Last night, Hunter asked for money for the annual book fair. His class was going the next day. I told him I would give him money, but it needed to be for books only. There are an array of toys and misc items to purchase there as well. He asked if he put his money in, could he buy whatever he wanted. I said yes. Then he checked his money and said no, he would prefer me to give him money. I told him I would give $10, he said $15 and I said no. Now I get an attitude from him. REALLY? I’m a bad mom because I wouldn’t give him more money on books he wont even read? (I bought him 2 – 4 book series over the summer that he hasn’t read yet)
Then he asks if he can buy something through the Scholastic newsletter, sure I say. It still benefits the school, right? I end up buying one book from the Scholastic website, because the one he wants is only sold as a 5 book series for $30, through the newsletter.
Okay - so what really gets me is not that my son is spoiled and thinks I’m just a money machine. Its the school!!! They send home the newsletter with pages and pages of books and toys to buy and have the book fair with 2 trips to the book fair. One for the students and then there is family night, where we are supposed to go to. I know it helps the school BUT the holidays are right around the corner and I’m putting money out every other week for something at the school.
Sorry for my rant.
Anyone else have this problem??
PS – He comes home and asks if he can go to the book fair on the make up day?? Did he not get it? Are your kids like this?
Ugh I so get it! This year they sent home five (5!!!) different little newsletter things home over two weeks…they were all different so daughter was begging for so many of them. We let her have a little money but since she wanted a zombie lock diary we made her pay for it, she also had to pay for any little erasers/pens/whatnot. And yes even after she went and got all the stuff she wanted she still came home asking to go again too.
Though this school pushes stuff like there is no tomorrow, they always have spirit night at local restaurants and even send home the kids with stickers on their shirts saying the date and time…it’s so hard to try to get the kids to understand we can’t afford to eat out that much and it’s ALWAYS right before pay day so never have the money anyway. Of course we always have to be the bad guys when it comes to stuff like this, I don’t think it’s very fair to all the mamas.
I agree… IT’s crazy!! If it’s not a fundraiser its the scholastic! We have fundraisers for school and girl scouts and everything is just sooo expensive!
-Misty
I totally understand! But, I will admit, I will give my son $20.00 just for books. In the earlier grades, I’ll admit he didn’t really read them either, but two years ago, he spent his books on Wimpy Kid because his friends told him it was a fun book and he got hooked. Now, I give him whatever he wants on books (but it does kill me that they’re full price and I KNOW I can get a better deal) because he reads them! And he does it willingly so I consider it a true investment. All I can say sometimes is that it may not work the first time around, but sometimes it’s worth it!
It is crazy, especially when you have multiple children in school. It gets really expensive.
Oh yeah, I go through this every year. I have four kids and started putting them on a limit. Luckily my kids love the library! We barely have any space for more books!
Just say no. Make him earn his money. 😉 Here is an idea:
Come up with a job description for a (of course fake) family company. The job description will outline his expected tasks and compensation (much like a real job).
Then you can do a mock interview. Have him dress for the occasion (as will you) and ask him why he would be a right fit for the job. Explain that compensation will be daily for his tasks and will include certain weekly benefits based on his end of the week performance review. Such benefits could include dessert, extra play time, extra TV time, etc.
Having compensation be done daily will give him a more immediate reward, and encourage him to continue.
Now if you want to go all out, tax him (20%). Put the tax in a certain location and require that he writes down all payments. At the end of the month, if he maintained his records, give him back his “tax” money as an incentive bonus. If he does not maintain his records, than you get to keep his tax.
Hope that helps!
Lord, don’t get me started, but, I’m so tired of schools being more of a place of business than an educational institution. They know how to market to the kids to (and bribe them with gifts/parties, etc.). Like the most recent fundraiser going on at my son’s school right now — if they sell so many of whatever, they get to go to this huge party. So those that don’t have to sit in their classrooms, like outcasts. And times are tough. I’m not asking people to buy stuff anymore. sheesh!
Sorry, for my rant. 🙂
Oh, sorry. As for your son, my son is the same way, really. He is an only child and has for the most part gotten any and everything he wants. We’ve been trying to change that, but it is tough.
My son is part of a mommy and me program where they constantly ask us to buy books from them, and other products, to help them make money. They already charge enough…I can’t afford more!
my 3 year old is just getting to the point where everything she sees she wants. It’s SO annoying.
School stuff is definitely$$
You’re not the only one. I hate that they even have toys. If you want to sell books to my kid that is fine, but when I give them money they always want to buy the toys. Why have toys at a book fair?