And so it begins... school that is.

I can't believe I have a kid in school.  Real school, not just pre-school.  Tuesday was Eve's first day of Kindergarten.  Sob, sniff, sob, etc.  Actually, we were both totally excited and totally ready.  She is almost 6 now and had to watch and wait while all her little friends started school last year.  She has been ever so patient but finally it is her turn!

We chose to send her to the local elementary school about 5 blocks away.  I am so happy we chose Adams School!  They have great teachers and I love that Eve will get to know more kids in the area.  I want my kids to be close and I support public education.  Strangely I also feel a lot more part of the community already.  We feel really blessed to be involved with Adam's School.  We feel like this is exactly where we are supposed to be right now.

Now, please don't be offended (I tend to be very blunt, if you've never noticed) but I feel like where kids go to elementary school is so competitive and I hate that it is one more thing for parents to become cliquey and critical about.  There are lots of elementary schools in the area to choose from but I hate when people look at me like I’m a bad mom for sending my kids to, oh no, a local public school.  It bothers me when people imply that their child is getting a better education elsewhere and therefore their child is going to grow up to be smarter, richer and a better person because they're not sending them to a public school.  Blah blah.  And don't even get me started on home schooling.  I live in Cache Valley where our public schools are safe and kids can get a good education.  The teachers work hard and do their best to help each of their students succeed.  I honestly don’t care if my 6 year old doesn’t have to memorize the Declaration of Independence as long as she is progressing as a kid should.  I want my kids to be mentally stretched but not broken.  I want my kids to get to know and become friends with people that don't always have the same ideas, opinions, beliefs and background they do.  I'm thankful to have the opportunity to allow my kids an environment where they can learn about such things and then return home to discuss such things with our guidance.  I want to give my kids the best start in loving education and lifelong learning without giving them a chip on their shoulder. 

I hear too many other parents almost brag about all the high pressure stuff going on in their child's kindergarten class at other schools and I think, since when did that become a good thing?  Kindergarten is not college. Kids have enough stress in life, the last thing I want is to purposely put my kids under more stress and pressure to outperform other little kids.  There is so much more to education than the academic aspect.  Children learn through playing, experimenting and exploring.  I feel like many other types of schools don't put enough emphasis on that.  They need that to be well-rounded and adaptable in life.  Going to a school where the social aspect with be nurtured in balance with the rest of the educational experience is a priority for me.  Kids need all the positive social help they can get now days.

I'm thankful we live in America where we have so many different choices for quality education- and often our choices don't have to cost an arm and a leg.  If others feel their child would benefit from a different school or another type of school, good for them.  But should I really need to apologize or defend actions for wanting to give my kids a traditional education. I think not.

 I suppose I could write an essay on my opinions but instead of boring you all, I'll hop off my soapbox now.

So far, so good.  Eve loves her teacher- Mrs. Garrido.  Eve calls her Mrs. Burrito. Ha.  She loves her class and her new friends.  She's meeting so many that she can't even remember their names.  When she passes by them she just calls out "hi friend."  Cute.  I love that she loves school.  Now if only we could get her to love homework too. One step at a time.

It's going to be a fabulous year!