you make some very good points, but i think that it is a little much to ask someone who is tight on money to go and admit that to his child’s counselor. i would say though that it is important that when a parent comes on visiting day they make a point of talking to the counselor. i try my best not to have to call parents in middle to inform them about they’re child’s behavior. maybe it should be part of the visiting day activities: a parent-counselor meeting, because i don’t think that it is a coincidence that the i have never met the parent of the worst camper each year, even though they come and spend their entire day on camp grounds. also, even if you don’t think your child is a troublemaker, a change of surroundings can affect him. so please, make an effort to talk to your kids counselor (not with your child standing there). we already have a speech prepared and it is probably filled with interesting surprises. and about the tips, i say its all or nothing. either show me you appreciate with a bill that will cover my next off day, or a bag o homemade cookies with a note that says “sorry that they are a little burnt” (even if they aren’t). but when you hand me a 5 dollar bill and a curt thank you, that tells me that you don’t care at all and i would rather nothing.

the way i see it, is that if you set your standards really low, then you’ll be happy with whatever you get and live a long happy life.