“… today it costs some $179,000 to support junior from birth to age 18. But what if you want to rear the perfect progeny, a kid who’s genetically prime, privately schooled, and poised to become a master of the universe That’ll run you four times as much – about $800,000 – if you count every supplement, activity, and advantage you want to provide your future world leader…”
Are you with me so far?
In the article, there is a list of required expenses, broken down by age group. To be honest, I was surprised to see what a large portion of the list we have covered with I12 and K9. Only, of course, we got much better deals. Here we go. I’ll add my comments to the list. The list goes up to 17 years of age, but, since my oldest is twelve, I will only go that far (because I’m getting tired of all the typing).
Early years – ages 0-4
Fertility treatment/assisted reproduction - $35,000 Mr. Goldie was generous enough that he agreed to assist me for free in the reproduction process. Twice. Not counting all the test runs – you know, making sure the equipment works properly, that sort of thing. Prenatal genetic testing - $2,000 You mean the ultrasound… right? Stem cell banking - $3,550 Bilingual nanny – two years - $84,000 What, only one bilingual nanny? We had two. Meet my parents! Baby yoga - $3,120 Does that count if you pick your 5-month-old up under his arms, set him on a flat surface, and he walks around with your support… and walks… and walks… ow, my back! Baby sign language - $1,500 We opted for Basic Electronic Training instead. By age 2, I12 was able to operate a screwdriver, pliers and a few more electronic tools. At age 4, he took apart two old TVs. Alone. Tutor: Mr. Goldie. Cost: free of charge, plus it kept I12 busy. Preschool – two years - $38,400 Ours accepted Welfare Day Care vouchers. $60/month. Basic needs (shelter, organic food, medical care, etc.) - $52,306
Elementary school – ages 5-11
Private Chinese-immersion school (7 years) - $113,150 Public school that has kids from all parts of the world – how’s that sound? After-school learning center (4 years) - $3,600 We tried it, and it sucked so bad that we decided to stick with the bilingual nanny. Social-skills coach (1 year) - $4,000 Again, only one? Sheesh. We had two, and not just for one, but for several years. One is called “your sibling”; the other one, “elementary-school playground”. Both work like a charm! Music lessons (7 years) - $10,500 Art classes (4 years) - $3,200 We substituted the above two by advanced electronics and programming lessons (for I12) and basketball league/swim team (for K9). You have to be flexible, you know. Summer day camp (3 years) - $9,840 Ours is $500 for nine weeks. Wait, they raised their prices. It’s $600 now. Science camp (1 year) - $1,285 Hey, we actually did send I12 to Camp Invention when he was little! $180/week. Growth hormones (2 years) - $20,000 Basic needs - $75,148
Junior High - ages 12-13
Private Chinese-immersion school (2 years) - $33,550 Private tutor (2 years) - $10,920 Haha… that would be me! Individual SSAT/ISEE prep - $2,299 That would be me again. Yes, I actually prepped I12 for ISEE when he was in fifth grade. Took us about two months and a lot of work. The cost of the class was about $30 – that’s what I paid for “Cracking the ISEE” book. He did great! Remind me to tell you sometime later why we did it. Tennis lessons (1 year) - $7,500 My son says sport is a waste of time. So Ha. Music lessons (2 years) - $3,000 I12 and music instruments can be a dangerous combination. Skip. Horseback-riding lessons (1 year) - $1,770 He actually rode a horse once, and did great. Remind me to do it again with him sometime. Cybercamp (2 years) - $5,912 Now this is amazing coincidence… we actually did send I12 to a computer camp for two weeks when he was ten. He got a scholarship. It still cost us an arm and a leg. But definitely not two thousand dollars. But he got a free subscription to Scientific American as an award. Chess camp (2 year) - $1,438 I say, lock him in a room with his Grandpa, don’t let him out till he learns how to play chess, and count that as a chess camp. In fact, he can play a little. We must have already done it. Remind me to ask Grandpa. Growth hormones (2 years) - $40,000 5’10”… size 13 shoes… what growth hormones? Skip. Orthodontics - $5,000 Perfect teeth, thank God! Skip skip skip. Basic needs - $22,808
So, what do you think? Am I raising two future world leaders? Are you? Is this list completely out of whack? Isn't it the family name and connections that eventually determine who's to become "the master of the universe"? If so, doesn't that make the list useless? Do rich people really do all that and pay these prices? If yes, why?
