Day Care - Adult and Child

In the past week I have seen my almost 90 year old aunt who is in a Baptist home in North Carolina and my 3 1/2 year old grandson in his Montessori school. What struck me was the remarkable similarities between the two places. Both places serve food (although the Montessori seems to have a better choice). Both make an attempt to keep their charges active (again, although the Montessori seems much more adept at getting them to do their jobs). Both make an attempt to connect their wards with time and space - thus this morning Mason spent about 10 minutes talking with other students (and singing a song) about Thursday February 9. The home seems to have lots of calendars throughout.

There are some significant cost differences also (although one should admit that the Montessori is only from 7 AM to 5 PM - five days a week - closed during holiday periods. The Montessori program which serves snack and not lunch (bring your own) works out to $3.60 per hour - if the student uses full time care. (which most do not). Mason uses the program considerably less so assume that the cost of a safe and secure environment is about $10 per hour. When you look at this as a daily cost it comes out to a bit more than $40 per day. The Baptist Home costs about ten times more than the Montessori school and most of its participants are there 24X7. The hourly cost is about 3 times the Montessori (and that is for 3 squares and changes in bed linens but not as much fun).

My aunt who was active in her profession until just a couple of years ago is not entirely happy in her place. Mason seems to be. Perhaps the difference is the mobility that he perceives. Perhaps also, it is the food.