I’ve decided that M will be going to a Montessori school by the time she’s three (She can start at 2 years 9 months). I still have to go visit the second school and attend the first school’s second open house (next time the actual classroom teachers will be present and their classrooms set up, it’s a new building). School #2 is a little farther away, but they do Spanish every single day. Also, they are not associated with any churches. School #1 has the benefit of being in the same building as the public K-2nd grade program, so she wouldn’t have to switch physical buildings at age 5.
So I have to go to each school and make a decision by winter, but I’m not worried about that. Plenty of time to visit and see the classrooms during actual class time and get a feel for which would fit M best.
The best part of the switch, (ok besides the fact that the learning style fits M best, and the Spanish), is that for $100 more a month, she will be there full-time (8:30-3:00pm). Which means Grandma won’t be the only one getting a break! I currently try to work on both of her two school days now (she goes Mondays and Fridays from 8-4pm), but just imagine how refreshed and ready to engage I will be if I have until 3pm every day to do stuff! I can sleep, clean, organize, weed and garden, and do my language learning. I could even watch a grown-up movie! At 3pm when I pick her up I won’t be a crabby mom who can’t wait for bedtime, I will be an energized, refreshed mom who can’t wait to play and interact with my kid! And she will be busy learning, playing, and socializing all day… something my extrovert really needs.
So 2016, I am so looking forward to you!
Mother of All Things 