School Daze!

Every year I am shocked at how much I have to spend to send my kids to school!  And every year I complain that when we were little going to school I KNOW my mom never had to spend any money.

When did it get that we not only have to fully supply our kids with every little eraser to binders and a variety pack of duo-tangs  - that by the way I always get back half used at the end of the year (yes, I reuse them).; but then spend at least $100 dollars per child (that increases or doubles when they reach junior high and high school) at the beginning of the year BUT also through out the year you are dinged $5 - $10 dollars!!

Now this is excluding indoor runners, back packs, lunch kits  - oh, and don't get me going on lunch supervisor fees, out-door runners and of course the kids always want or ok, "need" at least one new pair of jeans for the beginning of the year.  I swear I get nicked and dimed to death!

I wonder what my tax dollars actually pay for.

Ok, I am done ranting and raving - well not quite....But every year I just never feel prepared for so much money flying out of our pockets just to get the kids to go to school.   I at least now save on busing fees, as I refuse to pay the annual increase and then have half my kids NOT allowed to ride the bus because they are now in junior high (same school still).

At least a few years ago they allowed them to ride if they had younger siblings taking the bus (which they did).  Even though I paid the maximum fee they changed the rules.  So now I drive them every morning and pick up with all the hundreds of other parents tired of getting empty pockets.

So the count down is on... two days to go and bags of school supplies filling up my kitchen.

I'll look at it this way....my oldest graduates this year...wow, will I be able to complain about university!!