The $100+/Month Question

In case you want to know what I’ve really been up to lately, it’s up-to-my-eyeballs in preschool research. I am certain I did not do this much deliberating about my own college education. And what’s even more ridiculous is I am heavily contemplating the Unschooling method (learning at home) for my kids for the long-term.

But for the right now, I need help. Bastien drives me up the wall sometimes. It’s ok, it’s part of being two I think. But in the words of my late, great cousin Gretchen (about going back to work when her own daughter turned two), “we need a break!” When she expressed this, it just did not make sense in my brain. Being two-year-oldless at the time, I wondered, how do you ever get sick of your kids? How do your own kids get sick of you? And, while “sick of” is a harsh exaggeration, dudes, we need a break!

It all started with Bastien’s naplessness just before Christmas, which launched me into a frenzy of potty training and school researching. Because, apparently, you cannot have one without the other.

Since then, what I’ve unearthed in this tiny town of ours are like a bazillion unique preschool options. Making Bastien and I instant bona fide preschool crashers, since all preschools let you try out a day for free. Side-note to pre-preschool parents: DO THIS! A fun day planned for your child’s education and entertainment: FREE!

Here’s the rundown on where we’ve been:

Milford Cooperative Preschool
Impressions
Mine: Creative, organized, cohesive, school of choice for the “it” Milford moms, crazy level of parental involvement, frenzied
Bastien’s: TOYS! KIDS!

The Carl’s Family YMCA “Character Counts” Preschool
Impressions
Mine: Kindly director from England, Earth-conscious, Dirty, under-stimulating,
Bastien’s: SWIMMING!

Milford Montessori School
Impressions
Mine: Nature walks, drab, pricey, overkill
Bastien’s: A MILLION PUZZLES, BEADS AND STACKING THINGS!

Friends Preschool
Impressions
Mine: Christian, flexible, neighbor-recommended, homework, clean-to-the-point-of-sterile
Bastien’s: FISH TANK! DOLL HOUSE!

All Stars Preschool
Impressions
Mine: 5-minutes further than the rest, Christian, lots of music, 10-acres, Dad’s night with hay ride and bonfire, Christmas program, Mother’s Day tea, story time outside under “The Friendship Tree” (I am not going to lie, the idea of this choked me up), 4-hours/day, healthy lunch included, flexible, Perfect!
Bastien’s: UM, HELLO, THEY HAVE SLIDES BUILT INTO THEIR HILLS!

There are still a handful that we have not made it to, if you can even believe it. I think I have my mind made up though and am leaning toward All Stars (as if you couldn’t tell), but it costs twice as much as the others (excluding Montessori, of course). But then again, it provides me with three more hours while he is in school. I could probably get a weekly hour-long yoga class going in one of the nearby churches during that time and more than make up the difference.

Shew, this is exhausting.
Bottom line: I’m the best mother ever.
But seriously, if you’re going to shell out your kid, do the research. There are some great things going on out there.