The sports centre up the road from us run a football club for toddlers aged 18m-2.5yrs. It’s advertised everywhere and from the moment DS was born DH has been waiting for the day we could sign him up. DS is 22 months. I thought it would be nice for him and DH to have some time together doing this. He’s been on the waiting list for months and has recently been offered a place subject to a free trial to see if he likes it.
Then they sent over the costs, which weren’t made clear earlier when we were added to the waiting list: £70 upfront for kit (which has to be worn), £30 sign up fee plus the usual £30 a month we’ll have to pay going forwards. AIBU to think that’s a bit steep for a toddlers football club? £130 up front! He’s not even 2!
Money is so tight right now so I don’t think we should even consider it. DH and I have cut back on so much over the last year to help with the rising cost of living, our mortgage has just gone up £300, we’re even pulling DS out of the nursery we all love and putting him in a cheaper one (which isn’t as great) because we simply can’t afford to keep him there. So I don’t think we should then be spending £30 a month on a football club for a toddler. I don’t actually know where DH intends to find the £130 upfront costs either - I know it’s certainly not in our joint account, and we barely have any savings, so his only other option would be to add it to his credit card which we only use for essentials and emergencies (I wouldn’t class this as either).
DS isn’t bothered about kicking a ball around or “playing” football (believe me, DH has tried!). DH is really pushing for this and I do think it sounds lovely for them to do together, and in a few years if DS is into football and wants to go to a club, then I’d be more inclined to pay. I think this is DH trying to live out his dream of father and son going to football practice on a weekend and he’s not looking at the practical side of it. I tried to compromise and say let’s do the free trial and see how it goes and we can decide after. He won’t even consider that DS may go to the free trial and not like it/kick off/refuse to get involved (all of which could very well happen). We stopped going to toddler classes/groups as DS would not get involved or pay attention and just wanted to do his own thing and kicked off when encouraged to join in. Deep down I think DH knows I have a point - he’s the one who was taking him to toddler groups and made the decision to stop going. AIBU to stand my ground on this and just say no?