Here it comes -

[kyburg]

Big Boy School called - we've got our spot, and it begins June 6th.

That means Xander will be transitioning from one preschool to another, and starting kindergarden in September at the new school.

I'm thrilled. It's a third of the cost less than his current placement, and it's a fantastic school.
I'm terrified. His current placement has been an absolute rock since he came home, and my absolute go-to for everything.
I'm sad. Here's another huge change I have to walk and talk this kid through. I have to. But dammit, I don't LIKE it.

It's closer to home, open earlier, doesn't close for the holiday season - just the actual days like work does, closes later, is next to a real, live protected wildlife estuary...and is full of strangers.

And I have to pay full tuition, even if I don't want him to start with them full time. If I want to ease him into this, I'll be paying two full rides for the months I do this.

One month or two? I have to find out.

Shit, the plumbing/house was 60% of our money the last 30 days. But by June, two tuitions for one month? Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. Oh, who am I kidding? I HAVE TO FIND A WAY, THIS IS IT.

Fuckaduck.

Comments

[eyelid.livejournal.com]

Here's another huge change I have to walk and talk this kid through.

Eh. These kinds of changes are normal.

If he's going to kindergarten, aren't there public schools around he could attend? Then you wouldn't have the financial concerns...

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Before and aftercare would be more than what this school provides as a matter of course - like triple or worse. Plus, the public school near me is 80% one ethnicity, something we don't have to have, and really isn't what our family needs. This new school is very close to the 30,30,30,10 I like to see (and is much more like Real Life around us).

Not to mention it's not across a 60 MPH, four-lane boulevard. That's for openers.

Man, I wish you could see what losing three teachers in the last 90 days has done to this kid - I can only hope as he grows, these things dial back down into 'expected' territories. Right now, any change throws him. We know why, but you can't fix it any more than you can fix how many hours are in the day.

[dandelion-diva.livejournal.com]

So glad he got in. Sounds like a wonderful place. :)

I really hope his transition is as easy as possible.

[turandot.livejournal.com]

Is there any way you could visit the school with Xander in tow to figure out whether he's going to have an issue with the big change or not? As in, just stopping by to fill paperwork with him in tow, and while you do that, have him check out the school? That's what a lot of moms would do with their preschoolers at the daycare I worked at, so that when they started they were already familiar with the surroundings.

[sekl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Sean's very averse to change as well and it helped to visit the school beforehand. At least he knew where we were going. He still had to adjust for a bit, but it wasn't such a rough introduction.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

He's been there twice now - first time, he completely froze up. Second time, I was along to talk to the director with him in the room - and it was a conversation I really wish I could have had with him outside playing.

You know the one - 'this is an international adoptee who has only been speaking English for a year....'

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

Yay! Congrats to Xander!

Btw, I sent you a message over at FB, since replies aren't getting posted here easily. Yay for DDOS attacks.

[brododaktula.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming if it's a good place, they'll be good about the transitions, too. Our little one was able to make the change with just a few days of visiting part-day to make sure she was comfortable, but she also wasn't coming from a different school. Talk to teachers and see what they recommend, but trust yourself. And yay! Congratulations!

Sadly, changes like these are often necessary to give kids the stability they'll need for the longer term. I know how you feel, I think.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

I love the person who answered the phone this morning - does that count?

Lots of time. I may not be able to soft pedal all the landings, but I can this one.