With the advent of a potentially colicky and sleepless baby (he will, after all, be derived from my gene pool), I have a new project: searching for a preschool for Hadley. Since she’ll only be 2 in the fall, I cringe at the thought of a full-time daycare program. What I am instead seeking out is a little school where I can drop her off for a couple of hours each week so I can have some alone-time with the baby and Haddie can have some much-beloved social interaction. In theory, it will be so Junior and I can hit the trails with my hiking club but in reality, we’ll probably spend many of those mornings sleeping. Sweet, sweet, sleep.
You’d think finding such a preschool would not be a difficult task but it is. Most preschools don’t even take younger kids. For those who do, they require either three days a week or full-time enrollment, neither of which are a desirable option to me.
My neighbor recommended a school to check out so Haddie and I did a tour last week. We both fell in love. The moment we entered the classroom, she delved right into their activity without a second thought (shyness is obviously not one of her attributes. Again, my gene pool). The staff was perfect, the location perfect and it would only be for two hours a week. Did I say it was perfect?
I was about ready to sign away on the dotted line until the end of the tour when we passed The Mom’s Room.
Nice Tour Lady: “And this is where the moms meet while their kids are in class.”
Me: “Where the moms meet? What do you mean?”
Nice Tour Lady: “All parents of the 2-year-olds are required to stay on-site during class.”
Me: [hedging] Why is that?
Nice Tour Lady: The district requires it of all public preschool programs.
Me: Oh. [Quickly envisioning my break from the Hurricane slowly slipping through my fingertips].
Nice Tour Lady: Is that a problem?
Me: Errr…no. [What I was on the verge of saying: I'D HAVE TO BE CRAZY TO SIGN WITH YOU. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED PLACE WHERE WEARY PARENTS CAN JUST DUMP THEIR KIDS OFF?]
Call it the pregnancy hormones? I expect to receive my Parent of the Year nomination any day now.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 