Preschool Madness

For those who don't have children or your children are somewhat grown, I have to tell you that getting your kid into a preschool these days is pure madness. It's stressful and it throws you back to the days you were applying for college.

If you're a new parent, it starts at about age 1 (2006 for me). "Did you sign your kid up for preschool yet?" everyone asks. "WHAT?" My kid's only 1! Then you think, "Eh, he's only one. There's plenty of time." Then people keep asking, "Did you sign your kid for preschool yet? Have you gone on tours?" Then you start to feel the pressure. I for one did not want to get into the frenzy. I said, "I am not getting into this chaos. There's plenty of time. I'm SO not thinking about preschool...I just want a good night's sleep!" The pressure continues..."I went on this tour and put my kid on the waiting list. Did you know there's already a waiting list for 2008? I've heard this about this school, and this about this school. I really hope he gets into this school." WHAT???? Containing myself, I think, "It's okay. There's plenty of time. These people are just crazy neurotics."

Then, just like Morgan Freeman says in Shawshank Redemption, "All you need is time and pressure." BAM! The anxiety begins. The frantic calls to the various schools, "Do you have spaces for fall 2008?" "No?? Can I get a tour? Can I get on a waitlist?" The running around. The endless tours. The endless questions at the tours ("What teaching philosophy do you follow? What is the student/teacher ratio? What do you do for discipline? What do you do about kids who come sick? What are you expectations for parent involvement? If my kid comes in the afternoons, what about naps? WHAT ABOUT NAPS? DON'T TAKE AWAY THE NAP!) "Can I put in an application?" "What's your registration fee?" "What's the monthly tuition?" "HOW MUCH??" It's like a car payment, and we're not talking about a car payment for a Hyundai or even a Civic. We're talking in the SUV range.

Then, there's the waiting. You wait and wait and wait. A year goes by, and you don't really think about it. Then, the closer you get to spring before the fall you're supposed to start, the anxiety and frenzy starts up again. "I'm on the waitlist at this place and this place. I'm just waiting to hear if we got in. So-and-so told me if you go to the mommy & me class you'll have a better chance of getting in... I heard that the school is having a silent auction. Maybe I should attend to show them I'm interested....Should I call them again? I want them to know I'm interested, but I don't want to harrass them.." It becomes the main topic of conversation among parents the same age as your kid. It is the topic of conversation on my block. "Did you hear anything yet? Did you get anything in the mail?" Then you get a sliver of information like they're supposed to call you after the 14th and let you know if you got in. You come home and ask "Did the school call?" You check your answering machine. Is that message light blinking? Yes, it is! Oh no, it's just the stupid LA Times calling again...

Then, like me tonight, you come home from dinner and that message light is blinking. YES! We got in to the school we wanted. It's such a relief, such (sadly) happiness, as if the great questions/mysteries in life have been resolved. We got in! YEA! You'd think it's damn Princeton or something. Of course, you have to then call your friends who were on the waiting list at the same school and do the "Did you get in?" thing.

I tried my best to not get caught up in all of this. I really did. I try not to be neurotic, even though I am. I know that I am, and I try to catch myself. I drive myself crazy. I drive Paul crazy. But you know, everyone wants what's best for their kid. And you'll do whatever you need to do to make sure they get the best start in life. Even if it's just preschool. You want to provide your kid with every opportunity that they could possibly have to be happy and well-adjusted. So, yes, I got caught up in the chaos. And in this case, it did just take time & pressure, because in the end, I figured, if I didn't get it together and get him into the best school for him, there would be no spaces in any of the better schools, and I'd have to end up sending him to the preschool next door to a 7-11 because that's the only school with openings.

So for now, we're good - until we have to find a school for kindergarten...