So, Christmas is coming (in 22 days to be precise) and we are all feeling the pinch in our purses. Stretching the pounds, eking out the pennies etc etc. Even Prince Daddy has taken to closing doors behind him and turning off lights which is a Christmas Miracle all by itself. It's down to being born in a barn under starlight he claims but I think he's mixing himself up with a slightly more important baby!
Little Prince's school however, is under the impression that we are all millionaires and bathe in champagne every night. Or at least have spare money we'd love to give to them. So far this term, we've had requests to join the 100club (whatever that is). Also to donate some clothes in case some of the children need a change. I was glad I did hand in the clothes as Little Prince has had his share of "loaners". Yup, Little Prince has disgraced himself once and fallen into the "water play trough" many, many times. On one memorable occasion, Little Prince's Teacher was still laughing as he handed him over at the end of the day. He said Little Prince had run across the play area, slipped when trying to stop, then launched into the water play trough and finished in the breast stroke position, actually doing the breast stroke!
Then preparations for the Christmas Fayre got underway and boy did the School want us to pay. Firstly it was the request for bric-a-brac, then tins for the hampers. Then each child came home with books of raffle tickets they were expected to sell to their nearest and dearest at £1 per book. Next, all of the little angels came home with a letter saying they need a costume for the Christmas Concert. Admittedly, that cost more because I bought a costume from ebay. I did try making a costume but my Roman Soldier came out looking more like the Robot Little Prince thought he was originally playing. It was even harder to convince him that he wasn't to be a "robot soldier" once he saw my attempt at armour!
The day Little Prince came out of school clutching a McDonalds cup did baffle me a little I admit but I soon found out that we were expected to decorate the cups then fill them with sweeties for the school to sell at the fair. Oh, and there was no chance that the children could buy their own cups back!
The next expense on the list was the Gingerbread House competition. Parents were expected to make gingerbread houses and decorate them. Then the school would sell these on. Firstly, if I'm ever going to cook from scratch it would be for my own biys, not for someone else, and secondly, I would not inflict a first (or even second) attempt at a new recipe on anyone who could possibly sue me over food poisoning!
The other demand for money which I did not like, was the Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal. Although I wholeehartedly support this charity, and donate boxes through other businesses, I was not pleased with the way this was "encouraged". The school printed up shoeboxes and cards and handed them out at the school gate to each child. Also enclosed was an instruction list of items that must be in each box. A recommendation list is helpful, but not an index of what we must supply. On adding up the items, a friend and I believe that if you follow the school's list, it would have cost best part of £20 to fill the overlarge "shoeboxes". Plus the £2.50 handling fee for the box' transportation. I would have bitten the bullet and completed the box regardless, had I not seen photographs of the handling centers where the boxes are stripped down and repackaged to make the distribution more even. So I will be making my usual arrangements and passing up the school's offer this year.
Although these all seem like relatively small expenses, when combined, they do add up and to help out with everything would be beyond the reach of most families. Added to the school photographs, plus school logo branded pump bags, the logo branded book cases, the weekly "donation" towards the fruit and milk available all through the sessions for the children, well, the family budget can only stretch so far.
So Princess Mummy put her foot down with a firm hand and announced no hundred club, no cups of sweets, and definately no gingerbread houses! (that last was as much for public safety as my purse) It can be hard saying no but it was either that or no Santa so the choice became Do I treat my kids or someone else's? And the answer to that was clear.
So off I go out the back to give the money tree a good shake and hope it has something more than coppers to drop in my basket.
