In that I find some things silly

I understand that once your child begins schooling of any kind, the constant financial shake-down begins. It supposedly reaches its acme when your child is in high school and you must fork over large sums of cash so that they can be well-rounded kids who can get into good colleges. -You must do this so that then you and the child can take on an immense amount of debt. (which they don't have a chance of ever climbing out under from) It is very important for the school to charge high tuition because they have to have a supreme athletic department whilst the humanities meet in a burned out shell of a building and possibly catch scabies. (ever notice how itchy English majors are?)

While forking over 50K a year isn't my reality these days, there is a part of me that is just this side of irritated to be asked for money for a yearbook and of course an end of year teacher gift. It isn't that I don't think the teacher needs a gift (because she deserves thanks and has been a wonderful influence in Senor Onion's life) it is just... yeah. A yearbook. This is one of those affluent problems isn't it? 22 bucks for a year book. Of course I am old and recall paying 22 bucks for a yearbook back in the dark ages when I was in high school. (I bet they are now hundreds of dollars and come with a wi-fi signal) What about a nice little class picture and call it good?

Teacher gift. Apparently the plan is that we fork over cash so that we can buy her a gift card to a mall. How meaningful and personal.

I don't look forward to elementary school with small children shilling gift-wrap like they are supporting a heroin-addicted Mother and a crippled Father.