Isabella and AJ will go to preschool two mornings a week starting this fall. After touring three top contenders I ended up choosing the preschool run by our church. They are the newest and least structured of the three BUT less structure I think is better for Isabella at this point. Also it was the most diverse (at the other two AJ would have looked around and probably thought "Ummm nobody here looks like me. What's up with that?!?). I also already know that I have such an appreciation for our church's philosophies and organization that I am hoping this filters down into the preschool realm the way it appears to do in kid's church.
All of that said, I already I feel like THAT parent. THAT parent is my way of referring to the overbearing parent who's heart is in the right place, but is just so extra that it's hard to take them seriously most of the time. When we toured the preschool in the fall Isabella and AJ already seemed to be much bigger and mobile than the kids in the younger 2 year old class (which based on their birthdays would be the room to which they were assigned). Realizing these kids were almost a full year older than mine I wanted them to be considered for the older 2 year old classroom. Since only one of them is legally "mine". I only sent the email on Isabella's behalf assuming I would get a chance to talk to AJ's mom at some point. Well long story short (and several emails later), I wound up just finally asking the director to ensure they were in the same class.
I now see how easy it can be to slip down the rabbit hole that is THAT parent in the best interest (or what you perceive to be the best interest) of your child. Two lessons learned:
1. Filter all messages through my teacher/principal brain as a parent
2. If ever I am in a position again to work with the children of school aged children filter all responses (even mental responses) through the lens of entering my soon to be 2 year old in school for the ver first time.
