shawallapea
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Jun 28, 2014 21:28:33 GMT
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Post by shawallapea on May 2, 2016 20:23:27 GMT
My youngest is 13. I want our last years of him at home and unfettered by jobs/responsibilities to be spent to their fullest. Starting this summer I have some activities/trips planned. My quandary is this ...
There is a one week aviation camp he sounded interested in a month ago. Spaces are limited (3 left) and I must pay at least half of the $300 today to get him a spot. I double checked with him at his lunch break and he is 75% sure he wants to do it. He told me he wants a low key summer. I don't want him sitting at home and playing PS3 for hours on end. We have a trip to Utah planned with camping, fishing, rock hunting, national parks, a trip to the coast, several great concerts, a trip to a large water slide, and to our state fair. He'll have lots of outdoor time with me at my parents (I am a caregiver to my mom 3x's a week) on their wooded acreage. This boy can be a little apathetic about things and gets bored easily too. He's a tough nut sometimes.
I'm torn. I don't want to spend that much $$$ on something he doesn't really REALLY want to do. But, I want him to have a well rounded summer. My dad was a flight instructor and builder of aircraft for years before the boys came along and so they haven't gotten to experience it with him and I wonder if it's my nostalgia that's playing tricks on me.
I will state right now ... I'm an over thinker of magnificent proportions especially when it comes to money and doing the right thing.
How would you decide?
I really need to register him by this evening lol. Gah! |
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luvnlifelady
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Post by luvnlifelady on May 2, 2016 20:34:41 GMT
I have teens so I would tell him straight out, you have to decide by tonight. He's also old enough to understand the financial commitment. Say, hey, if there's something you'd rather spend the money on (that is comparable in enrichment), then speak now forever hold your peace. Once you pay, he can't show a bad attitude about it.
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Kerri W
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Post by Kerri W on May 2, 2016 20:39:04 GMT
I have teens so I would tell him straight out, you have to decide by tonight. He's also old enough to understand the financial commitment. Say, hey, if there's something you'd rather spend the money on (that is comparable in enrichment), then speak now forever hold your peace. Once you pay, he can't show a bad attitude about it. I completely agree with this and is exactly what I would do in your shoes. But I will also say, I don't over schedule my kids in the summer. I feel they deserve a break after working hard all school year. If they're interested in something and bring it to our attention then we accommodate that. We also ask them for a list of three things they want to learn over the summer and do that. But we don't schedule planned activity after planned activity so they can have some well deserved down time. |
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shawallapea
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Posts: 108
Jun 28, 2014 21:28:33 GMT
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Post by shawallapea on May 2, 2016 20:41:43 GMT
I like how you worded comparable enrichment. I did also offer an astronomy camp a month later and he liked the aviation one better. I'm honestly leaning towards no on this camp. We are homeschooling through a charter school next school year and will have the flexibility to do more activities during the school year he might find just as enriching (fencing, horseback riding, archery).
I also don't think he'd show a bad attitude ... but I can't stand apathy and he does tend in that direction.
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shawallapea
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Jun 28, 2014 21:28:33 GMT
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Post by shawallapea on May 2, 2016 20:48:41 GMT
In the past I've scheduled very little over the summer mostly because I did not have the time or money to make a different choice. This year I have a little more of both and want to maximize. I agree that they definitely need down time. Life gets busy quick and never stops once it does.
He and I are having dinner out together tonight so we'll have another quick discussion and if he's not feeling it we're not doing it :-)
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Post by leannec on May 2, 2016 20:57:53 GMT
It sounds like you have a bunch of other great activities planned this summer ... I'd forget about the aviation camp if he isn't completely on board ... I think some downtime to play video games is OK for a bit of time too  |
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Post by maryland on May 2, 2016 21:19:42 GMT
To me, that is a lot of money! So I wouldn't have him to it unless he really wanted to and I could afford it. It sounds like you have a lot of fun things planned for summer, so it's okay to not be busy all the time.
Our high school has an aviation class and the kids love it! My daughters best friend got her pilot's license last year at 18. She is a college student but has also joined the air force because she would love to be a pilot in the military! All because of the aviation class.
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shawallapea
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Posts: 108
Jun 28, 2014 21:28:33 GMT
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Post by shawallapea on May 2, 2016 21:27:23 GMT
Maryland ... great point. This aviation camp isn't offered every year however, he's at the bottom of the age group so we'd probably have other opportunities!
I was so close to my pilot's license but was also in college and had to make a choice on where to spend my hours studying lol.
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breetheflea
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Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on May 2, 2016 21:28:12 GMT
My kids are younger (oldest is 11) but they get one camp. vacation bible school, and two camping trips this summer. Then again I have 4 kids and I it's my vacation too, not carpool kids all over town time  |
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amom23
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Post by amom23 on May 2, 2016 23:48:00 GMT
Does he play any sports? My kids don't play summer baseball anymore, but they do attend a couple basketball camps.
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shawallapea
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Jun 28, 2014 21:28:33 GMT
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Post by shawallapea on May 3, 2016 0:10:15 GMT
Hey played football last year, will try out this year but since we're homeschooling through a district charter school there is no guarantee he'd get a spot. He will be enrolling in something athletic no matter what during the school year. And I too don't want to run around all over the place ;-)
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