As many of you know, we have not been happy with Thomas' [on base] preschool. From the beginning, it just didn't feel right - meeting teachers & staff, lack of feedback, no clear signs of any real learning, a mixed group of 3-5 year olds in one class (and most were young 3s), Thomas not excited to go to school, lack of structure and discipline, etc, etc, etc. The list really was pretty long. To me, the "preschool" seemed more like a place for kids to socialize & play with other kids. While that is great and we want Thomas to have fun at school... it wasn't the only reason we wanted him to be in preschool this year. Hello? Kindergarten is next year. And although I know Thomas is smart as a whip, he still has much to learn before next August when he heads off to big school (*sigh*).
So as a teacher & as a parent, I talked to his teachers (because that is always the first step) but quickly realized that there really wasn't going to be any kind of change. So, as any concerned parents would do... we started to talk to other people who had young children and find out what kind of experiences they were having either at the same school or different school. After only a short time, we had many glowing recommendations about a Christian preschool (which is part of a larger K-12 school) just off base. With so many different people telling us wonderful things about this preschool, we quickly checked it out.
LOVED it. L-O-V-E-D it from the moment I first walked in. Honestly, the reason it felt so right from the beginning is it reminded me so much like our daycare ("school") back in Florida. The director was warm and welcoming and the kind of lady who just wants to give the kids hugs and make sure they are loved (just like Ms. J back home). How can you not love that? After a quick tour of the school, even the building felt like the kids' Florida school... a little tattered on the outside, cozy classrooms on the inside, loads of learning going on, age-appropriate classes, structure mixed with discipline, smiling faces at every corner and teachers who said hello to all of us by name. BY NAME. Again... it reminded me so much of what & who we left behind in Florida. And it just felt so right to have Thomas at this school.
Fast forward about 6 weeks, and Thomas had his first day at his new school a little over a week ago. Brian and I both were able to bring him and pick him up that day. I remember when we were pulling out of the parking lot that morning, Brian looked over at me, sighed and said, "This is much better. This really does feel right." That afternoon (and every afternoon since), Thomas doesn't want to leave. He so looks forward to going to school now and it warms our hearts. He recants his day without us even having to ask. He can't wait to share what he learned, what his favorite part(s) of school day was and what he did out on the snow-covered playground each of the 2 times per day they go out. We get some kind of feedback every day along with handwriting & Phonics, readiness skills, and language work that was done each day.
On a related note. We don't belong to any particular church. I grew up Catholic & Brian grew up Lutheran, but we haven't joined any church nor have we had our children baptized yet. Right or wrong, we don't attend church on Sundays and (formal) religion hasn't really been a part of our every day. From time to time (namely Christmas & Easter) we have attended a service, but that really is the extent. Now tie this into the fact that our son is now attending a Christian school (complete with private tuition cost) where religion is very much a part of the school day (Bible time, prayers at meal/snack time, ABC Bible verses, etc). Talk about a new change for him (and us). I say "us" because we now have some new conversations happening in our house that we never before considered. For example, the other day:
Thomas: I learned about Baby Jesus today at school.
Me: Really? Tell me about him.
Thomas: Well, he has a mom and a dad and was born far away in a tower.
Me: A tower? [As I look up and catch Brian's eye across the room where he is trying desperately to not let out his laugh]
Thomas: Yes.
Me: Do you mean far away in a manger?
Thomas: Yes, I think so.
Me: So what do you think of Baby Jesus?
Thomas: How come he wasn't born at the baby doctor like we all were?
I'm sure this will be the first of many, many Jesus (and religious) questions that we will have to field. I'm gonna have to dust off the Bible myself just to keep up with my 4-year old soon. We are just happy to report that Preschool has taken on a whole different feel and we are very happy in deed.
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