Picture this: your 15-year-old daughter, Ella, works her butt off babysitting and saving money to pay for half of her expensive band trip to Orlando. You’re proud of her hard work and dedication, but then you find out she’s been bullying a girl in her grade who has a mental illness . Now, you’re faced with the dilemma of whether or not to let her go on the trip she worked so hard for. What would you do?
Daughter’s Expensive Band Trip: The Challenge
Ella’s Ambition: Paying Her Way
Hard Work Pays Off: Babysitting for Bucks
Family Support: Generous Contributions
Success! Trip Money Secured
Parental Disappointment: Bullying Shocker
Ella’s Excuse: A Test Score Grudge
School’s Response: A Slap on the Wrist?
The Dilemma: To Orlando or Not?
Ella’s Hard Work vs. Consequences ♀️
Limited Punishment Options
The Trip as a Lesson?
Understanding the Argument, but…
The Ultimate Question: WIBTA?
Punishment or Reward: The Orlando Trip Dilemma
Ella, a 15-year-old high schooler, worked hard to pay for half of her expensive band trip to Orlando by babysitting her siblings and receiving help from family members. Her parents were proud of her efforts, but their pride turned to shock when they discovered she had been bullying a girl in her grade with a mental illness . The school suspended Ella, but her mom feels it’s not enough and contemplates not allowing her to go on the trip as a form of punishment. However, her husband and a friend disagree, arguing that Ella worked for the money and should be allowed to go. The mom is torn, wanting to teach her daughter a lesson but also understanding the opposing argument. Let’s see what the internet thinks of this situation…
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Teaching consequences: NTA cancels dream trip after emotional abuse
Fair punishment for bullying and losing trust, good parenting
NTA commenter emphasizes severity of bullying and its consequences.
Parent suggests chaperoning daughter on school trip to teach her accountability NTA
Suggests discussing with school; valuable lesson for daughter. NTA
NTA but more action needed: teaching empathy and volunteering suggested.
Punishing a bully by breaking a promise won’t correct behavior
Consider Ella’s perspective before punishing her for suspected bullying
Counseling may be more effective than punishment
A thoughtful approach to punishing a bully
Parenting advice: Use the trip as leverage for communication
Parent paying daughter $22/hr to babysit: Setting unrealistic expectations?
Canceling trip won’t stop bullying, therapy may help. ESH
Punishment decision is personal, NTA acknowledges in supportive comment.
Creative punishment idea: chaperone daughter’s trip to prevent bullying
Context and perspective needed before labeling behavior as bullying.
Canceling dream trip as a punishment? NTA parents spark debate
Parent seeks advice on punishing bullying daughter, considers cancelling trip
NTA suggests strong punishment and therapy for daughter’s bullying behavior.
User suggests holding back on giving daughter earned money
NTA. Daughter’s privilege and bullying behavior should have consequences.
Paying $22-25 an hour for babysitting sets unrealistic expectations
Engaging comment questioning daughter’s work ethic and financial situation.
Parent praises another parent for holding their child accountable for bullying
Canceling dream trip and therapy for daughter after bullying incident
Canceling dream trip for bully daughter? NTA approves
NTA votes encourage teaching daughter character & educating on bullying
Balancing consequences with support and understanding for daughter’s behavior
Therapy and community service to teach daughter bullying is wrong
Teaching a lesson: Canceling dream trip for bad behavior
Toxicity on a team sport can ruin the trip for everyone
Punishment may not fix bullying. Education and empathy are key
Personal experience highlights potential long-term effects of punishment.
Critique of parent’s over-rewarding and over-paying daughter’s simple task
Parent criticized for paying daughter too much, canceling trip plan
Bully daughter loses dream trip after causing consequences
User suggests finding root cause of daughter’s behavior and apologizing.
School policy bars students with disciplinary issues from trips.
NTA stands up for daughter, husband disagrees. Canceling trip unfair.
Prioritize therapy over Orlando trip to address daughter’s behavior
Letting the victim decide? A fair punishment.
Bully daughter doesn’t deserve dream trip with her victim
Cancelling the dream trip may cause irreparable damage
Consequences for bullying: Canceling dream trip fair or harsh?
Bullying must be stopped, and consequences are necessary. NTA.
Teaching a lesson with a shirt. Clever and fair punishment.
Bullying may be a symptom of underlying issues. NTA, but be cautious ⚠️
Support for a parent considering consequences for their daughter’s bullying
Praising OP for sound logic and reasonable punishment
Mom considers punishing daughter for bullying, comment supports her decision. NTA
User suggests punishment should be related to the offense.
Parent proposes a chance for redemption and empathy-building punishment.
School should have taken action, not just the mother.
Canceling daughter’s dream trip: Unintended consequences for the band?
NTA. Parenting is about guiding, correcting, and dismantling ableist ideas
Cancel the trip, keep the cash: a fair punishment?
Empathy for the daughter, but punishment won’t solve the issue ♂️ Instead, therapy and volunteering can help.
Empathetic commenter shares personal experience and condemns cruel behavior.
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Daughter needs a reality check, cancelling trip is fair punishment
Zero tolerance for bullying. NTA suggests cancelling daughter’s dream trip.
Impact of bullying on long-term mental health explained
Punishment should serve two goals: prevent repetition and realize consequences
User calls out daughter for bullying, warns of consequences.
Address the root issue, not just the trip.
Teaching empathy: suggest daughter pays for victim’s trip or volunteers.
Teaching accountability: Mom considers cancelling daughter’s dream trip
Supportive comment advises checking school consequences for cancelling trip.
Teaching consequences early on is good parenting
Parenting done right: Addressing insecurities with tough love
Bullying has serious consequences. NTA parent sets boundaries and consequences.
Mom takes matters into her own hands in school bullying
Agreeing with punishment for daughter’s bullying, suggesting therapy for empathy.
Canceling dream trip is fair punishment for bullying behavior
NTA parent shares alarming suicide statistics and offers advice on consequences.
Trust broken: Daughter’s behavior jeopardizes dream trip
Confronting bullying while avoiding creating resentment in daughter.
Parent advises punishment for daughter’s bullying behavior. NTA.
Punishment ideas escalate quickly, but was pay rate fair?
Canceling the trip won’t fix the problem. Therapy might.
Did the daughter really pay for the trip or not?
Canceling the trip won’t fix the bullying. Counseling needed
NTA mom considers canceling daughter’s dream trip after bullying incident
Expert in child behavior suggests punishment for bullying incident.
Canceling dream trip for bully daughter: fair or too harsh?
Teaching consequences: NTA mom cancels daughter’s dream trip
Canceling the dream trip may hold the bully accountable
Punishing daughter for bullying is fair, empathy is important
Holding kids accountable for their actions is important
Collaborate with your spouse and consider other punishments. Educate instead.
Retired school counselor advises mom to cancel daughter’s dream trip
