Allow me this rant, will you?

For the past several summers, Leah has gone to a great sleepaway camp. The rest of the weeks she attends a day camp here in town and has done all sorts of programs from sporty stuff to performing arts. It’s a large camp program and she has a few friends that she sees there every year.

It’s February – so that means that it’s time, yet again, to figure out her summer schedule.

It is also time for me to freak out on how much it costs.

OMGGGGGG how much it costs!

For roughly six weeks of camp (combined) I will shell out close to $4,500. And that should be more but because she is going to the “full” session at her sleepaway camp for the first time (as opposed to the introductory little kids’ session) we get a $1,000 discount.

Oh, goodie!

It is EXTRAORDINARY to me how much this costs. And, truth be told, the sleepaway camp costs are high, but that’s sleepaway camp. All in. I can swallow that (mostly). It is a terrific camp that she really enjoys and fosters some great things in her and for her. She is making memories there that will last a lifetime – and I love that.

It’s the DAY camp costs that piss me off beyond all belief. I hate it. And really? I’m just not a huge fan of the program in general, but it’s the best option in the city.

But wait. There’s more.

That’s only six weeks of the summer. There is another 3 weeks not accounted for there. Sure, there are play dates and mommy days and daddy days…. But…. THREE WEEKS. So, we’ll look at a trip to take (more cost) and don’t forget the cost of getting ready for sleepaway camp. G-d forbid she stay the same size.

Oh, look . I’m bitching about my child growing healthily. See what summer does?

It’s enough to vote for year-round school schedules.

Am I alone in this? Or is camp outrageous wherever you live?