In my most recent employment I have the had opportunity to observe parents that can afford private education for their children. However, the amount parents spend on their children doesn’t stop with tuition; in fact that is just one part of the huge industry dedicated to justifying how great a parent you can be.
Call me a cynic, but somehow I just don’t think a six year old needs an ipod with all their favorite songs already downloaded into it for their birthday. I also don’t think that they need to be in morning care dropped off at 7:00 in the morning and enrolled in Tennis, Archery, Piano and every other extra-curricular program and after care program so Mom/Nanny doesn’t have to pick them up until closing time at 6:00.
Meals are ordered and delivered by a catering service (no lunch boxes here!) If little junior or missy has a birthday party, forget about the standard cake and ice cream and balloons at home. This is an EVENT! Invitations will be sent and usually a “party planner” is involved. Expectant moms because they are so busy now enlist a “shopper” to go to baby stores to make their list for them for the baby shower. It’s just too much trouble! These same moms enroll their children as soon as they are born, even though the school does not take children until they are two. (more…)
