What would You do?

[barrett21]

What is the name of your state?TN

This really is not a big deal I'm just wondering what you would do? My husband picked his son up lastnight. When we got in the Jeep his son handed us a letter and it says Daddy and Granny $52.00 for a book fair my total is $104.00 but mom will pay half. My question is isn't that quite a bit for a book fair or no? I know it's not worth a big fight over it's just the mom should have asked or showed my husband something or just said something about it instead of having the child to do it. Or am I wrong about all of this? My question is would anyone here pay that much or say $20.00 is enough and be done with it? Thanks!

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state?TN

This really is not a big deal I'm just wondering what you would do? My husband picked his son up lastnight. When we got in the Jeep his son handed us a letter and it says Daddy and Granny $52.00 for a book fair my total is $104.00 but mom will pay half. My question is isn't that quite a bit for a book fair or no? I know it's not worth a big fight over it's just the mom should have asked or showed my husband something or just said something about it instead of having the child to do it. Or am I wrong about all of this? My question is would anyone here pay that much or say $20.00 is enough and be done with it? Thanks!

Well, I would pay it simply because I believe that reading books is incredibly important for kids....therefore I would be enthusiastic about it and want my child to see the enthusiam.

However, at the same time, I would also tell mom that I wouldn't do something like that again. That in the future, if she wants dad to pay half, then she has to discuss it in advance with dad and agree on a budget.

 

[Susan MacLove]

Does seem to me like a lot for books but I am pretty cheap. However, it is for books, and the letter was for Daddy and Granny not step Mommy . Makes you seem mean to question it. Maybe you feel like it is money coming out of your household but my personal advice would be to MYOB and keep out of it. If Dad and Granny have their own money let them decide how they feel about it. And try not to be resentful about it and be happy and thankful for what you have.

 

[stealth2]

I've spent that amount of money at a school book fair, for the same reason as LDi stated. But is there anything in their order requiring Dad to foot half the bill?

 

[barrett21]

No

Well the letter does say Daddy and Granny but Daddy has no income I pay all of our bills his child support the gas to go pick and drop off the child the childs clothes, toys all of that until his Daddy can get better on his feet from an auto accident. There is nothing that states he has to pay half of anything and it's not that it's a big problem it's just the way she done it. She had the six year old to write it on paper himself and he told us that she told him he had to beg for it not her. I wouldn't even butt in but the child give me the letter and if it is paid it will be my me it's just I think she should have been more assertive and at least showed us something about a book fair. I thought maybe just $20.00 dollars I mean she is saying she is going to pay $52.00 so that would be $72.00 for books but maybe we can just suck it up this time I told my husband to tell her that she should ask for now on and not put the child in the middle but maybe I am wrong.

 

[haiku]

Does seem to me like a lot for books but I am pretty cheap. However, it is for books, and the letter was for Daddy and Granny not step Mommy . Makes you seem mean to question it. Maybe you feel like it is money coming out of your household but my personal advice would be to MYOB and keep out of it. If Dad and Granny have their own money let them decide how they feel about it. And try not to be resentful about it and be happy and thankful for what you have.

 

[haiku]

Well the letter does say Daddy and Granny but Daddy has no income I pay all of our bills his child support the gas to go pick and drop off the child the childs clothes, toys all of that until his Daddy can get better on his feet from an auto accident. There is nothing that states he has to pay half of anything and it's not that it's a big problem it's just the way she done it. She had the six year old to write it on paper himself and he told us that she told him he had to beg for it not her. I wouldn't even butt in but the child give me the letter and if it is paid it will be my me it's just I think she should have been more assertive and at least showed us something about a book fair. I thought maybe just $20.00 dollars I mean she is saying she is going to pay $52.00 so that would be $72.00 for books but maybe we can just suck it up this time I told my husband to tell her that she should ask for now on and not put the child in the middle but maybe I am wrong.

I am a 'book nut" and spend probably 20 bucks a month during the school year on scholastic books. but of course I get the "joy" of looking through the catalog with my kiddo and help her pick stuff out, and get to decide how much my budget can handle.

I too would be irked to get a bill for 52.00 bucks handed to me by the sweet pleading eyes of a child LOL.

