On Thursdays I post from the vault. This post is from September 2008.
Jafta is starting preschool on Monday. Over the years, I’ve been witness to many a preschool conversations by my friends with older kids. I’ve always listened and glibly thought, come on, it’s just preschool. Ah, sweet pre-parent naivete.
So now that it’s my turn, I’ve been agonizing over where to send Jafta to preschool since April. I kind of had a list of criteria that I was looking for in a preschool:
1. it’s realy, really close to my house
2. he can eat lunch there so I can run more errands
3. it doesnt’ start before 9am so I can sleep a bit later
4. it has a two-day option so we can spend less money
5. it has a Tues/Thurs option so that time in childcare preschool is not wasted on a day daddy is home to help with the kids
Wow. Is this the most self-indulgent list you have ever seen? Me, me, me. What’s best for me.
But over the last few months I’ve been convicted that perhaps what is best for me is not what is best for Jafta.
See, there is this amazing preschool that many of my friends recommended. That have a great acadmic prep. The teachers are insanely nurturing and make every kid feel like a star. They do worship every morning. His best friend is going and could be in his class. Jafta went to VBS there and loved it. All signs were pointing to this being a great option for Jafta, but I fought it tooth and nail.
But he would have to go Mon/Wed/Fri, two of which are mornings he hangs with Mark. But it starts really, really early. But it has no lunch option. But it’s more expensive. But it’s kind of a hike. But I want to do things on Tuesday and Thursday while he’s in school. But Ali and I can have meetings if our kids are on the same schedule . . .
Wah Wah Wah.
So I paid a hefty deposit and first month’s dues for a different preschool that fit my own needs. And last week, Jafta starting begging to go to his best friend’s school. And Mark started calling me out for why he wasn’t. And I started feeling really, really guilty.
So I sucked up my pride and selfishness, said goodbye to the money blown on mommy’s choice, and got him a spot in Ryder’s class at Lil’ Lighthouse Preschool. Looks like we’ll be waking at the crack of dawn on Mon/Wed/Fri.
