Saturday, September 12, 2009

Preschool Dilemma

My little boy is 4 now, and pretty much every other kid his age is in preschool. So I have been wondering if we are doing the right thing by NOT sending him. He just seems too little still! I know it would only be a few mornings or afternoons a week, but it seems like a lot. Am I preventing him from reaping the benefits of going to preschool? Am I one of those hyper-protective moms? We go to a library story-time, he has his own class at church, and we have play dates at the park so it's not like he is cut off from the outside world. I was an elementary teacher and I KNOW there is always at LEAST one rotten kid per class. Plus Blaise is such a sweet sensitive soul, I can just picture him having a "friend" who is in reality a little monster. Another reason is that I want to be the one to teach him, not some stranger who may not value Blaise for the incredible little boy that he is. So I thought I was good with him staying home, but I've been wondering if I am making him miss out on this experience. OH the mommy guilt - it cuts deep! Any advice/wisdom on this matter is most welcome!

5 comments:

mish said...

I commented on FB, but just wanted to say again that I think you are a great momma!! Enjoy your boy as long as you can at home!!! Not very many moms get the opportunity to stay at home because of their circumstances! I thank God every day that I get to stay home with my kids... :) Not sure it will always be that way for us, so happy to enjoy it now! Don't feel a stitch of guilt!!! :)

Amber said...

Thanks Mish! I so appreciate the validation! They'll only be little once right!?!

dawn said...

I may not be the best one to comment. After all, I still have my 18, 17,15 and almost 13 year old at home and not in a classroom situation. When I grew up we did a lot of church activities, camps and camp meetings. When my husband was growing up, he did a lot of sports. When our kids were young, there were times when we thought perhaps they were missing out on some of the things we did. I had to remind myself that their life is not my life, they have different things that they will value, they have different life experiences and they are different people. I also kept it in mind that every moment they spend with or without me is one I can't get back. They are young for a short time and bringing them up in the love and nurturing of a loving home is so much more important than a few hours at preschool that they may or may not remember as adults. Ultimately, it is not the experiences we remember from our childhood, but the character that is developed through whatever experiences we have. The time spent with others of a child's age without the guidance will not always bring out a good character the way those experiences do with the gentle teaching and guidance of a parent. You are doing great; when in doubt, ask your friends.

Lu Xu said...

hi my name is Lu, am a strenger !
just happens to be eating my lunch also reading your blog...
am not a mother, but I believe like everything else, you can have all the advise you can from friends, from family, but after all its yours & your husband's decision to make when the little one should go to school, and trust yourself you'll make the right decision for them, coz you love them.

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