public school boy

"If you must go to work tomorrow, well, if I were you, I wouldn't bother.
For there are brighter sides to life, and I should know, because I've seen them.
But not often."

Today was a difficult day, but I think ultimately a happy one. We enrolled Blake in the local Montessori school, so he'll be going to full-time school in the fall. This was a difficult decision for me, because I think Blake is too young to be in full-time school, but he clearly needs more programming than the 3-days-a-week at the local highschool (excellent and beloved though it was). My choices were:

1. Send him to JK, with my parents dropping him off and picking him up (and my mother expecting her usual rate for a full day).
2. Send him to my parents, pay for a full day with them and also pay for the pre-school (they were picking up that tab last year out of the money I was paying them).
3. Freak out, quit my job, watch Blake all day until the bank forecloses on the house and we have to move back into the basement.
4. Freak out, make the Boy quit his job and watch Blake all day until the bank forecloses on the house and we have to move into the basement.
5. Send Blake out to work. I hear this area is in need of some slender, bright chimney boys.
6. Realize that tuition is only $150 more than what I'm paying my mom. Enrol Blake in the local Montessori school. Buy a uniform and order laundry labels and think about hemming and try not to lose it completely.

My dad was pissed. I haven't spoken to my mom yet, but I have no doubt that she is also pissed. Their plan, which was plan 1 (with plan 2 as backup) was making me uncomfortable. I've always liked the Montessori idea, and though Waldorf is my first choice of alternative schooling, that is just one more thing I get to give up thanks to my choice of real estate (also, I really can't afford it). This is very convenient to the house, very desirable in terms of philosophy, and very necessary if I'm to feel more actual gratitude and less secret resentment for my parents.

Of course, I feel bad that my dad is losing his wingman, but I did ask him to watch Blake for the first few hours of the day. Maybe that will be enough to ease the transition. I'm really looking forward to going back to a straight familial relationship with my parents, rather than the queasy mix of client, child and debtor I've been for the last few years.

Labels: blake, family, threshold experiences

- 0 comments/hedgehogs -

- Rocketbride's adventure of 8/21/2007 09:15:00 p.m.