School Daze

I can't believe it's already March!  More than that, I can't believe that I already have to decide where to send Owen to preschool.  I have to decide by FRIDAY whether he should continue at his current preschool, or whether we want to switch to a different school (with a different methodology).  I like his current school, pvcp, because they are very child-centric.  The academics are subtle, very much a "learning through play" philosophy - kind of like a montessori.  I like that, I think it's good that he has this time to play rather than sit down and learn how to write.  He will have sooooo many years of black and white learning.  But am I doing him a disservice by not putting him in a school with more focus on academics?  That is my biggest doubt when I think about keeping him at pvcp.  And it's not that he won't learn anything at this school, it's just a different type of learning.  And the truth is I think the most important things he can learn in these next two years before school is how to play with other kids, and how to follow directions.  My friend J. is a kindergarten teacher and she once told me that kids who come in knowing how to sit, and how to socialize are kind of ahead of the game.  She can teach them to read, etc. but it's a lot harder to teach them to follow instructions.  On top of that, I feel like it's part of my job as a stay-at-home mom to work with him on letters, etc.  I am proud that he knows all his letters, shapes, colors, and numbers.  He can spell his name and he recognizes some words on sight (mommy, daddy, hykel, papa, mama, and we're working on Liam).  I am going to tour a different preschool (VM)  tomorrow morning and the receptionist told me that the spots in the three day and five day preschool classes are filled, and there are only four spots open for the two day class, AND that people start lining up a couple of hours before school opens up on Open Registration day to get the available spots.  This is a lot of pressure for preschool!  I've heard of parents who sign up their kids for preschool as soon as they find out they are pregnant, but I didn't think that would be the case here in VC.  I actually had a mom tell me that it was important to get your child into a good pre-preschool because otherwise you wouldn't be able to get them into that good preschool.  The crazy thing is that it's true.  I am happy at our preschool, especially because it's a co-op so I am as involved as I want (or don't want) to be.  But I can't help but wonder... would I like the program at VM more?  Or do I only think that because the spots are unavailable???  Maybe it's like they say - you want what you can't have.  I think I will keep Owen at his little school and join the school board next year.  Anyone have an 18 month old-2 years, 9 months old child they want to enroll?  I am the Toddler Membership Coordinator (on the school board) next year.  As always life in our tiny kingdom is exciting and lovable.  I will try to put some pictures up for next time.  Liam's baptism is Saturday so we should have some good pics (and stories) from that event.  XOXO