Limo for last day of Middle School

It's not something I'd do, but as long as they're not blocking off the school from other vehicles, I don't really think that how someone else chooses to spend their money is my business.

I don't understand why people do it for prom; a high school dance.

They had to ban parents from getting limos last day at the middle school my kids went to because there started to be so many it created traffic flow issues. This ban started when my oldest was there (and she is 30!). I used to joke with other parents if they are having all these special experiences this young the only things left for high school will be drugs and sex! I think they did allow them when the school arranged rides as prizes for fundraisers or rewards for behavior or academic performance.
I know parents/grandparents mean well by trying to create a special experience, but personally I think it is unnecessary to do it in front of your peers at this age. It could (and should) have the same impact if the limo was waiting for them at home. If not I would question doing it at all I am sure there will be pics on social media to make up for it...

This happened to me years ago and the mom refused to move the vehicle because her son was leaving the elementary school for good.  She blocked the cars in that were trying to leave the parking lot so I am a bit jaded on the subject.  This particular mom was a pain in the ass, so I am slightly judging.  I personally never made a big deal about my kids events at school (other than graduation), so it just seems over the top to me, but yes, it really isn't any of my business.

Maybe the kid really wanted to ride in a limo.      My uncle owned a limo rental company when I was a young, and I thought it was absolutely awesome to get to ride in that thing.

Going out to lunch is something people do all of the time.  The limo is something special.  Life is full of a lot of the same old thing day after day.  Why not go for a limo ride one day? 

In kitten heels, of course!

I agree. I work in school districts with some pretty sharp income disparities (or even just pretty sharp differences in parenting styles) and I think it's better to base this kind of stuff somewhere other than the school. 

[Yeah, yeah, I know this could send the thread lurching into a whole other direction. No, I'm not an over-protector of hyper-sensitive kids; I just think it's not wise to highlight these family have/have not (or even choose/choose not) situations on school grounds.] 

A few weeks ago there was a thread where most were outraged that a school was having something they called a "Father/Daughter" dance, even though they made it clear that everyone was able to attend.  They felt that calling it this name might make some kids feel bad, and it would have been easy and kind and call it something else. 

I responded on that thread that I didn't have the kind of father who would take me to a Father/Daughter dance, but I am pretty sure I wouldn't have thought twice about it unless all the adults around me started losing their shit and making me think about how unfair it all was. 

But THIS is the kind of thing that would have been like a punch in the gut to me as a kid.  Watching some lucky little bastards drive off in a limo and realizing that a.) my parents would never have the kind of money to do that; and b.) that even they did, it would NEVER occur to them to spend it on something like that - they weren't about creating special moments.

So I am not suggesting that people shouldn't do things like this for their kids - I'm just pointing out how impossible it is to go through life expecting it to be fair to everyone.  It just isn't.  

the difference to me is that the school isn't sponsoring limo rides for rich kids, the parents are sponsoring their own limo rides for their kids and I don't see the hypocrisy in calling a dance that's open to everyone something other than father daughter dance but still thinking it sounds fun to get picked up from school in a limo. I grew up poor as dirt and to this day we are still just middle class and no one in our family is getting picked up in a limo anywhere anytime soon this is not how we live and my kids know that. Do they want what the other kids have sometimes of course especially their classmates with four wheelers and horse farms and sometimes it is a punch in the gut to them too like when a classmate gets a car and my kids had to buy their own (we help but they have to work). Life isn't fair and we all know that, I just think the big difference is you can't control what other parents do but the school could be better at making official events more inclusive. I don't expect every kid to invite everyone to every birthday party but I do sort of expect the school to include every kid in special things done at school.

Comparison is the thief of joy.

Who knows why the limo was there, but it sounds fun! I rode in limos for prom, and guess what? It's still special and fun if I ride in one now!

That is great.
I have to tell you my funny limo story:

When my son was in kindergarten, a boy there was going to have a birthday party. They wanted to give the boys a ride in a limo to restaurant and to whatever else they were going to do. I thought, great. They have the money, it will be fun for son, go ahead.

When we went to go pick up son, the mom of the birthday boy comes running out of the house. She is mortified, apologetic and embarrassed. She just starts rambling and at first I don't really understand what she is saying. But in a nutshell, the Dad was in charge, she had an emergency and couldn't be there. SO, the dad takes them for a ride, they headed to the city to drive around. The ended up at the Safe House. Sounds cools as a kid, you need a password to get in. BUT IT'S A BAR!
This dad took these 5 5 and 6 year old boys to a BAR!! I thought I would die laughing. My son was so proud of his glass he got to keep from the bar. LOL I mean, I was at that bar when I turned 21! That mom was so embarrassed. I told her don't worry about it, it was fine. No big deal in my book, but can't imagine what other parents would think of this.

You got to be kidding me?  A limo?  I am SO not that type of parent.  Even if I had that kind of money to blow it wouldn't happen.  Geez.  

I am also not that parent who has to bring their daughter flowers for every little thing she does either.  Or balloons, or whatever.  When I was working at the school it amazed me that the stuff parents or even grandparents would bring in for their kiddos.  (I do bring cupcakes in for her birthday, so I am not that terrible...haha...now sidewalk cupcakes, that wouldn't be beneath me although it's never happened..haha)

After reading the responses...I sorta agree with some different scenarios... I still wouldn't be renting a limo... but yeah I guess if others do it, so be it.  We have seen the fundraiser thing and limo rides at school, of course, we are that group that doesn't go out and sell a ton of crap to ride in a limo.. and it's always the same kids that do, every year.  I just shrug it off.  We don't have tons of family to sell stuff to and she isn't going door to door either... so we avoid the whole thing. Anyways... to the kids who get to have a limo ride.. have fun!!

My only limo ride so far has been on my wedding day... I hardly remember it!! hahaha.. but it was fun.

I totally back the district on turning people away in that situation.  The school stated a rule, created for a very practical reason, and the parents/guardians/relatives/whatever tried to ignore the rule.   Not cool, people. 

Our middle school pick-up area is a mess.   A limo driver would probably take one look at it and refuse to attempt it until everyone else had cleared out.  A parent would almost assuredly either have to arrange for their child to leave early, or settle for picking their child up dead last in order to make it work.