A New Start

Today we are starting Shelby at a new school - Lighthouse Academy. I think I have more anxiety about it than anyone else.....even though in my heart, I feel like it will be a good place for her (and our #2)! I didn't have any huge issues with her former school (like I did when I left her first school), but I also was not 100% at peace with it. After Jack switched from 24 Hour Fitness to Lifetime Fitness, the school was no longer in a logical location. A major reason why we picked Childtime was due to its proximity to Jack's job. The new school is less than a mile away from Lifetime.  There were also a few "mommy voices" speaking to me about Shelby's school....I felt that she was on pace to outgrow the program. I noticed that an increasing  percentage of the children (mostly boys!) were not very well behaved and/or came from families that did not share our same values. And finally, turnover had increased in recent months. For more than a year, there was nearly zero turnover, but since the summer months, I have observed more and more.

So with that - we found the Lighthouse Academy. In addition to its location, it seems well organized, more structured, attracts families a bit more like ours and the ratios are great. In the baby room, for example, there are six babies and three teachers. In a typical Las Vegas/Henderson baby room, you'd find a 4 babies: 1 teacher ratio. I don't think it was a coincidence that all the babies in that one room were happy and either being played with or being held.  Additionally, Jack and I have a lot of "must haves" that we don't necessarily find at all child care facilities....limited holidays, good pick up/drop off schedule and DANCE CLASS! One thing I felt awful abut was pulling Shelby from her weekly at-school dance class, but this school has it too for the same price. Thank goodness. One thing they don't have is a food program, so I will be packing lunches, but it's a trade off I am willing to make. Shelby is not a very picky eater anyway, so I think she'll be fine.

As for Shelby. she is most excited about her new lunch box, thermos and backpack. She has asked a series of adorable questions like "Will there be an office?"  "Will there be a food cart?" "Do they have swings?" so I can tell she is processing it on a deeper level. I am not sure who will have a longer first day today - me or Shelby? She will know one little girl in her class, Mila, from her soccer team. Mila is normally only there on Thursday and Friday, but with the holiday this week, she is going on Monday and Tuesday. Jack took her last week to take a look and we have talked about it for 10 days or so. Wish us all luck. On with the adventure. My hope is that by the time I have to put a tiny baby in there, all the kinks will have been worked out and Shelby will take  pride in the fact that "sissy" is coming to here school.

Wish us luck!