Third Time Is a Charm?
My fingers are crossed. We have chosen a new preschool for Lucas and he’s scheduled to start on Tuesday of this week. This one’s called Hidden Treasure and it’s the one farthest from our house, in Carmichael. Miss Jennifer will be his teacher. It’s another in-home program and Lucas will be her eighth child.
I must admit, I’m torn between raving about how cool this new school and teacher seem, and being cynical. Once bit, twice shy. Twice bit, three times bitter and untrusting.
OK, for all our sake’s, I’ll look on the bright side and rave a bit.
Jennifer has a huge, beautiful yard in Carmichael. She has three children, two of whom go to the Waldorf school. The youngest is home with her preschool group. The children and Miss Jennifer all spend the majority of their time outside in the yard. They garden, dig in the sand, and walk on a balance beam made out of a springy 2×12. She has a walk-in rabbit hutch with eight bunnies, some of which are really friendly and let the children play with and pet them. The kids have a small water fountain to splash in.
The inside of Jennifer’s home is lovely too, although there’s far more space outside than inside. She has beautiful, hand-made toys. She and the children have baking day, soup day, art day, and gardening day. They go on long walks to Ancil Hoffman park, which is just down the street.
When we visited, Lucas managed to play with just about everything. He spent his time exploring all that the place had to offer, especially the rope swing outside and the balance beam.
Today at 3:30, Jennifer is going to come over so we can do the paperwork and so she can be with Lucas in his own home. I think the theory is that it will put him at ease to get to know her a little better in his own home territory. For some reason I cannot explain, I’m really nervous about my house and whether we will measure up as a proper Waldorfian family. (I’d better go clean something.)
At lunch time today, we told Lucas he will be going to Miss Jennifer’s school. He didn’t say much, but neither did he scream and cry. We told him that the change has to happen because of grown-up reasons and that it’s not his fault and he’s not being punished. He’ll make lots of new friends and get to play with the bunnies and walk (and jump off) the balance beam.
Like I said, I’m holding my breath and crossing my fingers.
October 9, 2005 at 11:14 pm
Good luck sweetie! I love you guys, and my fingers are crossed for you.
~Janise