Well, it’s official! Our house will go on the market March 24th, which means my anxiety level will shoot up and the ulcer will form about…oh, I don’t know…two days ago. I have never been through this process before as an adult. My only memory of having a house show ready is getting yelled at by my step-father not to grab hold of the corners of the wall as I rounded the hallway, and having to remember to flush the toilet. Wish us luck!
This past weekend we ventured to Columbus to take one final look at schools and do some preliminary house hunting. Friday we toured two potential schools, both of which Mr. B has been accepted. And I would love to say that we left feeling from one of them completely optimistic and certain. But that’s not the case. One school looks great on paper, in theory it allows Mr. B to continue with the creative and discovery-based learning he has been exposed to, and has a wonderful sense of community. It’s the school Mr. B’s teacher and principal think would be a better fit, based on reading the school’s literature, and before we went, we were about 90% sure this is where we’d go. BUT (and here’s the big concern) in watching the 1st grade classroom, they were just beginning to work on things Mr. B has been doing since the beginning of his Kindergarten year. Heck, even Miss P was busy working through their exercise on her own over on the side. The question here is whether all of the other stuff is worth potentially setting him back a year. The other school is a more traditional academic setting, which on paper makes me cringe as I envision my child regurgitating information by rote and getting his inquisitive spirit squashed like a bug. But in person? Man, did those kids seem engaged and on the same learning curve as Mr. B. The teachers seem creative and dynamic. And yet, something about this school is setting off question marks in my gut, and I’m not sure why. Is it that I fear it might be too conservative? Too white? Too homework-heavy and not enough personal discovery?
And of course, the two schools are in opposite sides of town, thus determining where we purchase a home. The area of town we like is closer to the non-traditional school, but a horrible 30-min drive to the traditional one. We saw a spec house from a builder that we are really interested in, but it’s 30-min from the non-traditional school, much closer to the traditional one. Here’s the kicker….contracts are due by next Monday, meaning we have to have a decision made and mailed by this Friday. Can you say Boxed Wine? If anyone has any thoughts they want to throw my way, or talk me off a ledge, I’d appreciate it.
Saturday, Jon’s sister Jenny watched the kids while Jon and I went out to look at houses, most of which were promising. I’m enjoying visualizing our family having more space for a change, so I guess that’s the fun part in all of this. The kids were originally going to head out to the science center with Jenny, but certain events threw those plans out the window, and instead everyone spent hours upon hours holed up in the hotel room watching television. I won’t bore or disgust you with the details what plagued us on Saturday, but it involved lots of bodily fluids from the kids. When does all of this part of parenthood end? College? Let’s face it, that’s a whole different type of puking and peeing your pants repeatedly.
So, hopefully by the end of this week, we’ll have made a decision and have a little bit more direction as we move forward. Man, am I looking forward to that.
Man…moving is always so much more than just from one house to another. Best of luck!
Sharon
Sharon – isn’t it? I just want the best for my kids. But I can also remember when I was their age that we just went to whatever school was in our hood, and we turned out fine. I just have to keep telling myself that options are GOOD, and that whatever we choose, he’ll turn out okay. All said while pouring another glass of wine…
It really is so scary isn’t it? I remember when my oldest was starting kindergarten, I wanted him to go to the small private Lutheran School he had gone to for pre-school. I thought that maybe the smaller size and the attention would be good for him. Though if I was honest with myself looking back I probably knew it was not the right fit, because preschool was no picnic. I was just so terrified of public school. I should add I live in a great district. The private school really didn’t want Tom. The only way they would have taken him is if we could promise them we would get a one on one aid because of Tom’s dyslexia. I went to the public school and met the teachers and my whole attitude changed. P.S Tom’s now in 7th grade, has an 89 average, friends and is happy as a clam. I think the answers will come to you. Just listen to your heart and you will decide and you are right, no matter what you decide he will be fine. It is enough to make you sick to your stomach though, I was in agony over it. Sending all my best thoughts, love and prayers!! xo
Kathy – it totally is! I’m sure that no matter where we send him, he’ll get a good education. It’s just so hard to know what the future holds, right? Thanks for your insight though, I appreciate it.
Oh, lady. I don’t envy you. Alls I can say is that in a few months you will be in your new home and in your new life, knowing that you made the best decision with the information you had. Our kids are just starting preschool life, but kindergarten is just around the corner, with applications, lotteries, etc. I’m starting to understand why people start asking you about your school plans when your kid is in utero. And I’ll get up on my soapbox and say that it would be so nice to live in a country where a quality public education was a guarantee, a right, not a privilege. Okay. I’m stepping down now…
Keesha – yes, I’m ready to have some of the decision making process out of the way and move forward. We DID make a decision, and are feeling good about it. And now the fun part of finding a home begins. I totally agree with your last statement, however. School was so different when we were kids. Or maybe I was just oblivious. And I do think that 50% of how our kids navigate school is parent involvement, so I need to get off my ass and become more of a partner in this for sure. BTW, I imagine your soapbox to be the fiercest and most creatively decorated….