Unfortunately, our little town doesn't have much to offer in terms of meeting other kids. We did meet some during the summer at the pool, but nothing yet where she could play regularly with other kids. Church also doesn't have much to offer, so preschool seemed like the solution to the problem.
There is a day care in town, but not one that I have been too impressed with. And then I found this preschool that seemed really nice and cool, and very much in line with what I'd hope for in a preschool setting. The only down-side about it all is that this preschool happens to be 22 miles away from our house. It's a good 25 minute drive (or 20 minutes if no one gets in my way). But, we enrolled her nonetheless.
She's been suuuuuuuper excited to go to "school". For her first day of preschool we made her a "Schultuete", which is a German tradition. It's a coneshaped big container that you get on your first day of school, and it's usually filled with candies, little toys, ...you know, just little gifts. We're still contemplating home-schooling, and so we figured we'd just make her one for preschool, in case she'll never go to an actual school (though her HUGE need for socializing with other kids makes me less and less sure whether that'll be the right route for her). Sophia actually helped me decorate her Schultuete, and then I just filled it with the goodies.
Anyway, so Sophia loves her preschool. And I'm really happy with it, too. There are only 9 kids, so it's a small crowd where the kids get lots of attention. The owner is also the teacher, and you can tell that she just LOVES what she's doing. She's very invested, and she studied biology, and actually home-schools her own kids. They do a lot of nature-based hands-on things, yoga, and so forth. I'm glad we can give Sophia this opportunity. I just wish it was closer.
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That is way too far to drive. Is there no where you can go that's close during preschool?
Nope. Nothing out here to do in the meantime. When there isn't construction, it's not soooo bad. It's I leave at about 8.35am to get Sophia to school by 9am. Then we get home by about 9.25am. Then I have a good 3 hours to do stuff at home before I have to leave again.
But when there's construction - I just want to rip out my hair, and quit.
It's tempting to just put her in preschool at the preschool around the corner. But if I pay money, and send my kid somewhere else, I really want it to be top-notch. And I wasn't as impressed with the daycare/preschool out here.
Sophia's preschool really is a great place, and I feel very comfortable leaving her there, so even though the drive sucks, it's worth it to me. Also, we're trying to adjust Henry's work schedule a little so he can start picking her up. Then it won't be quite as bad.
Hi Franzi, just took a minute to read the most recent posts back to this one. I miss you guys. The kids quotes had me seriously laughing out loud by myself. Sophia is a hoot! I am soo sorry about the construction. The time is just like driving from here to Hannover - so on a normal day, it would be bearable. On the other days though maybe you can combine it with some shopping or visiting someone sometimes and not make the drive back and forth? I wish there were a good answer, but there probably isn't one. I also wrote down a whole list of names for you, but I can't remember where I put them, so you don't get them.
Just wanted to check in. Love, Quinn
Quinn, I wish there was somewhere to go, but it's sort of like this:
We live in Burney, which is in the middle of nowhere. Then you drive 17 miles east, heading further into the middle of nowhere. You hit a tiny town with 600 inhabitants. That's not where the preschool is. That's just where the road is (the only one) that takes me to preschool. Then I drive another 5 miles on that road to a place with, urm, maybe 100 people in it?, and THAT's where preschool is.
If we live in the middle of nowhere, I don't even know how to label the place where her school is located. The end of the world? It's very pretty and peaceful out there, but there is most definitely NO shopping, and I don't know anyone to hang out with, either.
Also, again, when there's no construction, I do get a good 3 hours at home, and that's worth it to me. It allows me to spend some one-on-one time with Alba, or get some stuff done around the house.
It's just when there's construction where it hits "unbearable". I was hoping there'd be another kid enrolled form Burney and that maybe we could take turns driving. And there IS another kid from Burney. Unfortunately, the mom's car is too small though to accommodate another kid with car seat, and she works out in that area, so she doesn't come back when school is done. Sucky.
It'll be fine. In a few weeks, Henry will start picking her up as well, and it only goes till May anyway, so. We'll live somehow I'm sure...
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