August 2008 Archives

We decided to put Maddie in Pre-K this year.  It was a last minute decision, as we'd always said we'd keep her home until kindergarten.  However, she's reading like a maniac (Berenstain Bears, anyone?) and we just feel like she's ready for it and would really thrive on the challenge.  So we decided to enroll her. 

The actual process of finding a preschool with an opening at the last minute (we started in May when most preschools fill up their rosters in January) is a story for another day, but now Maddie is enrolled and will be starting school in a little less than two weeks. 

While I'm incredibly excited for her -- I don't doubt she's going to love it --  my Mommy Guilt is starting to kick in.  A few people I've told have commented, "But I thought you guys were going to wait until kindergarten."  True, but we changed our minds.  Am I doing the right thing?  I ask myself almost daily.  One of the main reasons Bill and I decided to wait with both kids is that we want them to learn as much from home as possible before they start school.  They'll have at least 12 years of mandated schooling, so having time at home to play and just be a kid was crucial to us.  In addition, we know how difficult things can get in a full classroom, so we wanted to make sure she learned the things that might not be covered in a classroom full of children:  manners, behavior, kindness to others, etc.   Honestly, she'll only be gone four days a week, from 9am - noon, which really isn't a lot, but still...

Our last minute decision means that we had to go with the private preschool route.  Not that it's a problem.  It's a great school and definitely worth the cost (which has put a little dent in our budge) but I'm starting to get perturbed by how many extra costs and activities are required.  We already had a mandatory meeting with the administration for paperwork, etc.  Tonight we have a new parent orientation.  Next week is a school picnic as well as a meet & greet with the teacher.  In addition, the school supply list was nearly a whole page long, and required going to three different stores to get the very specific items.  Oh, and the "school improvement fee" in addition to it all.

I hate to complain, but I'm really just starting to feel overwhelmed by it all.   Maybe I was spoiled all these years because I never had to deal with this stuff.  While everyone around me was getting supplies and such, the girls and I just did our normal day-to-day stuff, playing in the park, or with Barbies, etc. 

This whole thing is big because it not only means a change to our schedule, but also to our general family dynamic as well.  My kids usually sleep until 9am, but now Maddie will have to be at school at 8:50 sharp.  That will be an adjustment, but it's probably a good thing.   Now we'll actually be on the same schedule as most of my fellow moms, so playdates will be a little more convenient. 

A very good plus to all of this is that I will have my mornings free to spend with Josie alone.  She has never gotten much one on one attention, or much attention at all, in the shadow of her very outgoing and exuberant older sister.  It will be really interesting to see how she thrives with her Mommy-Josie time.

 

I'm thinking of starting up this blog again.  Maybe.  Probably. For all intents and purposes, yes. 

I took an extended leave of absence these past 4 months for family visits, friend visits, vacations... and time to ponder the narcissism of this whole blog thing.  I was having conflicting thoughts about the whole "me" culture and how it has been exploited to the point of nonsense.  But I'm okay with that now, am actually comfortable with it.  Facebook and status updates have made me realize just how much I missed blogging, and how much I do actually need to focus on myself once in a while.

And don't think I forgot about the redesign. I'm working on it. Still. I have so many ideas, so much creative energy, but neither the talent or time to implement them all. Needless to say, the chance to design something new was one of the first reasons I decided to keep writing on Knee Deep in Life. I'm such a nerd.