I had always assumed that our children would go to preschool and then go on to the public school. After all, that's what both Kevin and I did. And I taught in the public schools and feel strongly about the quality education our district provides. However, after my children were born, I began to look at the school decision a little bit differently. All of a sudden, I didn't want to give my babies up! I felt scared about sending them out into the great big, scary world and not being able to shelter them.
I had a lot of anxiety about this
last fall. I saw many friends posting pictures of their children going off to preschool and kindergarten and many conversations between the moms at our church revolved around school. Thinking about sending my baby off to school the following year made me so sad.
So I thought about homeschooling the boys, through preschool at least. After all, we already do so many learning activities during the day as it is. However, when talking it over with Kevin, he encouraged me to go visit a few preschools just so we could make an informed and educated decision. I scheduled a few visits the following week with church-based preschools and went into them pretty much already having my mind made up that I was going to keep Caleb home the following year.
The first preschool I visited was amazing. Being a teacher myself makes me a little bid hard to impress. But this preschool did just that. The director talked to me and walked me around for about an hour and a half! All of the staff and teachers were beaming with enthusiasm and joy. The classrooms were filled with
developmentally-appropriate materials and
hands-on learning manipulatives. The walls were adorned with
handmade artwork that emphasized the process NOT the product. The class sizes were small. There was a lead teacher in every class as well as an assistant. The doors were locked for security and the outdoor playground was fenced. Most of all, God was the primary focus of this preschool!
I felt completely comfortable, excited even, about sending my child there...but even this wasn't the final straw.
The final decision had less to do with Caleb and more to do with Noah. You see, Noah has
never had my undivided attention. Caleb loves to be the center of attention and poor Noah tries relentlessly to share at least some of his spotlight. I really would like some time to be intentional with Noah! There are areas of Noah's development that I know could be strengthened if I had some one-on-one time.
So that was that. Caleb is enrolled and is starting preschool (2 days a week for 3 hours) in just a few weeks. He is super-excited! He rarely has difficulty with separation anxiety and he absolutely LOVES going to Sunday School, BSF, Kids Day Out, and Vacation Bible School. He loves interacting with other kids and participating in activities...which makes me even more at ease about our decision.
I know I am capable of "teaching my child" (hee, hee), but I also realize that I am not the be all, end all. I have weaknesses and faults. Disorganization is certainly one of my major faults in this season of life, among many things. I am excited for Caleb to learn from other wonderful adults while also developing positive interactions with his peers.
Although I will say, I might be shedding just a few tears as I watch my baby walk into his new "school"!
