Catching Up

It’s been an interesting day.

I purchased a bridesmaids dress for what I assume will be the last wedding I am ever a part of. I’m thrilled and honored to be part of this wedding, but I’m stressing out about my flabby arms and post-pregnancy (2.5 years, but who’s counting?!) hips. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried on my usual size in the chosen dress and nearly fell out of it. Down a size was much better (and good for my ego too!). So that was that.

On the way to the bridal store, D and I got into another in a series of ongoing discussions about the education of our children. It’s been a constant source of stress and headache. A has been at the Catholic preschool here in town for 2 years. We love the school and he has had a fantastic experience there. It would seem natural for him to continue on there for kindergarten, and that’s what the current plan is. However, just because we have a current plan doesn’t mean I’m not constantly questioning the right-ness of said plan. In my mind, I’m weighing the issues of tiny class size, combined grades, the inability to continue Catholic education beyond grade 6 locally, and the question of the unknown against the moral and religious education he would receive, small class size, individual attention, and perhaps slightly more rigorous curriculum followed at the school. Then there’s the whole issue of the public school system here...where D graduated and where we know many teachers and administrators. There’s the issue of old buildings, larger classes, and the lack of the religious component to education. There’s much more choice involved, in terms of teachers. There’s the question of open enrollment possibilities at the elementary level. It seriously gives me a major headache!

The whole question of education frustrates me. D and I have differing views on it. I work in education and am even more confused and frustrated and worried for the future of my own children because of it. Beyond the basics of food, shelter, safety, and love, I think that an education is the most important thing with which we equip our children. So what to do if one is in a place where the educational choices aren’t what one wants...or if there is no choice at all? I talked with my superintendent in very general terms about this not long ago. I’ve come to respect him greatly, and I think he puts forth some valuable ideas. His children are nearly grown now and he said that when my children reach that point, I’ll look back and be amazed at how these things worked themselves out for the betterment of my kids. I took that to mean that things will work themselves out in no small part because of the work that D and I will do along the way. But I also took it to mean that eventually things will be OK for them...and for us.

One of my kids said something very funny during a session today. We work so hard on his expressive skills, and one thing he has particular difficulty with is defining words in a way that makes sense. So I was having him tell me three things he knows about any word I give him. So we did “shoe” and “dog” and other simple ones. Then I said “golf.” His three things? You play with a club, you hit a little ball really far, and you get mad.

I thought that was hilarious.