Okay, so I have to admit my hubby has a point. Private school is expensive. Even with financial aid that we will probably get this year, it will be expensive. I do have to add that daycare will also be expensive. I then have to admit that the possibility of getting financial aid for Noah’s second year of school is slim since I will in theory be working fulltime pushing us up higher on the income scale and probably completely out of the financial market. So, while we could afford his first year I don’t know about the second and I certainly don’t know how we would afford it when Zo is ready to start school.
Hubby pointed out to me that we can’t just think about this first year–we have to think about each year and to consider how we are going to send all of our children to school. We plan to have four children (we are going to attempt IVF in the fall and then plan to adopt depending on outcome of IVF). Even if we get financial aid because of the number of children we have can we really afford to send 4 kids to my dream school for the kids at just over $11,000 a year each. Am I willing to sacrifice vacations and other things to send my kids to this school. None of these were things I thought about. I just wanted my kids to have the best education they could. I need to change my way of thinking. Maybe I need to give my kids the best education that I can afford.
Hubby thinks we can supplement their education at home and of course we will to some extent, but life will be busy and we won’t have the opportunity to do that as much as I would like. I know that wanting the best for my kids–in terms of education and other things–is a normal parental desire. I just don’t know how to reconcile that I maybe can’t give theme the absolute best or at least my impression of what is absolutely best. I am so conflicted. I have to accpet that not sending them to this school isn’t a failure on my part. I can’t go back and think–“If I didn’t spend money on this or that, etc we wouldn’t have other financial obligations preventing us from sending them to this school.” But I do think about that and I feel bad that I didn’t prepare myself for the cost of private school.
So, those of you out there in my area–I’m looking for an awesome full day preschool. Any ideas?
Embracing Imperfection 
Been down this road…its tough. Keep exploring – you’ll find what you’re needing.
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Not sure if it’s an option or not, but would you be able to work part time and then you’d have a bit more time to supplement whatever you thought the kids were missing from attending a non private school?
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This is tricky stuff. I’ve been grappling with this for five years now and I’m still not completely happy. It’s tough to find a school that has a great program, is truly integrated so the kids will feel comfortable (and not be tokens), and has role models/administrators/teachers who look like them.
We have chosen a happy medium and are augmenting at home as you mentioned. We feel it is more important for the kids to see people who look like them at school because hubby and I are white (they are Ethio and Chinese).
Take heart…a lot of us are in the same boat and understand. Good luck.
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