DC Metro Moms

I can see clearly now the snow has gone, but now I'm kind of a weirdo

 The snow has almost melted and the roads have been clear for more than a week. Kids are back in school and one would think all would be right with the world. "The 11 Days of Captivity" as I have come to call it took a toll on everyone.  The joke wasn't missed that the only day the kids went to school prior to The Big Snow was Groundhog Day, and the 10 days following just seemed like a really bad Bill Murray movie. Same snow, different day.  Earlier today I was talking with our neighbor and something occurred to me, our reality has shifted to include things that earlier we may have eschewed but now embrace as routine, if not totally normal.

1. Inviting your neighbor over to do their laundry since you have a generator and they don't.

2. Wearing flip flops when it is 45 degrees because you consider anything above 19 degrees a "heat wave." This goes along with letting your kids wear shorts to school because you've lost touch with reality and they are going to be successful pushing the envelope, so they do.

3. Writing a "Thank you" note to your children's school because you now fully understand and appreciate why it is your children go to a school and are not home-schooled by you.

And let me break for a moment to say when my son's 4th grade teacher emailed homework for us to print, I went to download the PDF's and wondered, "Why are they studying 5 pages about hormones?"  Homophones. It was HOMOPHONES.

Education: What makes a summer?

When my first child was born, I was determined to give him an idyllic childhood.  A childhood free of time-stress, overscheduling, demands to perform, and all the pressure that seems to accompany even the preschool set here in D.C.  I read the preschool admissions and waitlist stories on the DC Urban Moms email list with horror, shuddered when I read The Nanny Diaries, and turned instead to online discussions by the Not Quite Crunchy Parent and others researching and living The Waldorf Way.

I had visions of making all my child's own toys and helping him explore the wonders of nature every day ... at least until he turned six.

I Ain't No Home Schooler

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to meet some brilliant home schooling moms online. While reading them, I've always been in awe of their dedication and creativity. Never once have I questioned whether or not these women were doing what was best for their children. Their good intentions seemed as clear as the words on their pages and I knew that the families involved were reaping the many benefits of their hard work.

Recently, I had an encounter with an entirely different animal.

Preschool

(a simple text image of "ABCs" would be fine as accompanying graphic.  I don't know where to make one, but would love any suggestions! -- Susan)

As a resident of the D.C. suburbs, I live in some respects between two worlds.  On the one hand, I've worked downtown for years and been (at times) thoroughly absorbed into the fancy-happy-hour, out-with-colleagues, traveling-on-expense-account world that treats preschool admission as Baby's First Accomplishment and applies for a spot before birth.  On the other hand, I've found an utterly fantastic group of moms here in the suburbs who appear to be more relaxed about the whole affair, and who have had wonderful results with their kids at neighborhood co-ops, preschools at nearby churches and temples, and the public kindergarten.

Personally, I'm torn between the whole must-get-into-the-best-school flurry and an overwhleming urge to just keep my kids at home and close to me, protected somewhat from the suburban stress and testing merry-go-round.  They're going to be in school for a long, long time.  Twelve years for a high school diploma.  Four more for college, and if they want to go on for graduate degrees like their daddy and I did, we're talking easily 20 years or more.  Should I really add on to those years with a high-stress preschool? 

I've been visiting preschools this week, and it's hard to find a good fit.

Back to (Home)School

Yesterday was our family’s back to homeschooling day, which is quite different from other families who send their kids to school.  But, I think the kinds of goings-on in our household are different even from the typical homeschooler’s routines. 

There is no typical day.  Chaos reigns.  Schedules change on a dime.  And “expect the unexpected” is our motto.