I would suggest to my husband that he tell mommy that he would love to have a heads up about the bookfair next time so maybe he and Jr. can go together and pick out thier own books, or if book fair is to far for an evening visit, he can forward a check for juniors shopping enjoyment.

 

[barrett21]

ThankYou

Okay then so as I thought it wouldn't be out of line for my husband to say something to her about the way this was handled. I mean she did not even say a word to my husband about it just taped a note to the child for my husband that is crazy. He has not seen nothing about it to even know if it is true and when we ask the child what he picked he says yu-gi-oh and Lego's Bionicle or something like that. The school is in another state his son says the book fair is Monday that's when he gets to get his books. I guess this time I will pay for it but tell my husband to tell her next time this needs to be handled differently. I told him to call her today and tell her tommorow when she comes to pick the child up to let him see the book fair catalouge to see what Jordyn has picked out. Thanks for all of the advice You have given me.

 

[casa]

What is the name of your state?TN

This really is not a big deal I'm just wondering what you would do? My husband picked his son up lastnight. When we got in the Jeep his son handed us a letter and it says Daddy and Granny $52.00 for a book fair my total is $104.00 but mom will pay half. My question is isn't that quite a bit for a book fair or no? I know it's not worth a big fight over it's just the mom should have asked or showed my husband something or just said something about it instead of having the child to do it. Or am I wrong about all of this? My question is would anyone here pay that much or say $20.00 is enough and be done with it? Thanks!

Book Fairs kill me! Both my children are readers, and each year it's about going over what books they want, how much they cost, narrowing it down to whatever amount for each kid.

I think you should have given the note to Dad and if he wanted to bring it up to you- he would.

Dad can ask Mom to let him know next time there is a book fair and they can agree on what each of them will spend.

 

[stealth2]

Be aware though that not all of the books are in the flyers. I usually give my kids $20 for when they go with their class (and that's considered rather extravagant), and they generally each come home with a couple of books for themselves (their choice), something like a pencil or poster and always something for the other sibling (usually a book). Then we go to the family night of the fair, and I have total veto power over the choice. So when they go with their class, they'll pick up something that I know I won't allow when I take them (YuGiOh, comics, etc). I'm lucky if I come out spending < $100, but it IS a school fundraiser and the books are decent.

 

[barrett21]

I did

I did give Dad the note and he hands it to me and says Do You want to pay for this? I told him it was not up to me it was up to him but were I pay for everything He always tries to leave it up to me. I am just going to pay it I just wish He would say something to her I don't want it to become a habit for her to do this for stuff. I think books are great also my 2 year old has many I'm not against it it's just after all that's happened she makes me weary if she's telling the truth or not. Thanks agian.

 

[casa]

I did give Dad the note and he hands it to me and says Do You want to pay for this? I told him it was not up to me it was up to him but were I pay for everything He always tries to leave it up to me. I am just going to pay it I just wish He would say something to her I don't want it to become a habit for her to do this for stuff. I think books are great also my 2 year old has many I'm not against it it's just after all that's happened she makes me weary if she's telling the truth or not. Thanks agian.

It's reasonable for Dad to ask Mom to show him receipts so he can keep track of his own budget. Let her know that due to Dad's financial situation- your budget is tight.

If it's not in the court order, Dad isn't legally obligated to pay anything- I pay everything 'extra' in my kids' lives But, it's just the right thing to do if you can afford it.

 

[barrett21]

Okay

Well things are real tight for us. We just got out of court with her I had to pay over $5,000 for that in August. But I try my best to treat him like he was my daughter so I would do it for her so I will for him. Would it be stupid if we give it to her in a money order so we can keep track of it because I know she will not give him a reciept she won't even speak or get out of her car when we exchange.

 

[casa]

Well things are real tight for us. We just got out of court with her I had to pay over $5,000 for that in August. But I try my best to treat him like he was my daughter so I would do it for her so I will for him. Would it be stupid if we give it to her in a money order so we can keep track of it because I know she will not give him a reciept she won't even speak or get out of her car when we exchange.

I think that would be smart. Even better would be write a check and in the memo area write: "Jordyn's bookfair"

 

[barrett21]

Will do

Okay will do. Thanks alot for all the advice on this I know it was petty compared to most things that could happen, but this is how the big stuff starts with something small like this. Just wanted to make sure my husband done the right thing. Have a nice day. Thanks!