Every couple of months my daycare starts the sales pitch for an exercise program for the kids that we’ll call “Kiddierobics.” That’s not the name, but suffice to say it is something equally sickening and irritating.

I’m just trying to avoid getting sued.

The program claims to prepare children for the future by teaching them how “to exercise the body and mind while enhancing the child’s self esteem.” This is done through one 45-minute session each week that utilizes music, balls, trampolines, parachutes, etc. I gather that the kids sing, dance, jump around and generally have a good time.

The sales pitch is required because they would like me to pay extra to allow my child to participate. It starts subtly enough – pictures posted at toddler height in the entryway reinforce a flyer in our mailbox. The flyers reappear every week or two until the program starts. Then, just in case your child is completely oblivious to the availability of the program, they allow your child to “try” a class.

I have so many problems with this program, starting with the fact that we already pay my daycare over $500 a week… Go ahead. Take a moment to recover from the shock. I’ll wait.

Where was I? Oh, right. we pay $500 per week for the Center to take care of our children. As part of that care I expect them to take time out of the day for the kids to run, dance, play and have fun. Granted, they may not have all the props of Kiddierobics, but in most cases I think props are overrated.

Also, we’re not made of money. In fact, like most working parents, most of my take home pay goes towards day care. We’re tapped. But how do I explain that to my son? And why should I have to?

Finally, I really, really, really hate when they let my kids “try” a class. They do this at the beginning of every 8-week session as well as whenever the class is empty because some of the other kids are out. The problem is, Anders doesn’t understand the difference, and all they are setting me up for is a killer case of mommy guilt.

I’ve actually asked the Center NOT to allow my son to participate in these test days, and felt like I had made my point when I received a permission slip today asking if he could participate. Then, of course, as I left school today my son pointed out that he was pictured front and center bouncing on the trampoline. Grrr….

Don’t get me wrong. I think exercise is very important – not only for my son’s physical health, but for his mental health also. He would drive everyone nuts if he were cooped up for the whole day. I have him signed up for swimming lessons on weekends and ski lessons during the winter. I just don’t think he needs a special class for exercising at school.

Like every family, we need to make choices about how we spend our money, and I’m beginning to resent my daycare’s not-subtle insistence that I’ve made the wrong choice.

Plus, if anyone needs an exercise class it’s me…. The chick sitting behind the desk.