My plan was to keep things simple. I never wanted some overprogrammed existence for me or my children. So, I ask myself repeatedly, how did my schedule turn out like this? This semester has turned out to be a marathon of drop-offs, pick-ups, one school, two schools, mornings, afternoons…and a big pile of hockey equipment that takes an alarming amount of time to put on.
We started out with a plan. My son had been waitlisted (way down the list) for the French Immersion school we wanted, so we decided to keep both him and my daughter in the Montessori school that we love. It’s obviously more expensive than the public school, but we thought we’d stretch it out for one more year before putting him into the public system for Grade 1. He loves his Montessori – it’s his third year with the same teacher he adores, he’s with his sister and great friends in an environment that is both loving and highly stimulating. I was satisfied with my decision and we fell into a lovely routine that consisted of leisurely mornings with the baby and my big kids at home (which I loved, knowing that soon, mornings would become crazy and hectic), with swimming once a week and some playdates here and there. It was all very manageable – the kids would go to the school in the afternoon when the baby slept, and I would have some free time before picking them up.
The above-described scenario was a short-lived one. In early October, the Boy got into French Immersion. Were this the summer months, I would have been ecstatic. His getting into French Immersion SK not only guaranteed his spot in the highly-sought after program and school, but secured spots for both his sisters if they so desired. How could we say no? But then, how could we pull him out of Montessori a month into the school year when he was thriving there so eager to stay there? There was only one solution: he would go to both schools.
So, now, instead of quiet days, I have crazy days. Six car trips a day, traffic, way too much coffee…hours spent driving around my ‘hood in a big, blue van. It’s brutal. And boring. But, the Boy is over-the-moon happy at both schools and for that, I will keep doing this for as long as I can.
Oh, yeah. Mine isn’t a van but the rest sounds pretty familiar. But Kath is right, in no time we’ll look back longingly on the days when they actually needed us!
i totally live in my van too 😉
Hey Amreen, my mom always gives the best advice, and one of her best gems is: this too shall pass. The kindergarten years are the hardest – just because that half-day (ha! Since when is 2.75 hours is a half-day?) is over so quickly!
Soon enough all our little ones will be texting us from the bus stop to say they’re picking up an extra shift at work to pay for the concert tickets they want to buy, and I try to remember that when I am driving all over my own hood in my own big (gold) van.
You are a saint! Wow, that is a lot of shuttling here and there for those kids. It must be wonderful to see just how happy they are with everything, though.
Boy, what we do for our kids!
You make sure you give yourself lots of treats!