Handout 9: Sticky Situations
Instructions: Read the three stories. Then answer the questions on the discussion sheet for one or more stories.
Story A: The Perez Family Outing
Rosa promised her two children a special outing at the end of the month. Every one has been looking forward to it. Rosa has saved $25 for it. Juan (age 10) put in $3 he earned for feeding his neighbor's cat. Maria (age 4) put in 50 cents she earned by taking soda cans back to the store.
Everyone has his or her own idea for how to spend the money. Rosa would like to go to the park where they could rent bikes for the afternoon, have a picnic, and get ice cream. She feels that they do not get enough exercise, so this is a good way to do something healthy and fun.
Juan really wants to see the new movie that is at the local theater. His friends have seen it and he is feeling left out. The movie is rated PG-1 3. Rosa does not want Maria to see the violence she knows is in the movie. She does know how important the movie is to Juan.
Maria wants nothing more than to go to the fast food restaurant where they are giving away a toy with the purchase of a special meal. She really wants that toy. She believes everyone in the family would love to have the toy as much as she would.
Story B: The Smith Family
The Smith family has been busy all summer. Ms. Smith has worked long hours attending a job training program. Jake (age 8) and Michael (age 4) have been going back and forth between daycare and Grandma's. Ms. Smith knew this would be a stressful time for the family and she promised that, at the end of the summer, they could have a special family outing. She has been putting aside any extra money she could for this. She has saved $50.
A friend from the training program likes to camp and has invited the Smiths to come along for a weekend. Mrs. Smith remembers camping as a child and would love to introduce the boys to it. Besides, she really needs to get away and have some peace and quiet before the school year begins. The special outing fund will be enough for the trip. She has her heart set on going, and her friend's family will help with the boys.
The fair is coming to town. The Smiths could not go last year because of the cost. Jake has been dreaming about the rides and the special treats. Michael, who wants to be just like his big brother, is also set to go to the fair. Many of their friends are going (or at least talking about it). Both boys want their special outing to be a night at the fair.
Jake insists that camping would be boring and he does not want-to go. He knows he will hate it. Michael says he is afraid of wild animals.
Watching two kids at a crowded fair is not something Ms. Smith wants to do. She is tired of crowds and noise. Besides, she thinks that $50 for three people will not go far at a fair. She does not want to be in the position of saying no again.
Story C: Lunch with the Johnsons
Rodney is a single parent with two children, Yolanda (age 4) and Nickie (age 2). His mother lives with them and takes care of the girls when he works and goes to his training course. Yolanda is a very picky eater. Grammy gives her what ever she will eat because she believes it is important that the child eat. Grammy also feels that it is wrong to waste food. Rodney has learned about nutrition from a parenting education course and from the family service worker. He wants his children to eat foods that are good for them so they can grow strong and healthy.
Yesterday, Yolanda ate marshmallow fluff on toast and chocolate cookies for lunch and again for dinner. She drank only orange soda. When Rodney pre pared a healthy meal, Yolanda refused to eat it. Her little sister is beginning to follow her example.
Rodney is tempted to give in to his daughter's desires. He wonders if his mother is right when she says eating anything is better than not eating. However, he knows that his children need to be eating better.
Grammy is insulted that Rodney thinks he knows better than she does. She went hungry many times as a young child. She does not want her grandchildren going through that.
Yolanda likes sweet food and thinks milk tastes yucky. She cannot understand why her father is making such a big deal about food all of a sudden.
Discussion Sheet
- What decision needs to be made?
Story A-
Story B-
Story C-
- Who should make this decision, the parent or the family as a group? Why?
Story A-
Story B-
Story C-
- What do we already know about this problem? What cannot be changed?
Story A-
Story B-
Story C-
- 4. Pick one story and come up with some solutions.
Story A B C (circle one)
List all the possible solutions you can think of and then fill in the pros and cons.Pros
List why the parent or other family members might like this solution.Cons
List why the parent or other family members might not like this solution.
Use another piece of paper if you need more room 5. Put a check mark (X) next to the solution you think is best. What should happen or change if this is a good decision?
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