Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Say cheese

Tomorrow's picture day at preschool. This is just one more opportunity for me to be the bad mom who refuses to shell out, but I don't care. I am constantly amazed how many hidden expenses come with kids in school. Not that they're all bad, not at all -- but they could add up if you let them. Birthday gifts, classroom parties, book fairs, gifts for the teachers, fingerpaintings that you can pay to have plastered on anything imaginable ... it's a little more than I expected for a 2-year-old.

Once a month there's a school spirit day when all the kids are supposed to wear their school T-shirt if they have one. I didn't buy one for Evan, but I caved for Claire because I didn't want her to be the only one in her class not wearing one. Bad reasoning? Maybe -- probably -- but for $10 I didn't get philosophical about it.

It's only going to get worse. The parties will get more elaborate and the peer pressure will get more intense. Yearbooks, sports uniforms, musical instruments, field trips, brand awareness and more will get thrown into the mix. We'll be asked to sell random raffle tickets and overpriced cookie dough and wrapping paper no one wants to buy. Oh my.

And just like that, I'm glad it's only picture day tomorrow.

4 comments:

Amanda said...

Which reminds me... Brianna is selling CFA calendars this year. I'll hit you up soon.

Jennifer Kirby said...

CFA calendars? Please do!

Sweet Tea Mama said...

CFA calendars will be a hit. Mark used to tell his teachers that his parents were poor so he didn't have to sell any of his candy bars, wrapping paper, etc. I don't think his parents ever had any idea.

Jennifer Kirby said...

I can absolutely see Mark doing that!