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The Barclay Ski Vacation

Album: Gold Audio 07: On Thin Ice

Episode: 99

Lesson/Theme: Family relations and togetherness.

Bible Verse: Luke 1:17b

Characters: Donna, George, Jimmy, Mary

Writer:

Sound Designer: Bob Luttrell

Original Air Date: December 30, 1989

Last Air Date: May 19, 2008

Description:
It's finally time for the Barclays to take their long-anticipated ski trip! Everyone is excited about it-except, oddly enough, Donna, who desperately wanted to go somewhere, anywhere, last summer. But despite her complaints, the Barclays head for the mountains and the slopes. Once there, George immediately signs the kids up for ski school. The next day, the family has a wonderful time shushing, snow-plowing, paralleling, and traversing. Even Donna. In fact, especially Donna. She seems unusually happy, and George and Mary soon discover why: a good-looking, young ski instructor named Robb. Donna has a crush on him, and George is beside himself about it. That night, he tells Mary that he's concerned about their daughter. Mary tries to downplay the whole situation, but George goes off the deep end and tries to come up with ways to prevent Donna from seeing Robb again. Finally, George settles on a brilliant and cunning plan: Tomorrow, he'll take Donna out for a little "father/daughter" day. She'll be so wrapped up in having fun with her old man, she'll forget all about Robb. But Donna refuses to go with her dad. She wants to go to her ski class. George decides against making her go on their date and returns to bed, disappointed. George isn't the only disappointed one, though. The next day, Donna discovers that Robb has a girlfriend! Donna skis back to the Barclay cabin, where she finds her dad brooding. They brood together, and after George comforts Donna, he realizes that his little girl is finally growing up.

Questions:
Why do you think it's so hard for parents to see their kids get older? Do you think Donna was foolish to have such a big crush on Robb? Why or why not? How else do parent-child relationships change when the child becomes a teenager?