Over the past three years Chris and I have spent nearly 90K in childcare. Today I want to indulge in a list of 10 crazy things we could have purchased over the past three years if we hadn't been spending our money on daycare fees.
- According to my internet research we could potentially host a triple threat concert in our backyard featuring the vocal talents of Hanson, Joan Jet and Sugar Ray.
- Hire a private jet that flies us and our four closest friends to Bermuda, complete with staff, gourmet food and a chef.
- Radical SR3 RS Race Car.
- 120 pairs of designer shoes (I'm talking Manolo Blahniks and Christian Loubtin designer!)
- Add to our antique and rare book collection by purchasing: Alice in Wonderland (edition illustrated and signed by Salvador Dali) 20K, An uncorrected proof of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone (16K), signed original first editions of Tortilla Flat and Dune (30K) and a signed second edition of Tolkien's The Hobbit (11K)...and purchasing a giant secure safe to keep them in.
- 100 World Series tickets for 2015 (GO JAYS GO!)
- A house in Niagara Falls.
- 25 giant amethyst cathedral geodes.
- I could get a complete face lift and body do-over including: nose job ($5.5K), upper and lower eyes ($5.5K), brow lift (5K), cheek implants and chin lift ($7.5K), neck lift ($10K), lip lift ($3.5K), breast implants (7K), tummy tuck (9K) and Brazilian Buttocks implant (15K). There would be plenty of money left over for teeth capping and whitening.
- 6 of the world's most expensive (yet apparently super delicious) pineapples...from Cornwall.
Original uploaded by Suniltg (Transfered by sreejithk2000) - Original uploaded on ml.wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
I am very thankful for the superb care and love that Molly and Jack have received at our daycare and I wouldn't change a moment of it (okay, maybe I'd skip some of the stomach viruses they picked up). The past few years of life with children, particularly twins was financially challenging, but not impossible. Our tight budget worked, but things became tense whenever there was a financial emergency, like when our washer broke, when our car died or when our front porch crumbled to the point that it was a lawsuit waiting to happen, all during the time between the minions first and third birthdays. I was fortunate enough to have been offered a few part time jobs to supplement our regular salaried income, which helped us float unexpected expenses without accruing a crazy debt-load, this also took time away from our family, time that I won't get back. Thinking back on tougher times financially over the past few years, it really makes me realize just how lucky Chris and I have been. There are so many parents trying to make things work on a shoestring. I admire them and wish that there could be a way to make their lives easier while supporting their families.
I don't begrudge the salaries of the hardworking people who have cared for our children. I know that there needs to be some significant changes to the system in Ontario, Canada and North America. Change in terms of flexibility for telecommuting parents, part-time childcare and job opportunities that allow for people to care for their children and maintain a career, better childcare subsidies, shorter waiting lists for affordable care and time-shifted or condensed hours that allow for parents to pick-up and drop off their children from care. If you enjoyed my list, I'd like to encourage you to share it and spread awareness of the costs of childcare. Any call to action can help get the support that is needed by local government and employers to support families of young children. Lend your voice whether its being accommodating and understanding to people you employ or speaking up for those who need support. Because it really does take a village.
To view my top 10 extravagant purchase potential list from last year click here. To view my list from 2013 click here.
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