Sundays the eldest has Religious Ed classes at 8:45. Wonderful husband and I both awoke before the alarm and started chatting about where the kids should go to elementary school: Public versus parochial.
My whole life I always envisioned my children going to the same private grade school I did (which is why we live in the same parish), following in my family's footsteps by progressing to the private single-gender high schools and on to college. But like most my other future plans, it's almost polar opposite and not what I would have considered my first choice. I've become more resilient to this and starting to be more flexible with what His plans are for me. Surprisingly, I'm not that anxious about it either. One thing I've learned in my quest to be a mom and raising my family...things always work out.
In my traditional South-Side Irish-Catholic neighborhood, the debate about public vs private is a question that I hear all the time from old classmates, friends, etc. We have a fantastic public school system, so both are very equal.
Well, with the eldest's special needs, preschool, kindergarten and first grade have been selected for us = Public. But what about the twins? And the eldest if he moves into mainstreamed classes? What is the right choice for them as individuals, not focusing on money, family-influence or Catholic-guilt?
So, I decided to ask wonderful husband how he decided to go to the private high school, after being the minority in selecting that, from his public grade school. His answer, "I thought they had a good baseball team." Oh boy. I'm not convinced that an idea like this will be a good enough driver for any of our kids.
My thought now: How do we get the kids to want to go to these private high schools after attending the public grammar schools...where most of their friends won't end up going. I think to have them been successful, they need to want to attend there, not be forced by us.
So, after some general early morning discussion, we decided...we can play it by ear. Can that really be considered a decision? Maybe we will send the twins to public school for Kindergarten and then to the parochial school starting in first grade. Two more years would have the eldest in third grade, possibly ready to move into mainstreamed classes, and if not, that is okay to have them in separate schools.
As a twist, 6 months ago we were probably 90% sure we would send the twins to the public school, but now we are back to 50/50, or maybe even 30/70%.
Though, the CRAZIEST thing happened next:
Our conversation ended. My alarm went off...it was the exact lyrics: "Reach out and touch faith" by Depeche Mode.
Wonderful husband made a comment that it was probably a sign. We both laughed. Though he knows...I read a lot into 'signs.'
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