Good decision. I love it when I am such a good parent!

Ok. My concerns about messing up my child for life by sending him to private school have been obliterated.

Last night was a parent's meeting at the school with the teachers and it was fantastic!

 Get this: This school prays every morning before class.
                This school recites part of the preamble of the constitution, and various other famous writings  every morning.
                 This school requires each child to memorize a poem every week. (I remember my grandpa telling me he had to do this growing up and always had a great poem to tell.)
                  This school takes 6th graders and up to the Shakespearean festival every year to view a play they are reading.
                  This school has two faculty members (principal included) who work, UNPAID, because they believe in a good education.
                  My son's class has 12, count them- 12, students!!!!!!
                  Every kid learns latin to better their understanding of language and grammar.
                  The school day is from 8 - 12, so more time for extra-curicular activities.
                  Aaaaannndddd.... there is a family who lives just a few blocks away from us who wants to carpool so we can each have a week off!!!! I'm sold!

I am super excited for this year now!!!! Big sigh of relief.... bring it on, baby! (Is it next Tuesday yet?)

"The big hard decision" (or, "My kid is really going to need therapy someday!")

Ok, let's face it, every parent has NO clue what they are really doing as a parent. It's a shot in the dark when it comes down to it. (And we will never admit this to our kids, right?) We face decisions every day about things that we never encountered when we were kids, that our parents never had to face because there weren't things like internet and cell phones and violent video games. (Asteroids was pretty edgy, I admit, but nothing compared to what is available now!)

I am finding myself constantly scratching my head at some of the choices I have to make as a parent. However, I think I'm doing pretty well, overall. My hubby and I discuss things together and usually agree. My son is reasonably accepting of our decisions with the average amount of "why mom" and "but, but...".  And in the end he is really good at complying and moving on. (When I put my foot down about NOT playing Halo under any circumstances whatsoever, he didn't even argue. In fact, he told his friend he didn't think he should play it and to stop bugging him to play it. Pretty impressive if you ask me!)

So, the decision to remove my son from public school and into a private one was pretty difficult, and came with a lot of doubts, fears, uncertainty, and apprehensions. (And many more accompanying words I can't think of right now.)  But, the decision has been made and he will be attending a private school this fall.

Overall I think this is going to be a very good move. Parts of me are nervous for change, though. There is no playground or recess. The school day is only 4 hours long. I will now be driving him to and picking him up from school every single day. (Yes I got lazy being able to watch him from our door to the school every day in the comfort of my own home.) I have to fix lunch for him every day now. (Which I loath and despise having to make lunch every day, but will get over eventually after I feel enough guilt for feeding him microwave burritos for the 15th time.) Extra activities like gym and music will have to be done outside of school. (But we've got it covered- piano lessons and swim team.)

So, why am I nervous? Because it's change. It's something neither my  husband or I have ever done. It's different. But sometimes different can be good, right? My son seems to be fine with it, so we should be too. I just hope I'm not setting him up for years of therapy in the future, you know? ("My parents ripped me from the only school I ever knew and sent me to...  oh.... I just can't say it..... p-p-p-private sssssschoool!!!!") 

So, two more weeks of summer at our house and then.... back to school! I feel like I'm going back to school too. Maybe I should go buy myself some new clothes to celebrate! Sounds like a good plan to me!

Uniform

School uniforms:  Like or Dislike

For me, it's a little of both. I like the ease of shopping for clothes with limited choices, but I still have to buy regular clothes for after school so it's like buying two wardrobes. Blech!

However, this year with my kiddo starting at a private school I was a little worried about the uniform policy. But I was happy to hear there is no "special" uniform (ie: ridiculously expensive ugly plaid pants with required wool jackets and ugly brown shoes). In fact, the uniform policy is pretty much the same as his last school with one exception. He can wear ANY color of shirt he wants rather than just three color choices, as long as it is a solid and has a collar!

So I have been shopping like a mad woman buying every color polo shirt under the sun. And the sad thing is my son will probably do his usual "shirt of the week" and wear just ONE shirt for the week, claiming it is perfectly clean and why make all that extra laundry. Ya, he does his own laundry, so you can see his ploy here.  (I finally had to make a 2 day shirt rule: if it's been worn for 2 days it goes in the laundry. And yes, that huge ketchup stain on the front means it has to be washed even if it's only been worn once!)

But yay for all the colors of the rainbow in choices now! I know he doesn't care as much as I do, but it makes me just a little bit happy about school clothes shopping this year.  And yes, I did get myself a new purse and some new granola-ish sandals. Hey, a mom needs a little something for herself for shopping so hard for her family, right? I thought so!

Where have I been???

I've been:

Splashing at Bear Lake
Hiking Bridal Veil Falls
Strolling around Cascade Springs
Exploring the zoo... twice
Sliding at Seven Peaks
Screaming at Lagoon
Lounging in my back yard
Riding my bike
Playing with nieces and nephews
Watching movies with my hubby and son

And there are still 26 more days left to enjoy before the kid goes back to school!!!!

I plan to:
Feel the burn on several more hikes
Play on a vacation
Enjoy my sister's baby some more
Splash at the aquarium
Slide some more at Seven Peaks
Make at least ONE s'more
Swim at the pool
Explore the copper mines
Enjoy my backyard

And.... harvest a fresh tomato!!!!

So, you may not hear from me much until I'm satisfied I've accomplished all I set out to do this summer!

See ya soon!!!!