! ☕

**

Like I said before, we used to go to the movies, the theater, or take school trips back in the day—and there wasn't a single McDonald's or anything like it in sight. But we had community service days, which is just unthinkable nowadays. During the school year, I think we had about four of those sessions. We'd be out cleaning up local parks, working in the woods, doing reforestation, or tidying up around the school grounds. Once we hit the upper grades, we were even doing actual labor for a local metal fabrication shop—welding, drilling, bending iron... you name it. And yeah, we had to lug our own shovels around, and I had 3.7 miles. all the way to school! Did anyone ever stop to ask us if we felt like doing it? Not a chance. You either showed up, or you took an unexcused absence.

Fast forward to today, and suddenly a school trip isn't complete unless it includes a mandatory pit stop at McDonald's. 🙂

It all sounds lovely on paper... but when I compare my upbringing to how my kids are being raised, I can only say one thing: they might be more advanced academically—because, Lord knows, the curriculum is massive now—but they lack any real work ethic. They don't respect what their elders do for them; they don't grasp the weight of it. Plus, they're being insulated from that reality entirely. That’s not good for the long run, because while they're just kids right now, one day they'll be adults, and parents themselves.

The kid went and handed his cash back to the teacher. Since he’s got a massive mouth—he talks until he's blue in the face 😁—he doesn't even realize what he actually said, but somehow he managed to land himself an in-person meeting with her this Monday....🤣

So, until then, I'm flying blind.

As for those field trips, movies, theater stuff—yeah, they know how to write an essay. When they were out in Smalltown, USA, they had to write about bread making, but honestly, what they saw there! 😲 And of course, he wrote it all wrong, because I didn't see what they saw, and since I helped him a little with the writing, it wasn't exactly perfect....

They also had one day where they just sat there watching some cartoon movie, whatever. The assignment was to retell the story. But since he couldn't care less about cartoons, he didn't remember anything and didn't write the damn thing. All that was left in his notebook was the title. And then came the reprimand from her about missing homework. So, I wrote her a little note on a piece of paper explaining that he didn't remember what he watched. She shot back at me, asking how that was possible, saying he was supposed to write about a happy family. At which point I wrote: First off, he doesn't have a family, and secondly, we aren't exactly "happy" during a crisis like this—not that we're complaining, we aren't starving, thank God, but still. Going through the motions of describing some made-up nonsense about blah blah happiness and big families... I just don't see the point of that topic.

Naturally, I got called in for a talk...😂

And sure enough, I told her all of that right to her face—that my kid can't describe something (he was supposed to compare the cartoon to his home life) because we aren't all living in some rosy wonderland when reality is clearly different! Besides, he's too young to have such a wild imagination that he'd just invent things that don't exist.

It really gets to me, how they patronize them! They try to shield them from the reality of this world, acting like everything is perfect. Sure, there are beautiful things, but there's plenty of ugly stuff too. Not long ago, the neighbors' gorgeous cat passed away. My boy was outside and came running in terrified, yelling that something happened at the neighbor's house. I ran outside and heard these horrific screams coming from the hallway....😲 It was gut-wrenching. I know two girls (14 and 17) live in the apartment above ours with their parents, and now I can't stop wondering what might have happened to them. The screaming wouldn't stop—just: Noooooooo, nooooooo, I can't do thiiiiiiis, nooooooooooooooo... my blood turned to ice for those few seconds while I stood there by the door. I rang the bell. Nothing. Rang it again. The younger girl comes to the door and I ask if something happened, if they need help. She just says, our cat died....😲 And then the dad shows up, grabs the girl by the shoulder (they're decent people normally), and I tell him I'm sorry, but I ran out because I heard the screaming and wanted to help if I could. You know what he tells me? That it's none of my business!! 😲 Then he slams the door in my face.

Makes me wonder: next time I hear screaming, am I going to jump in?
Will anyone else jump in? (the neighbors heard it too)
Will my own child jump in and call for help?
And what if next time things are much worse and nobody reacts at all?

And here's the kicker: it was the 17-year-old girl screaming. Look, I get it, losing a pet is awful. I understand. But clearly, she's been raised under a glass dome where the world is just sunshine and rainbows. Totally isolated from real situations. What happens when actual tragedy hits one of them? Will they just break? Because they won't know how to handle reality.

