parents with bad kids

[hippieP]

We are planning a trip next weekend and our youngest just managed to get herself grounded for a week. As the past month has gone, its possible she will be grounded again before the week is up for something else. Has anyone had a kid who was grounded right before a trip out? How do you handle it, are they only kind of grounded during the trip?

[Lamebeaver]

I'd say the grounding is put on hold during the trip, and starts back up when you return.

Being a parent is a thankless job sometime. Sounds like your doing things right.

[ChadTower]

I wouldn't have grounded my son knowing there is a conflicting trip coming up. I'd have to come up with an alternative to grounding because if I ground my kids they stay grounded. I'd have to cancel the trip to ensure that happens.

I have cancelled daytrips in the past when one of my kids was being totally out of line. I have also removed the kid from the trip and stayed home with him myself while everyone else went. Yeah, it's tough, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

[Grandpa]

Tough call Hippie but consistency is the key. If you have been rigid, you must maintain like Chad said, even though it is tough and may cancel family plans. If you can put in a deferrment then go with LB's advice. But punishment must be consistent.

[ChadTower]

Yeah. If they learn that you will lift punishments because of a trip then they'll act up every time you are leading up to a trip.

[Pathfinder1]

Ankle weights...!!

[carmen]

I am not sure what I would do either, I could understand canceling a trip if its a day trip but what if its a weekend or an entire week? I never remember having any punishment lifted except for the brief time a family member was in the hospital and once we got home it was grounded land again.

[ponderosa]

I think it is critical to follow through with the consequences, and also feel that the rest of the family shouldn't be made to suffer because of one child's bad behavior. So...I'd think of something other than grounding. Take their techno gadgets away for two weeks, assign extra chores, etc. There must be something she cares about that you could take away. My sister-in-law threatened to remove my nephew from the school basketball team. He knew she absolutely meant it, and the behavior came quickly into line.

[CozInCowtown]

I am with above, consistancy is the key.
Being grounded is bad enough, everybody being hacked off at you for killing a family trip because you want to be a retard....priceless!!
On the other hand, going on a camping trip and setting in the car all weekend while everybody has fun....

[Mary Beth]

Is there a relative the kid could stay with, while the family goes on the trip? The punishment should not be dropped, but you might have to get creative with punishment, when it gets close to trip time.