Preschool

(A letter to Elle)

We decided not to enroll you in preschool this year. You will be three in January and there are plenty of preschools that would happily take you, especially now that you are potty trained. We toyed with the idea, but only briefly.  You are a pretty smart cookie. You know the alphabet, how to spell your name, count to 25 and you are already trying to "read" (you will point to words and say "that means dog").  You have a very active imagination and do a ton of pretend play. You already tell jokes and even tell little white lies! Socially, you do get overwhelmed with a lot of loud noises or a ton of kids but your are leaps and bounds better than you were a year ago and mostly you run up to other kids and announce to them that your name is Elle and they are now your friend.

Part of it is financial. We are building a house right now and it is EXPENSIVE. My hand is cramping up from all the check writing to make that long time dream a reality. But if we really, really wanted you in preschool, we could.

I have researched all the preschools in our town and the one I really want to send you to is 5 days a week. I like their philosophy of kids practicing going to school daily and getting into a routine. I think, for you, you are too young to be at school 5 days a week. First, I aware many kids are in daycare from 6 weeks old and they are just fine. But your dad and I made a choice that we would not go that route (again, nothing wrong with it, just for our family). But you are my snuggly baby. Not ready for school, even though I know you would be just fine.

I love our mornings together. I think it is great bonding time for you and Brynn since after 12, we are getting ready for naps and after naps, comes the dinner rush. You two play together so much between the hours of 8 and 12, and I think that bonding is really important right now. Plus Brynn just loves you do death and would miss you terribly. Plus, I love bering witness to your development right now and guiding you.

You are little for such a short period of time. And although there are days where it may be easier if you were in preschool, I, you, Brynn, we are not ready just yet. I think next September you will start school and I will cry like a little baby but I will feel much more ready. It is such a personal Mama decision and I have gotten some flack for it but I am trusting my instincts and that feels really good.

Love you my sweet, sweet baby. :)