It all started last winter when a friend casually mentioned that she was applying to 12 (YES, 12!) preschools for her twin girls. I seriously freaked out. She had a list already in place, had done all her research and I hadn't even considered preschools yet. So, I hopped on the bandwagon, started researching schools and went to some open houses.
At the time I wasn’t even sure A&M needed to go to preschool, but there I was with the rest of the crazies moms standing in line after the open house to ask questions like “What is your policy with twins?” and “Is this a feeder school for Tiny Tot Prep?” OK, I didn’t really ask the 2nd question, but during this time the sound of my own voice started to irritate ME. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror without wanting to puke.
In my area, most preschools choose classes by lottery and the ones that don't, with names like Country Day and the like, aren't exactly my cuppa’ tea. No chance was I putting on make-up and sitting around with a bunch of other parents being “interviewed” so my kids could be chosen to go to preschool. I paid the $30-$80 per registration and applied to four schools and waited and waited and started asking those annoying questions of friends, "Have you heard from ABC Preschool?" “Oh, Joey got in? Lucky you!”
Then the waitlist notices started coming in: #16 & 17 (dreadful), #148 & 149 (oh, c'mon), and then there were the schools that didn’t bother to respond, but took my $80 anyways. Thank you very much! I felt like we had been rejected, like my children had been shunned. The truth is, it's a lottery so I know I'm being a bit ridiculous.
As my one friend said when she got her daughter’s acceptance letter, "I feel like Susie just got into Harvard!" And I feel like my kids got the thin letter saying “Thank you for applying, but we’re sorry to say you didn’t make the cut.”
I'm really sad that I let myself get so worked up over this. That I actually care, but I do. I can't help it. I need the break from them, they need the break from me, and school is supposed to be good for you, isn't it?
I know it's not the end of the world. I'm sure they'll go to college even if they don't get into preschool. Right?
The part that annoys me the most about the whole thing is that I bought into the game and got all hung up on preschool. PRESCHOOL?! How pathetic.
Do tell, are your kids going to preschool this year?
Mine are going for the first time in September.
We only applied to one. We "won the admission lottery".
Posted by: Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah | August 15, 2006 at 03:04 PM