Looking ahead

So, the topic of many discussions between Bryon and I is where we are going to send our kids to school. Avery gets to start in the Pre-K program in August, and after two years of that she's-EEK!!- in Kindergarten! (Wow, I feel old!) The location of our home means that we get the elementary school that is really the best one in the local school district, but it still worries me for many reasons. The big reason is that the school is one floor and completely open; the "classrooms" are roped off by dividers similar to that in a cubicle. Now, Avery hasn't exhibited any sort of ADD or ADHD or problems concentrating for that matter, but I still worry about the bulk of information from her teacher going in one ear and out the other because the next room is having fun...Avery is a curious kid (like all of them!), and I think she'd much rather know what's going on over there than in her own room.

So, there is a local Catholic grade/high school. We've already decided that if Avery excels in athletics we would want her to to go the Catholic high school so that she can keep her grades up and even work on college credit because their school is so small, she can have more flexibility with her college prep classes. Plus, their athletic program is really good and there's less room to get in trouble. But, as always, there is a "but."

The cost to attend the grade school is $3,000/year and almost $4,000/year for the high school. This is a TON of money. Now, unless something crazy happens, I plan on staying in higher education so eventually her college tuition could be paid by an exchange program (a perk in higher ed). So, I feel that is balancing out the private tuition at the Catholic school. However, I still have to make regular tuition payments and find the money for that.

So, I talked to a good friend of mine who sends both of her kids to the Catholic school. She mentioned a Script Program where I could purchase certain gift cards to businesses around town and 1% of each purchase would go towards tution. That's a pretty good idea, but I still don't have the money like she does (rich family on both sides, very affluent in town). She also mentioned that the tuition is only $2300 for Catholic families. I told her my husband is Catholic, but we weren't married in the church and he no longer practices it. She was like, go get converted and get your kids baptized for it.

Now this kind of pissed me off. While it would be nice to shave $700/year from my tuition bill, I'm not going to go convert to a religion that I do not fully understand or agree with. I think most people would agree with me. My husband was raised Catholic, but I can't get him to step foot in a non-denominational church; what makes me think he would get Avery baptized there? I don't know about you, but I think Catholics who wholly believe in their faith would also be offended and insulted at this comment. Now, she's still my friend because I've probably insulted her more than she has me, but it just got me thinking about why I would change my own convictions and beliefs for money? Is this how society rationalizes things today? If so, I'm praying extra hard for them tonight.