Sh, it's a secret..

I have a secret. Promise not to tell?

I keep looking over my shoulder since I don't want anyone to know. Wait, let me look over yours...Okay, we're clear. Here it is.

I'm looking at other daycares.

(Pause)

Oh, that felt so good! To get that off my back. Whew. Okay, let me untense and unclench here...Done.

Surprisingly, we like Sprite's daycare. A lot. With the exception of some issues here and there, it really is a great place. Plus, they give out free sand! (They just don't tell you they do, but every day, just before she goes home, they slip about a tablespoon worth of playground sand into each of Sprite's shoes. It's a wonderful discovery when you're taking off her sneakers at home, in her room, on the carpet.. Where's my vaccuum?)

I know I complain about Sprite's daycare from time to time, but the problems are really only to do with the common things you see at every daycare. Show me a daycare center that has no biters and I will then want to see proof that the kids have teeth.

So, if we like her daycare so much, why are we looking? The problem is the expense. The "Oh My Flipping Freak Out, would you look at that" bill! Let me give you a breakdown without going into too much detail, like social security numbers and what not. When Sprite started her daycare experience, she was 3 months old. She was in the infant room which cost $200.00. A week. If that's not a lot to you, then you must live somewhere urban and chic and aren't you just a badass? If that is a lot to you, then you may live somewhere a little more rural where cows and horses are completely acceptable modes of city transportation. (Your kids must have learned their farm animal sounds way before my tike did and can probably name which parts of the cow go into what cuts of meat. And I am impressed. Really!) If the amount is exactly what you pay, then I know who you are, and please keep your damn cats off my property. My dogs are going nuts here!

All right, now that we've filtered you into your categories (I love organization, I even categorize my readers!), I'll break it down one more time and tell you that when Sprite joined the upright society, they moved her to the one year old room. This dropped our weekly tuition by thirty whole dollars. Not bad, not bad. Now we can afford our Lexus payments.

Okay, so all is well and good, right? We already know what we're spending and she's been there awhile, no issues. Sure. For now. You see, John and I are looking into the expansion of our family project. (I know Sprite thinks she'll be an Only, but we've got plans and it involves toy sharing, her most hated thing in the world.) And with family expansion comes another tuition payment to the school. We'll be looking at almost $400.00 a week. Painful.

Of course you could be thinking, if you can't afford it, why have another child? I am here to say you have a valid point, and I could also tell you where to stick your valid point, but I won't. The truth is, every stage Sprite grows out of is like a little emotional death for me. My arms were meant to hold more than one baby. My heart was meant to love more than one. My sanity threshold is good for at least two more kids before it breaks. (To the contrary of what John says.)

And that is why we're looking (quietly) at other daycares. If it comes down to us leaving our current place, it will be sad. I'm used to the teachers and so is Sprite. She likes it there. I like it there. My wallet doesn't like it there, and unfortunately, it's talking the loudest.

I'm afraid of transitioning her. Hell, I'm afraid of transitioning US, but we'll burn cross that bridge when we get to it. I just hope the new place, if we go to a new place, gives out free sand.

Comments

[Becky]

The cost of daycare barely justifies me having a full time job. But hey, at least it's tax deductable. Ours is about the same as yours. However when first looking I found alot that made me want to run out the door screeming and others, while fantastic (They'll teach your 12 mo old french and trigonometry) it cost about 700.00 a week. Sorry, we plan on sending her to public school.

[JJrambleson]

Holy crap! $200 a week? I'm evidently living in the wrong part of the country.

I run a home day care, and my parents only fork out $100 a week. Quite honestly, I'd feel horrible charging $200 a week.

That's insane.

Oh, and if you peek at my sight don't let it scare you off home day cares...lol! Seriously though, you might check out the homes rather than the centers. They're usually not so expensive. Some are outstanding...others not so much so. You'll know the second you walk in if you'd be comfortable leaving your child in their care.

Good luck!