No reason to be scared.. just plan ahead!!!
Or at least plan the best you can..
The reason I did not return to work is for the same reason you expressed above.. my job would have literally covered day care costs.. there would have been no added income to the household budget..
As for your 12year old showing no interest but getting good grades.. I'm right there with you... My DS12 gets straight As and puts little effort into it.. I harp on him for anything lower than a B+ on work because I know he is capable for the work.. Now, if he does come home struggling, we sit down and re do the paper and I re-explain everything.. sometimes the light bulb goes on because the way I explained vs the way Mrs. X explained it, it made more sense to him.. My Ds12 is actually intersted in the military so we are looking for a junior cadet program in the area for him to start soon.. He will be starting 4H in Feb... but I understand totally where you are coming from...
Lisa, glad you all thought ahead.. so many don't... growing up comes so fast.. it's here before you even realize it...