If it ain't broke...
I called the university-affiliated, super-sexy preschool today and told them thanks for offering my kid a place in your program. But no, we won't be taking that spot.
To arrive at our decision, Daddy and I did a lot of soul searching yesterday and today, replete with a pro/con list and a cost-benefit analysis. I have to say I was greatly influenced by uber-Grandma Yvette, who left comments on my Facebook profile to the tune of "Is Isaac unhappy? Are you unhappy?" Well........ no and no. So why would we leave again?
Aside from the cost and the staff, there are incalculable benefits that result from staying put in our little preschool.
1) The schedule at the new preschool would have radically altered our lives. Isaac would have to go M-Th for nearly three hours in the afternoon, as opposed to our current schedule of three days a week in the mornings. The afternoon schedule would probably be okay on Isaac -- he would probably prefer to go without a nap and does fine without one, but he does still take one most days of the week. But poor Jake would get no more alone time with Mommy, because school time from Isaac would mean naptime for him. That doesn't seem fair to me.
2) Daddy and I have steeped ourselves in university culture for years now, with the consequence of never making a serious attempt to put down roots anywhere because we knew our status as professional students would probably keep us moving. But now that my oldest kid is approaching school age and my husband approaching tenure, Daddy and I agree that it's so important to look outside the U and into our own neighborhood. With our preschool, we get the community cred and townie influence that we feel is missing from our lives.
3) The set-up of our school lends itself to the building of a tight-knit parental community. Most people live close, so almost all the parents get there early to pick up their kid. The school is small enough that we all wait in one of their activity rooms for the kids to finish. Most parents are there together for at least 5, if not 10, minutes. We are all talky, asking each other questions, sharing tips about what's up on the weekends. EVERYBODY is in everyone else's business. I'm sure other preschools are like this, but at the U preschool, they make parents park in a fire lane and hustle them in and out to pick up their kids. How well can you get to know anyone in a situation like that?
Of course the best argument for staying is that Isaac loves it and we have always been happy to recommend the school to everyone we know. We did seriously consider leaving for the sexy preschool, because it would certainly intellectually challenge our bright young man in many ways. Not that he's unchallenged in his current school. But I'm not sure, for him, that preschool needs to be all about that kind of challenge.
To arrive at our decision, Daddy and I did a lot of soul searching yesterday and today, replete with a pro/con list and a cost-benefit analysis. I have to say I was greatly influenced by uber-Grandma Yvette, who left comments on my Facebook profile to the tune of "Is Isaac unhappy? Are you unhappy?" Well........ no and no. So why would we leave again?
Aside from the cost and the staff, there are incalculable benefits that result from staying put in our little preschool.
1) The schedule at the new preschool would have radically altered our lives. Isaac would have to go M-Th for nearly three hours in the afternoon, as opposed to our current schedule of three days a week in the mornings. The afternoon schedule would probably be okay on Isaac -- he would probably prefer to go without a nap and does fine without one, but he does still take one most days of the week. But poor Jake would get no more alone time with Mommy, because school time from Isaac would mean naptime for him. That doesn't seem fair to me.
2) Daddy and I have steeped ourselves in university culture for years now, with the consequence of never making a serious attempt to put down roots anywhere because we knew our status as professional students would probably keep us moving. But now that my oldest kid is approaching school age and my husband approaching tenure, Daddy and I agree that it's so important to look outside the U and into our own neighborhood. With our preschool, we get the community cred and townie influence that we feel is missing from our lives.
3) The set-up of our school lends itself to the building of a tight-knit parental community. Most people live close, so almost all the parents get there early to pick up their kid. The school is small enough that we all wait in one of their activity rooms for the kids to finish. Most parents are there together for at least 5, if not 10, minutes. We are all talky, asking each other questions, sharing tips about what's up on the weekends. EVERYBODY is in everyone else's business. I'm sure other preschools are like this, but at the U preschool, they make parents park in a fire lane and hustle them in and out to pick up their kids. How well can you get to know anyone in a situation like that?
Of course the best argument for staying is that Isaac loves it and we have always been happy to recommend the school to everyone we know. We did seriously consider leaving for the sexy preschool, because it would certainly intellectually challenge our bright young man in many ways. Not that he's unchallenged in his current school. But I'm not sure, for him, that preschool needs to be all about that kind of challenge.
posted by Claire at 1:18 AM
4 Comments:
Good for you! I am so glad you figured out what was best for you (all of you).
I think you made the right decision! :) (although I can definitely understand wrestling with it)
Congrats on making a decision. I had NO idea how to help you weigh in on your decision, but if any, I would have ditto'd Yvette's advice. Always tough decisions when it comes to the little ones!
Sounds like you made the right decision. Fancy preschool sounds interesting but not really necessary. Especially since you both seem happy with the current situation.
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