I am now looking over the kids' activities. We have trimmed many of the classes, and now the kids get to choose one. This has proven difficult for Sarah. The one ballet class she wants to take with the instructor she wants to work with (the only one she wants to work with because 'she's good') is a two-day a week class; therefore the price of two classes. This is on top of a jazz class.
I have mentioned dropping jazz and she gets upset saying she needs it to balance the ballet. I say OK, how about one of the one day a week ballet class with one of the other very good instructors?
An absolute NO.
I try and explain to my eight-year old we are cutting back and taking a few things out to make sure we have money for the really important things like electricity, insurance and groceries.
Her response--fine, I won't eat as much. Just take it out of the grocery money. Or sell my American Girl dolls (yes, she really said this). Problem solved.
Uh, yeah right.
I am not selling her dolls nor I am going to take away her food.
Sarah is my first child to show me a true love for something. This morning she said 'ballet is better than dessert'.
How can I possibly deny her ballet?
I think we can trim the fat from somewhere else. Right?
Posts
10 comments:
Yes, I think we that passion, fat can be trimmed from somewhere! =0)
Oh, you won't like my answer but...
I think this is the perfect opportunity to show her that your principles are really only worth their salt when they are tested and hold up. So, she really has to choose one class over the other. She can always go back to taking more dance classes when the economic situation improves.
I know, it stinks. But it's not like she's deprived! Maybe you could realistically look into selling her American Girl Dolls and find out how much you'd get and then show her how many months of ballet it would buy her. It might help her understand the true stretch of a dollar.
Hmmm that is a tough one... if that is something she really has a passion for and you can manuever other things around a bit... let her take them... as long as the other kids don't catch on...
i agree. if she has such a passion of ballet and jazz...you'll find another creative way to trim.
i would do the same - because you know, she sounds just like my eldest daughter.
i'm not the one to ask... i have trouble trimming the dog's hair because i know she doesn't like it.
good luck, lisa:)
much love,
dani xxxxxx
Oh ballet. I completely understand!
I hear you. Miss Peach desperately wants to take ballet. We have added her preschool expense in for this year (in the city...crazy expensive!) I just can't find the money for classes on top of that. Stoopid economy:(
So, I know she is only 8 but does she has an allowance - could she pay for part of the lessons herself?
Maybe if not, she could earn her way by helping out you. This might help in your other children feeling like this 'additional' class isn't favoritism.
Lisa, this is a tough one. I have a hard time denying such passion for something. Good luck.
that is a hard one.. We have so far managed to cut cost in other ways and still let the kids keep up with there stuff.. Though we did have to bring Princess close to home this year with her softball no playing on the 1st place team 3 hours from home instead she played on a team that hardly ever won so we didn't have to do the cost of hoteling and gas.. though after a summer of loseing most the games we found a team for next year in the middle of the road, not the #1 ranked team 3 hours away, but a good team that will cost a bit more then this year and only an hour away.. though they do plan to travel out of state for one of there tournaments which I'm not sure how we will work that out yet.
My daughter is 25 and my son is 24. They started taking dance at 6 & 7. When their dad left (at 11 & 12) we did without a lot of things, and they willingly gave up everything else in order to keep up with dance. They went from several classes each to two classes each (and one of those classes they had together, so really it was only three classes).
Those dance classes were what was important to them and they made other sacrifices ... and I did too ... to keep the classes. They got so much from those classes besides just 'dancing'. They learned to work hard and to be part of a team, they gained confidence, and poise. They dont dance any more, but they carry those things with them still today.
Ok, all this rambling, just to say - I know where you're coming from and I think it's ok to let her have the extra class.
If it seems to siblings like she's getting "more" than they are, then perhaps she can do some extra chores - even take on a siblings chore - to balance it all out.
If there's any way to make it work - I say, let her dance!
Post a Comment