Mason starts school in September. We enrolled him in a 5 day per week 2.5 hours a day program. I wish I felt better about the decision we've made.
Understand that I am not naive. I am very aware that I can't keep my first born baby at home with me forever. I am also aware how important it is that he play and learn from other children. What scares the hell out of me is the impression that other kids could have on Mason.
We are out and about everyday in the summer and are around tons of kids. What I've noticed is how nasty and disrespectful kids are now. They say awful things to one another and can be downright mean! Again, I know that kids will be kids and that I won't be able to protect him forever from hurtful things but also that it is my job to raise this little person to be the best person he can be. At this stage in life, he copies, he mimics and wants to do what other people do whether it is being the sweetest kid around or bullying. Let's be real here...no one wants to have a brat for a kid.
I have a nagging piece of my brain that wonders if I hold off just one more year, would it make a difference?
I talk to my family about this often and they (thankfully) understand completely. My mom has commented a few times about "how relieved she is that she is not raising kids these days; It's a different world now." And just so you know, my parents aren't all new-agey or peace-lovey. They are pretty by the book. So this time their agreement with me has made me think even deeper and more seriously and realize that this time I'm not overreacting.
After all the dramatics and talkie-talk, my point is simple. I've got a pretty cool little guy. I'd really like to keep him that way.
9 comments:
I worry all the time about other children's impressions on my own kids. I don't think you are overreacting at all.
Yea, he will learn lots in public school, my daughter's school was pathetic. I am talking elementary and there were so many kids in detention they were in the hallways, needless to say I pulled her out along with my older son and started homeschooling.
I remember feeling the exact same way as KJ began school. Thankfully, he's spent the last two years tucked away at a 3 mornings a week preschool of the Christian variety and has had a good experience. This year begins public school kindergarten, though, and ohhhhh boy I'm nervous this time around. Not only for what he might learn from other kids, but for what he may repeat and teach his two year old brother. Gahhhh I wish we could keep them home and safe forever.
After this weekend, I'm open to home schooling. Mason came home after picking up some choice words and a crappy attitude courtesy of the older neighborhood kids, I can only imaging what it will be like once he's in school.
Oh, and not to mention the little "episode" at my daughter's school where they went on lockdown because of someone suspicious with maybe a weapon but maybe not.. and my daughter was upset because the kids/punk ass kids in her class wouldn't be quiet when the teacher locked the door and told them to be.. she was scared "they" would find them because the kids wouldn't listen and be quiet.
The word of the weekend was "loser". Such a nice, kind word. Mason was so clueless that he just thought it was a new word to use. We had to tell him it was a word that could cause hurt feelings!
holy shit, pedro! are you gonna do the home schooling or what? ;) seriously, on the one hand, it is only 2.5 hours a day and it is the place where SF didn't learn the word loser, but he did learn the word HATE. sweet. on the other hand, if you truly desire to keep him home, i think you should follow your heart and instincts because you only get one chance. if i were a SAHM, i think i would. you can always enroll him in some FUN group activity...like tumbling or wall climbing...there is waaaaaaayyyyy too much pressure to push kids into school. i personally think a 4K literacy program is ridiculous. then again, i don't have any other options. you'll make the right decision. trust yourself.
Ahhh well...you know, if I had the time....; ) Honestly, its painful to watch an innocent kid learn useless hateful language, on the other hand he'll learn it somewhere along the way.
truly! you can imagine how i felt when sf started suing the word hate and it came form one of the teacher's kids. i was so sad and horrified. three years hell, four years is way to young to use that word! in turn, later in the year, they made ME feel bad about SF's behavior and i wanted to tell them to eff off. they do learn it soon enough and honestly, i don't think your sweet boy will be missing anything by not going. i'm sure they're not going to be reciting shakespeare so... i wish i had something persuasive to say about my experience there, but i really don't know WHAT to say about it.
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