Mom's Morning Out program - Too $$$?

I'm a SAHM and am looking into Mom's Morning Out programs for DD, who is 18 months old. Looking for feedback as to whether these fees sound high or normal: The one I like best has a $75 application fee, a $75 activity fee (although DD isn't likely to participate in the activities the school provides for the preschool kids b/c she'd only be there once a week) and the rate is $100/month for 1 morning a week. I wanted Fridays, but they say they haven't had enough interest and only have Wednesdays and Mondays. We can't do Wednesdays. As they follow our county's school schedule and don't allow parents make-up days following school holidays, we'd be paying for days we can't use. Is all of this normal? Reading over what I've typed, I feel pretty foolish for considering the place now, but am still wondering... Is this normal with MMO's and/or preschools?

The place is spotless. It's beautiful inside and the playground is fenced and private. The MMO schedule has a lot of arts and crafts activities and music. Most of the other MMO's in our area are booked. Maybe this one isn't b/c it's so pricey and inflexible? I already have a sitter one morning a week. The MMO would be a good way for DD to ease into preschool, have some time with other kids, activities, etc, AND give me a break.

How many hours is the one day/week?

My DS goes to a parent's day out once a week. It is 4.5 hours. It's $100/month.

WOW. My son goes to MDO, its 8:30-2:30, very nice, clean, preschool setting, just got a new playground, its on Monday and Wedsday and we pay....$10 a day. The Directors says she hasn't raised the rates is 13 years, they haven't needed to. (The church charges her nothing) The one she directs on Tue & Thur at another church is $13 a day.

A benefit of living in a small town in TN, but I still extremely dislike this small town.

If I lived in a city and the MDO was great and we could afford it, I would probably pay that much for one day a week.

Our MDO is $21/day with the option of it being two days a week. They are there from 9 til 2.

Our MDO is two mornings a week, 9:30-1 for $160 a month. I think the one morning class is $80, but I'm not totally sure. The registration fee is $75 but there is no activity fee.

My ds2 is almost 2 and started preschool this fall. I won't even tell you how much it costs for 5 hours week (2 mornings). But, it's a lot more than that. For us it has been worth it and I am glad we are doing it.

Beth

Thanks for all of the feedback on this. The MMO program I like is one morning a week, 9-12, $100/month.

Not MMO, but our preschool charges $130/month for Tues/Thurs 9-11:30.

Where exactly do you live? I'm not sure about MDO programs, but 2 day preschools around here are anywhere from 300-600 a month. I live in the MD suburbs of DC and everything, including preschool and childcare is way more expensive.

FWIW, I don't think it is that expensive - that's 12 hours a month for $100 and it sounds great.

It doesn't sound expensive to me. I live in a LCOL area and the MDO/Preschool that DS goes to is $175 a month for 2 days a week (9-2.30). He goes 5 mornings a week now for $225 (9-12) and I pay an additional $135 a month for him to stay in preschool to play 4 days a week (until 2.30).

Our local montessori charges $700 a month 8.30-2.30 for 5 days a week.