M D Oh My Goodness!

Pre-school, Mother's Day Out, or Montessori? Two day's a week or three? This year or next? Derek and I had been debating these questions ever since Emerson's first birthday and along the way we made several inquiries with preffered schools. We quickly discovered that the majority of programs in our neighborhood were already filled, so we were placed on a few wait lists and assumed we would end up having to wait until next year. Well low and behold our phone rang and Emerson had been accepted into an MDO program at a Baptist learning academy just a few miles from home. Derek was excited and I was of course, a basket case. We had one night to sleep on it and by today the director needed our decision, otherwise they would offer to the next child on their lengthy wait list. So inevitably the debate began... Would Emerson feel abandoned? Was I ready for him to be away from home? Could I relinquish control enough to let others dictate my son's education, feed him, put him down for a nap? Would Emerson cry when I dropped him off? Would he spend the day crying? Was 5 hours twice a week just too long?

To be honest, I don't have the answers to these questions. And despite asking my husband for the answers a thousand times over, he has assured me that doesn't have them either (bless this man's patience!). And if we don't give it our best try, we'll never know. So today we met with the director, signed all of the forms, wrote our first tuition check and said a prayer that God was putting our family in the right place at the right time. It was "meet the teacher" so we had a chance to introduce ourselves to Emerson's two teachers who were of course completely smitten with him and also see how Emerson interacted with the other children in his class. He couldn't have done better! His confidence, bright smile and wide eyes confirmed that we were indeed making the best decision for our son.

 

It is our sincere hope and intention that starting school now will help ease Emerson's transition into becoming an older brother. Becoming more independant, being away from home and making friends his own age is a complete lifestyle change for Emerson and a new sibling will be a major change as well. We would hate for Emerson's little world to be rocked by no longer being an only child and then shortly after begin sending him off to school. What message would that send him? Our fear is that he would feel abandoned, jealous of Sawyer and potentially act out. Establishing a school routine now allows us to do so completely focused on him and by the time that Sawyer arrives MDO will be Emerson's happy little getaway from all of the new baby adjustments.

 

So asking for prayers for a smooth transition as we begin this new adventure, for all three of us!