Where my government subsidizes quality time away from my talentless spawn while I haul in a six-figure income;
“We spend between the two kids, on extracurriculars outside the classroom, we’re spending about $10,000 a year on piano and dance and sports supplements. And summer programs… Do you know what summer camp costs?”
If you are struggling to make ends meet on a half-million a year — a 1040 that puts you in the top 2% of Americans — then the problem is you, not the country.
Still this woman, who was never proud of America when her husband was elected to the state legislature or even the United States Senate, whines and whines and whines.
America is, she said, “just downright mean.”
TG, she was handicapped. Couldn’t read.
Couldn’t think…
I go on holidays with my children … my bad. Should really consider not having them go anywhere because it costs to much to not be a parent.
Minuteman:
I’m not insulted at all. $400/month is for both of them, not each. At my last job, I had to get up at 6:15 am to get to downtown Toronto for an 8:30 am start, and usually didn’t get home until nearly 7:00 pm at night. Those of you who don’t live in Toronto’s ex-urbs don’t know the transport hell we live in!
So, by the time you get home at 7, have dinner, catch up on your e-mail and financial sites (I manage a seven-figure portfolio for the family; my daughters have a net worth approaching $300k and neither are out of grade school yet), you’d like to spend a few hours talking to your wife, talking to your kids (not lecturing them), and yes, just watching some TV or reading a magazine.
If my kids need help with homework or Kumon, am I there for them? Absolutely. Can I create the same discipline, structure, rewards (my youngest won a Dell laptop for her efforts), and support as Kumon does? Doubtful. As I explain to my youngest, it’s just the same as working out her muscles; Kumon helps work out her brain, and it’s stronger as a result.
It’s a question of knowing your limitations; I’ve been trained as an electrical engineer and an MBA, so I think I know math very well. Does that mean that I feel I’m qualified to lead a child through it at a measured pace, ensuring achievement levels have been reached, and presenting new challenges when appropriate? Nope, and I don’t even to pretend to. I’m not a professional teacher, and I don’t feel personally I could do a good job of it. To pay $200/month per child to get the structure and support of Kumon is a very small price to me, and I will gladly sacrifice pricey vacations or expensive meals out for it, and I’ll never complain about it. My girls are my priority, not evanescent pleasures.
Mrs O is a full time lawyer working for a hospital.Why? Surely you would hire a lawyer if you needed one.
“Surely you would hire a lawyer if you needed one.”
All hospitals (and major organizations) need one or more on staff/retainer if for nothing else than to make sure any and all contracts the organization is involved with is legal. Tranio seems to be implying that the only use for a lawyer is to defend a criminal. Ever buy a house? Best to use the services of a lawyer then.
Are you shitting me?
$10,000 spent on your kids on combined salaries of $500,000 taxed US style and she’s complaining?
My wife and I combined earn about 105/110K pre-tax here in Canader, eh? and we’re going to spend about $16,000 on our three daughters dancing competitively. Crazy…yes and we’ll address that IF they dance this fall.
We make it by cutting out things we don’t need and spending our time with our kids at every opportunity we have…which is quite often. That and I also have a business besides my full-time job.
I really hope that the US doesn’t fall for the “Yes,We Can” platitudes with their empty promises because Obama would be bad for the States. Very bad.
Yet, somehow, someone will think I don’t like him because he’s black.
Baby, skin colour is irrelevant. “Past performance is indictive of future behaviour” is what the courts say when deciding if someone should get bail.
Same thing applies to politicians.
Obama! Where’s the beef?©
Man, I don’t envy the Yanks this November.
MT
I’m with Boots. That was primarily bragging rather than complaining. An angry wife is a useful tool as anyone recalling Terry Kerry will attest. Keep her front and center on the campaign trail. Suspect we’ll reap the benefit of many more ill-conceived, thoughtless conceits before November.