Due to some bad decisions and financial mind games that were played this summer, our finances are crap. To someone’s credit, the problems have been realized and the future course has been adjusted.
Fortunately we are both still well-employed and our jobs look as stable as they can be at this time. We have cut back on expenditures greatly. Although I still feel like I am often saying “No, let’s not eat out. Let eat at home I can whip up ______. “
Anyways, I have written here about the parochial high school. That decision seems to have been made and then it comes back up as a debatable item. I think my once a week carpool friend is tired of hearing me go on about it. LOL! But it is debatable. We are fortunate enough to live in one of the best public school districts in the state. There is also another parochial High school only a mile further away from our house where the tuition is significantly best.
But the chosen school, while big, features a house system where the boys are broken up into groups of about 160. There are daily mentor group meetings of about 20-25 boys with the same teacher year after year. My ADHD son still needs some guidance and someone to be accountable too.
But if I listen closely, I am bombarded with the message that this is the right choice. Three teachers at last night’s open house commented that they think my son will do well at the chosen school next year. Next week we have a meeting to revise his IEP for next year. The intervention specialist from the high school will be there.
Sending him to this high school is like sending him to an Ivy League college. The Alumni are a tight-knit, involved and loyal group. Many events associated with the school that we have been to have been run by dedicated staff, faculty and parents of current students. It’s the network.
So why can’t I make peace with this? How does an excellent education compare to being debt-free? (Or having less debt?) Are we still living a life built of cards? Who knows what this economy will bring.
Oh yes, as a reminder, College tuition will be covered for him. As a benefit of my job, my dependants can take advantage of tuition remission at the state university where I work. If it weren’t for this benefit, the High school would be out of the question.
P.S. At lunch today, I was once again talking about the High school decision. One of the guys with us said that his experience that the kids coming out of our public High School are good at Math but here at the College they often have to take remedial English. Yes God, I am listening. Thank you for the reinforcement.
2 comments:
From my limited vantage point, it does sound like it would be a good choice .. but something about this is obviously bothering you.
Is it the tuition itself? Or are you also worried about the other costs involved? (Catholic school grad here .. I'm well aware of the fundraisers and the uniforms and the 1001 extra costs. Just like sending them to elementary school, right? ;) Is your DH on truly on board with this and willing to make the sacrifices?
Thanks. Yes, Hubby is very on-board with the parochial school. (The very best...) I am worried that we have debt that we are struggling to pay off. Significant debt. And in this economy.... My Wonderful hubby does not like to think about rainy days. Maybe he can't let himself think of that. He did have a depressive episode as a teen. But he realizes what he was doing last summer (money mind games he calls it) and he's back into reality. He is making most of the sacrifices and he is open when I say "No we won't go out to eat tongiht, I have dinner in the oven." Which means i have to make sure I do a good job of consistently planning ahead for meals so when we get into tight spots that we don't default to eating out.
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