That's why the school system irritates me so much... everything is colorful, smiling, wonderful, and fair, while everything else is hidden behind the curtain. They protect kids from things, and it isn't doing them any favors. I show my kids the real stuff—news clips of disasters, funerals, floods, wildfires..... because that's what's actually happening around us!

nimbletrucker132 said:Taylor Swift, I completely get where you're coming from and why you were feeling so torn. Honestly, it was probably for the best that you got your money back. That being said, I can't help but wonder if there might have been a way to head off the drama entirely—maybe by handing over the cash before the trip and just leaving those pre-purchased plots of land at home? They wouldn't have gone anywhere, and it might have saved your little one from all that unnecessary stress. It’s also possible the teacher saw things through a totally different lens; she might have perceived you as being a bit negligent, thinking that even though you'd given her a heads-up the night before, you didn't bother giving the kid twenty bucks for basic expenses. You can never truly know what someone else is thinking or how they're judging you behind closed doors...
My advice would be to sit down with her as soon as you possibly can to talk through your financial situation and explain the context. If the child realized things were tight and that money was an issue, then that shouldn't be something the teacher needs to hold against you.

Look, whether she could or couldn't, whether I did or didn't—the reality is I can't pay it back that day.
She knows damn well that I went through a messy divorce, lost everything, ended up jobless, and moved to a completely new city. She knows plenty. (I won't go into all the details here.) Personally, I actually requested assistance from a local community center; we're still waiting to hear back.
And my little guy? He knows. He sees it. Honestly, since he was tiny, my kids have been raised to be modest. Not that I burden them with it, mind you—I just tell them we don't have anything extra right now, and once we do, we'll talk about whether we actually need it.
But him? He’s still just a little kid.

Anthony Gray said:If you ask me, you should have just gone to the school yourself to talk to the teacher—ask her nicely, or maybe give her a little heads-up, to actually notify parents about planned activities ahead of time next time. As it stands, you haven't really achieved anything here; you've just let the whole situation spiral in the wrong direction.

winnerica thinks that if the kid truly understood the concept of "no" and "not happening," he wouldn't have taken the cash in the first place—because he'd know Mom isn't going to cough up even that measly twenty bucks.

I am going to go there, and I already wrote down exactly why I’m sending the money. I want the boy to understand what he’s receiving and what is expected in return—call it a lesson in borrowing and the importance of paying people back. As for her—if she wants to pay ME back, fine, but he doesn't need to know that. That’s adult business.

I never told him (my mistake, I know) that he is NEVER allowed to borrow money. We’ve never been in a position where he would need to. He knows I'm not working, he knows we're scraping by for every cent. He knows this entire situation made me sick—literally. He sees me taking medication and dealing with these sores on my legs caused by stress and anxiety. He hears me when I admit I haven't slept all night because of the itching (these blisters on my legs itch like crazy until the skin dries out from the cream, so I'm constantly applying it at night). He knows... I don't hide the fact that life can make you sick, that you can be in pain, that you need treatment. I'm not teaching him that everything is perfect and wonderful, because it isn't.

And get this—just a little while ago, he earned enough for an ice cream and $6.75 from the neighbor... I was doing some sewing for her, and I didn't ask for a dime because our neighbors are great; they help us out if we need someone to watch the kid while we run errands. But the neighbor wouldn't take it, she insisted: "this is for him."

But I'm not going to take it away from him. I'll just buy him some candy instead. I'll get it somewhere else.

Peter Doyle2 said:Seriously, bold the whole thing and put it in your signature!!!

I'm telling you, we should just call the Department of Education and demand to see their official syllabus in writing. Let's see if it actually states that students will be graded or tested based on attending a movie trip that the parents have to pay for.😲
fucking unbelievable!! Media literacy could easily be taught by just watching a film in the classroom!! Otherwise, fine, let the school foot the bill for the cinema trip. Public schooling is MANDATORY, which means it HAS to be accessible to every single child!! Pushing these "paid field trips" isn't mandatory, so the school should just adjust its curriculum to fit its actual budget.

