Oh I just wanted to say first that Amazon credited us the $4 or so for shipping on the Potter book - dh had already called to complain and they didn't do much but credit for the book and resend it. But then when they got the first book back - sent back for no reason - they credited us for shipping - so book was FREE.

I am still confused by dh's parents - even moreso - but I guess I understand a little better in the name of parental fairness.

Dh talked to his mom yesterday and I don't think she is so keen on the LM going to preschool thing - she really wants to send BM more. Which is fine - her perogative - but I am starting to rethink the whole thing. It is just 4 months or $400. A little less actually since vacation is in there and such. The only way I would regret this is if I didn't get any overtime or a decent raise January. I already have earned enough OT to pay this though, and well if I don't get a raise my boss is insane. It's just pretty much expected. So maybe we'll swing it anyway. I don't know. Like I have said before it is at most only one year the 2 kids would both be in preschool. If this was it, it would be a no-brainer. But I notice as we are catching up financially suddenly we are getting a little too lax. The $400 here and there is starting to add up. So have to think on it more... I could also put off adding to the kids' college money to 2008. That one I struggle with too. I finally gave in and admitted that power of compounding is worth throwing in a token. But the $50/month would go a long way towards this instead. Does it really matter of I start in 2008 (or will I find more excuses). Part of me just wants to stick with it and move on - I set up automatic transfers to start in September.

But dh was talking to his mom about it and for one she really thinks BM should got to school more to prepare for Kinder. I admit I am a little concerned that Kinder is all day (what are people thinking around here? I am sure working parents are in charge of this *great* idea). We have kind of gone round and round on it ourselves. But for the most part the preschool he goes to is more to play. We chose it wasn't very "schooly" which is more what our brainy kids need. I like they get really messy and play with other kids because dh isn't great about being social OR worse, letting the kids get messy. They need that. So dh and I are kind of like, eh, is a 3rd day of "play" really going to prepare him better? Lord knows we don't want to drive all the way over there 3 days a week. & Friday nonetheless (oh traffic is so horrid Friday). We have been feeling opposite. We have been saying lately how this is the last "lazy" year for us before the kids have to go to school and all that. As much as we have looked forward to the kids going to school and working not being so cost prohibitive for dh - we have SO looked forward to this. But even so, as the time it approaches it is a little saddening. Once the kids start school, these most carefree years of theirs will be over. We have been talking about how much we should do and enjoy with their 100% flexible schedules. That certainly won't last forever!!!!

We have also looked at the community center preschool. The only reason we did not go that route before was that the ages were a lot higher (like 4?). & we wanted to start him much sooner. We have talked about taking him to get him used to going to school every day. He could go T/Th for 2-3 hours and it is more structured. But more importantly he will meet more local kids who will go to his school probably. It's an idea, but then you go back to: why push it? It's bad enough Kinder is all day, do we really need to take him to preschool every day of the week? I think it is something we will consider the last few months before school starts, just to gear him up for it. But starting now just doesn't make sense. We certainly want to enjoy not having to shuttle him around and make him sit at a desk a good part of the day. He is only 4.

Anyway, MIL did shed some light on stuff though. My SIL works and dh's family baby sits for her for free. HEr 80-year-old grandma was babysitting "for 1 year" when their first was born. Dh and I thought it was a little tacky but whatever. 1 year has turned into 3 years - even tackier. But though we looked on in annoyance, believe me we were NEVER jealous of this scenario. Oh yeah jealous they can't even figure out how to take care of their own kids without relying heavily on poor Grandma...

Anyway, in their defense they bought a very small modest fixxer-upper that was $700k. There is only so much they can do - not like they are just lazy mooches. But I still can't believe with a baby due any day now that grandma is still it. I am amazed how well she keeps up - for sure. But I guess MIL has decided she and her mom have done so much babysitting for them that it is not fair to us. So she wanted to give us a large sum of money to make it up (like all the preschool daycare we ever paid - or maybe all we never paid). Pffffft. It's bad enough to look on and cringe and what they are doing, but to have them feel like they owe us something because of it? Are they crazy?

I go through the same thing with my parents. My mom will send my sister money and every once in a while she'll send me some and say "it's only fair. I gave money to your sister and I have to give some to you." It just annoys me. YEah my sister is a dolt who can not take care of herself. I Was just telling dh yesterday - I said we have built a life 10 times more luxurious than when my parents were my age. Why in the hell do they feel the need to give me money? Are they crazy? It's bad enough my sister is a leech- I just don't want to be one either. I guess they expect us to be jealous that our sisters need so much help. But the truth is we really aren't at all - LOL. They have probably sensed our annoyances with them, but jealousy is not the word.

But I guess that's how it goes with parents - when they are intent on being "fair."

So, I don't know, who knows where this will lead...

Am I really going to do the same thing to my kids? Probably I guess. I guess we just have to embrace it. Save all that money for when one of our kids turn into a dolt? LOL.

The worst is that MIL has been babysitting our kids like crazy this last year. I am sure we have gotten more than our fair share. Hell, for us they have to drive so far, I am pretty sure it evens out. I think they are just feeling more burned out on the constant obligation on that end.