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I posted an online ad stating that I was looking to organize a carpool for day trips to ski resorts. The ad was targeted at university students and other adults. I mentioned the transportation cost but added that in case others are already part of a travel group, I could join them and pay their driver for the gas.
I've received a few replies but to my surprise, one parent contacted me with the following message:
---I have three children who are interested in skiing. I wonder if you guys go ski, we can go at the same time, so they have someone to go on the mountains together. Since I am the very beginner, I can't go to mountains with them. We only have two empty seat, if you can't find a carpool, we can give you a free ride.---
Hmm, now my first thought is how interesting...a free ride in exchange for watching their kids. However I'm apprehensive about the fact that
a) I'm not a certified ski instructor and don't have recent babysitting experience
b) What if a child gets hurt? That's certainly a possibility with skiing...they could hit their head on the ice, run into a tree, etc. There's a liability issue here.
What would you do? Decline because of points a and b, or reply that it sounds interesting and let's discuss the terms further. For example, it would be fairer if the parents pays for my transportation+lift ticket, seeing as I will be limited to stay with the kids. When I ran this scenario by a friend, she suggested I draw up a liability waiver and have both of us sign it, just in case there is an accident and they try to (God forbid) sue me.
If you did engage them in a dialogue about the arrangement, which questions would you ask? I suppose stuff like their ages, skiing/snowboarding ability and if there would be another adult present would be useful to know.
Well, it depends, do you have to stay with the kids all day? Are you responsible for them? Do you have to do every run with them, and ride the lift with them? What if they are better than you? When I went skiing with my kids, it was sort of like, we would start the day together, the boys would leave, my daughter and I would stay together, but we would see the boys occasionally on runs, and at the lift lines, we would meet for lunch, and separate again. Then, usually meet for the last few runs of the day...it depends on how big the resort is that you plan on going to is as well...and of course, you don't need to sign a liability waiver, because you should not be responsible for them at all...hanging out is one thing...you can't supervise kids on a ski slope, and be repsonsible for everything they might do, or accident that may happen, the parent has to accept that responsibility. I would take the free ride, and hang out with the kids for a few runs, but not accept having to hang with them all day long. It is not worth it, and would not even be worth going even for the free ride and lift ticket, unelss you really want to be with the kids ALL DAY LONG, EVERY RUN, EVERY LIFT...that can be very tedious, I have done that, as a Mom, and it drove me crazy...even with kids that are good skiers...I wanted to just have my own time...and I gave birth to them....so, for my own sanity, I put them in ski school for part of the day. I would not do it with my own kids, let alone kids that are not even mine.
What's weird is her children are beginners and she's a beginner, but she thinks her children can go on the mountain and she can't. Strange. I'd look for a different ride. Period.
Sounds a little odd to me, but maybe she thought you had kids too, as carpooling often refers to school runs, and her English doesn't seem to be very good?
I'd reply and find out more, such as how old the kids are, how good they are at skiing, and what exactly she wants you to do.
Hi jasper12, interesting feedback. Definitely sounds like you know all about what happens with a day of skiing with the kids.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jasper12
It is not worth it, and would not even be worth going even for the free ride and lift ticket, unelss you really want to be with the kids ALL DAY LONG, EVERY RUN, EVERY LIFT...that can be very tedious, I have done that, as a Mom, and it drove me crazy...even with kids that are good skiers...I wanted to just have my own time...and I gave birth to them....so, for my own sanity, I put them in ski school for part of the day. I would not do it with my own kids, let alone kids that are not even mine.
Makes sense. Being with the 3 of them all day sounds like quite the workout.
My guess is that the parent doesn't want to spend money on ski school (I imagine it's a lot for a 1/2 day of group lessons for the 3 of them, and they are looking to save big time. In that sense, offering only a ride, with me having to pay for the lift ticket AND being obligated to stay with them all day sounds pretty taxing. However, if the pay for the lift ticket+ride and I am only responsible for 1/2 day with them, plus 1/2 a day to go on my own, that could be more interesting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hopes
What's weird is her children are beginners and she's a beginner, but she thinks her children can go on the mountain and she can't. Strange.
Not sure where you got the info that her children are beginners, in fact that detail is unknown.
To repeat what the parent wrote:
Quote:
Since I am the very beginner, I can't go to mountains with them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Penguin_ie
I'd reply and find out more, such as how old the kids are, how good they are at skiing, and what exactly she wants you to do.
That's something I can do, as more details are needed to make a decision. I'm leaning towards declining the "offer", but would like to keep an open mind so brainstorming questions to ask would be helpful at this point.
How much is a free ride worth? Not the cost of being responsible for 3 kids all day. No way.
I agree Stick with the plan to find some university students and people you can have fun with. Being responsible for three children in exchange for a "free ride" sound like a major hassle to me. Add in a Mom, who also has no experience on the slopes. Doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun to me.
However, if the pay for the lift ticket+ride and I am only responsible for 1/2 day with them, plus 1/2 a day to go on my own, that could be more interesting.
And what happens with the kids the other half of the day? How old are they?
You're crazy to take on the responsibility of a stranger's children on a ski slope. If all you are looking for is a ride up so you can have fun skiing, why in the world would you even consider spending a day with 3 kids?
My 17 year old worked on at a ski hill for 2 years in a ski school. Even HE wouldn't consider that offer.
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