Unbelievable!!
I can already see myself becoming one of those moms who constantly makes noise at the PTA meetings. But I won't back down—it's not worth it. As if it isn't enough that they force us to buy a million new textbooks and workbooks every year, now they want to fleece us with unnecessary trips to the movies or theaters just because it's somehow "part of the grade"? Give me a break.

And regarding that Red Cross stuff—I remember back when I was in school, they’d hand out these little coupons and everyone HAD to bring in money for it. In the lower grades, the teacher would collect it, and in the upper ones, it was the class treasurer. They’d even keep a list of who paid and who didn't.🙄
What a wonderful, top-tier pedagogical method for teaching kids about charity.🙄

You actually reminded me of something....😁
You aren't alone in this—I almost always have something to ask or a critique to make, while everyone else just sits there in silence.

I remember back when my oldest was about three or four, during a parent meeting. I made this plea—basically an appeal to all the parents whose kids walk down our street (there’s a shop at both ends, including one right by the school)—asking them that if they were going to buy sweets, please don't leave the trash lying around the street or in our yards. I was dealing with piles of litter in my yard every single day. Everyone just sat there, stone-faced, until after I thanked them for their attention, the teacher cut me off and said: "This isn't the time or the place for this!" 😲
Then, the very next day, one mom pulls me aside and tells me she’d be too embarrassed to say something like that in public, and asks if it’s really that hard for me to just pick up the trash myself. So, I told her straight: If you and all the other parents had actually raised your kids not to litter, I wouldn't have anything to pick up—and frankly, I wouldn't even feel the need to make a public scene about it! She went dead silent.

The takeaway here: the school system is failing if basic decency is a taboo subject. And parenting is failing if parents get offended when someone points out their "little angels" are acting out.

Here's another one: Just a few weeks ago, during a massive parent meeting for all the third graders to discuss the upcoming spring break trip, they presented the itinerary—specifically the total cost per kid. Blah blah blah... I finally raise my hand and ask if they have any hotel brochures or flyers so we can actually see what we're paying for. They say, "No, we don't." Fine, I ask, can you at least give us the name of the hotel so we can Google the rooms and the accommodations? They tell me, "Oh, we haven't decided which hotel we're using yet!" 😲 So I asked: then how on earth do you know the exact price????🤷
She started stammering through some nonsense that even God couldn't make sense of.... We found out the name of the hotel about three days later.☕

***

Anyway, back ON topic:

I let my kid $7.00 handle handing the cash to his teacher tomorrow morning. After thinking about it, I came to a conclusion: if he was capable of taking the money, if he was capable of eating the treats, and if he was the one asking for them, then he can be the one to deliver them and bring the change back. It'll serve as a good lesson that nothing in life is free.

(Though, knowing my luck, I might get a call from the principal tomorrow for a little chat...🤣)

I see everyone getting all worked up over the cost of these sandwiches.
Look, here’s how it went down: I bought him three rolls since he isn't exactly a fan of deli meat—he barely touches it, which honestly is for the best—so I always spread some Nutella on them. He loves that stuff. We have plenty at home (I once picked up a few jars while visiting Canada for just about a buck each).
So, we're looking at 3 rolls with Nutella, a bottle of standard spring water (half a liter, though it was practically a waste), and a small bag of pears (2-$1.00). Total damage was roughly around $2.00!

And he definitely wouldn't have been hungry; he even got a little snack.
He ended up bringing half the water and two of the rolls back home too. If he hadn't eaten at McDonald's, he would've finished those rolls. And they were out for six hours.

Even the teacher knew everyone had food because the notice clearly stated: BRING LUNCH!

Also, today they finally returned that $1.75 from the fundraiser, but get this—they paid for a movie trip, and we actually had to chip in an extra $1.75. (Everyone from 1st to 4th grade was REQUIRED to go see the film).

I asked my little guy if the teacher had said anything to him, and he said yeah—that she asked if he told her and asked if he brought the money... Honestly, if you ask me, nobody heard a thing, or at least that's what I'm hoping.

I didn't head over to the school today because I wasn't exactly sure when they were leaving or coming back from the theater, but seriously, was it really necessary to pull him aside and grill him about whether he brought the cash? 😲😢 He told her straight up that I didn't have it on me right then. She didn't need to press him.