Mommy Diaries: School

Deciding on when and where to begin your littles academic career isn’t easy.  French? German? American? Nearby? Commute? Should you apply for pre-school or keep them in nursery till kindergarten? When should you enroll them in nursery in the first place?

The possibilities are endless.  There is no right answer, but there are plenty of choices. People make it seem so trivial, but it is really such a big deal. Yes of course you can always change schools or nurseries, but who’d ever want to go through that hassle all over again? 

The first question should be whether or not you are ready to send them off.  Now please mommies do not let anyone influence your decision. Base it on your gut. Do you need to get back to work? If the answer is yes, then off they go.  Do you need some alone time in the mornings? Then perhaps start with something part time for a few hours a few days a week. If you just can’t bare the thought of saying goodbye just yet, then invest in a few activity books and knock yourself out.

Everyone’s situation is different. Some people function better when they are given ample alone time. Some moms need to be around their kids all the time. Neither the former nor the latter is right or wrong. You do what’s right for you! 

Then we get into the academic part. Are you planning on raising your littles with a third language? Are you going to stick to Arabic and English? Montessori schooling?  Or something with a more uniform style of thought? These are all questions you should be asking yourself and the nurseries/schools you visit. Ask how they react to inappropriate behavior. Does their disciplinary code of ethic go with yours?  If you’re a laid back parent who doesn’t believe in time outs, perhaps a school with a strict enforcement policy isn’t such a great idea.  If you’re a laid back parent but you are looking to put some discipline into your child’s life, then that’s exactly what you need.

I can’t say this enough, there is no such thing as a wrong or right decision. Just priorities. What are you looking for? Now go find it!