nytraveler,, your 14 yr old daughter obviously has a lot more spending money then many others, shopping for up to the minute fashions is not on every kids list,, simply can't afford it, my daughter is thrilled out of her mind to finally afford one pair of Guess jeans on a sale,, when she was 14 she didn't work,, and so had to earn her spending money slowly, babysitting and extra chores, certainly not in the same league as a 14 yr old who pours over french fashion magazines to be "fashionably ahead of their schoolmates"LOL

Many kids would love a bike tour, its not all shopping and make up , boys and credit cards paid by parents.So yes ,, your daughter is different then mine, and many other average type middle of the road folks, who work long and hard to take kids to europe . I do think its lovely your daughter was able to go to the ballet,thats sounds wonderful. I bet she has been exposed to the ballet at home, my kid has only ever seen in on tv.. we do not have the same access that you might to fine performances. Everyone is different.. but I still do not get how a 14 yr old can afford the latest french fashions!?

They could afford the teen version of latest French fashions - not real designers (although some of their schoolmates had that we didn't think it appropriate) by saving some of the money from birthday, christmas etc gifts. They also got a resonable clothing allowance and were the only two grandkids of one gramma - so she was always giving them extras.

And yes, living in NYC they were used to the ballet etc. Nothing to do with income though - just what you value. My parents (who had VERY modest means) took me to see Nutcracker from the time I was small. (Some people like that better than the Rockettes.)

And a lot does depend on the kid, their intersts, talents etc. Mine both took French since early years, one was a history nut - and memorized the story of the Lady and Unicorn tapestry at the Cluny. But she ws fascianted with wall history from that era - troubadors and fine ladies and knights errant.

nytraveler,,ballet most certainly has a lot to do with income in for some of us who live in less metropolitan areas, I live on a island, no ballet here,( well there are saturday morning classes at the rec centers for tots, my daughter loved the "Butterflies and Unicorns Dance class she took when 5, lol ) , its a total 3 hour drive and 1.5 hours on a boat for that,so also an overnight in a hotel , and thats not free or even cheap. LOL You are lucky where you live you can see or do almost anything ! ( plays, museums, ballet and operas!)