To Preschool or Not to Preschool, that is the question

Gracie has been in preschool now for the last year and a half. We chose that preschool back when she was just a little over 2. Seems like so long ago, she was so much littler (sp., even a word?), not potty trained, was just starting to muster up some "deep" conversations and hardly socialized. Based upon all this, we found a great little place in Pleasanton, that met our needs financially as well as spiritually and comfortability with teachers, classrooms, criteria, academics, play, etc. Well, fast forward a year and a half later and our shy, diaper wearing 2 year old, is a vivacious, stubborn, sweet, lovable, strong-willed, chatty, friendly, imaginative, goin' in the potty all by herself 31/2 year old. Those are just the adjectives right off the top of my head!!! She has done so well in school and I believe it has really helped her to blossom into the little girl she has become! Which is why this decision is so hard on us.

My thought was for her to always in her 3rd. and final year of preschool, to go 3 days a week, to prepare her into the "scary" world of Kindergarten. Well, her school now, will not allow us to choose the days in which she attends their fine establishment, apparently all the Mom's in Pleasanton are stay at home Mom's that don't have to have their kids revolve around their work schedule! All that aside, okay, time to make some important decisions do we

A. keep her at her 2 day a week schedule and hope that it will be enough to prepare her physically, mentally all that for the big 1st day of Kindergarten? Or....

B. move her all together to a school with a more flexible schedule therefore fulfilling our plan of having her go 3 days a week.

As you can imagine, both these come with a lot of considerations; money, a big one, considering the time right now; moving her away from all she knows in a school, teachers, friends, schedule, etc.; and finally, our comfortability with all this!

It has been on my mind a lot lately and trying to decide what is best is really tough. I am reminded that she is adaptable and will probably be just fine in whatever we decide to do and that God too will provide in whatever decision we make. I just fear that these decisions only get harder and more important as time moves forward. I can't imagine having this very conversation in about oh let's say 14 years about choosing COLLEGE!!!! Oy vay!!!

We have decided for her to go to another preschool starting in the summer and then continuing through fall of this year into the following spring. I'm still struggling with the decision and worrying financially how we will make it work. But, time will tell and nothing is permanent, so all we can do now is see what the future will hold and try to remember that this is only the beginning!