Recently there was a post from Amanda who wrote about the cost of ballet lessons This got me thinking. With my hubby’s surgery’s and the children’s performances over the summer I was way behind my usual schedule and so not organized! So I started to get cracking on registering my kiddies for the activities they want to participate in and became utterly depressed.
This September is very different because this time around 6 out of the 8 children are old enough and wanting to participate in various activities. I asked them what they wanted to do and here is how it all added up:
Sebastian: Ball Hockey – cost $190
Joshua: Fencing – $284
Zachary: Fencing – $110
Arielle: Tumbling / Trampoline – $270.50
Marie: Tumbling / Trampoline – $270.50
Ryley: Gymnastics – $270.50
Grand total: $1395.50
Now this amount wouldn’t be that crazy except that this is only for one session or approx 13 weeks for each child! If I add another two sessions (winter / spring) my grand total now becomes $4186.50. Yikes.
This said and done I have to add in the fact that I need to have a babysitter at least twice a week because certain classes require me there and I can’t take all the children with me – okay I can take them all but:
1. It’s just me, the hubby isn’t here to watch the other children.
2. Some classes are still running when my babies are sleeping.
3. Some children are just too wild to sit patiently and watch their siblings
4. I don’t want to take them all. Seriously I don’t.
The babysitter is going to cost me approx $50 – $60 a week. Then there is the cost of gas to get them there, the uniforms, shoes, oh yeah and did I mention that I already know the path that Ryley is on? Yes he is my crazy 5 year old that can climb 8 foot fences, street light poles, and move furniture such as bunk beds, Sofa’s, and dressers? He can also do the splits. He has been blessed with my genetics and speaking as a former National gymnastics coach I know he is heading towards the competitive end of the sport so there will be more expenses for him I’m sure.
Don’t get me wrong, I love having so many children and am fortunate that they can participate in such things, however, how did being active become so expensive?
Are your children involved in sports or other activities? How many activities do you let them do during the week? Does the cost of such activities stress you out?
Until next time
Chantel, momof8crazymonkeys
Julie – that is amazing! Not too many people will do anything for free these days. And old Russian lady’s are usually pretty good;)
there’s a community centre near us (i’m in toronto) that has free lessons with an old-school russian lady. it’s not olympic quality but it’s a start! 🙂
DesiValentine you make me laugh! I think I may have some body parts to sell…What a great idea to do private gymnastics / dance lessons for your crew there! I wished I lived closer – I would send my kids to you:) As for how do I do it – well Wildberry of course:)
Tracey as I mentioned earlier the hardest part is scheduling the time for everything. I hate being rushed after school, having to make dinner and then rushing off to some activity. I have made sure that activities take place over 3 days only otherwise I will go crazy – well crazier than I already am that is;)
Sara I think the hubby did have some sort of attack when I told him the amount of money I needed and how I needed it right away! Only he is in SK so I couldn’t see through the phone but I felt something alright and it wasn’t love ha, ha. swimming is important I totally agree and mine will be back in it next session.
Okay Julie so how are you getting FREE gymnastics lessons?? I laugh because I am a certified gymnastics coach (level 3) and could coach my children very well, except that i haven’t my own gymnastics club and I would never coach my own child ha, ha. I agree about the swimming – it is a life skill and usually my kiddies do it but I couldn’t fit it in right now.
Hockey is super expensive and 4x week – he must be really good:) Trying to manage time with so many activities is one of the hardest parts I think – aside from the cost of course.
Holy hell. I was just making jokes about selling my husbands kidneys this morning. (Or at least, he THINKS I was joking). I only have two kids, but they grow so bloody fast that registration plus equipment gets crazy. 2x swimming lessons, 1x skating lessons, and 1x indoor soccer = $400x 2 seasons, plus new swim suits, helmets, skates and pads. Add that to the $2400 I just paid for private dance and gymnastics bookings for my dayhome crew during the school year, and my husband’s kidneys start to look like viable profit centres.
Seriously, I know you hear this all the time, but I don’t know how you do it!
Oh my word, Chantel! I think I might sign my kid up for karate (again) in the after school programme through school. Madame might want to do ballet this year, but at 3.5 years of age, I’m not in a huge rush to send her anywhere. There might be swim lessons over the fall/winter, and I might look into skating for Oliver this year too… it all depends on the timing of the activities – we can’t be in two places at once… and there’s still dinner to make at the end of the day… blah, blah, blah.
Depending on the price, it will likely be one activity per child. That’s what can be afforded – both in dollars and in time.
I’d have a heart attack I think if I had to look at the cost for 8…because I’m just looking at the cost of one and it freaks me out. I’m going to free range for a bit as well – but I am shooting for swimming – too important not to I think.
i only have the two and i can hardly make ends meet with activities. they dance on saturdays (and i’m looking in to a free gymnastics class, yay!) but i don’t like to overdo it at all. i do like to throw some swimming in there when i can (i believe it is a necessary life skill) but i free range them as much as possible!
My rule is one sport a season.
Cam plays rep hockey all winter and rep ball all summer (hockey is about 4x/week)
Cuyler does rec gymnastics year round (Thurs nights)
Eva did do gymnastics but is trying dance this year Sept-June(Tues nights)
It’s all we can afford and it’s all we can manage time-wise.