We are taking her tomorrow to a preschool "interview". Only in Hawaii (or I guess New York) are parents feverishly comparing which preschool "feeds" into the right private schools, and strategizing how to get their TWO year olds into the "right" preschool. Oh, the whole process makes me feel slightly nauseated. Granted, yes, I did go to Punahou, which in most people's eyes, especially alumni, and mine, is THE school in Hawaii. And because I loved my experience there, I want Maddie to go there. But, I'm torn. I'm not ready to join the legions of psycho parents who actually send their poor children to tutoring sessions to learn interviewing skills at the age of five so they can get into Punahou for Kindergarten. But, I would really like Maddie to have the same experience I did - the beauty of the school, the fabulous teachers, the strong sense of community, and the feeling fostered on campus that yes, you can be anything, and more!...but I guess all Hawaii parents want the same for their kids, and will do almost anything to get it.
So we applied to 2 very nice Montessori preschools...and we also decided to dip our feet into the world of private school neurosis, and we included one of these feeder preschools. And, because they have such an overwhelming number of applicants, they actually hold interviews for preschool slots. It boggles my mind. So we are to show up tomorrow morning at 8 am, Maddie in hand, dressed, fed, and suitably perky, where she is supposed to take place in a mock class and show her overall readiness to be a preschooler, and who the heck knows what else they are looking for. My mom said, "Oh I heard they want to weed out the physically handicapped kids, so they will ask her to walk forward and backwards and hop up and down." and then, she adds, "They didn't take you, or Jeff." Thanks Mom.
I have no idea of Maddie can walk backwards or hop on command. I am just hoping that she won't either cling to my neck, sucking her thumb in a fit of shynesss that I can only imagine would be misinterpreted as some social anxiety disorder or borderline autism, nor decide that she won't even enter the building and have a tremendous temper tantrum to prove her point.
Anyone who knows my girl at all, knows that asking her to hop on command like a trained monkey is like inviting a complete disaster. Maddie, when the mood suits here can be charming and so darn cute and smart. But when pressured to do something she doesn't want to do, she can throw a temper tantrum that would make the paint peel off the walls. I've been having nightmares that we show up to this interview with her writhing in the back seat wearing nothing but her socks because there are days that she just DOESN'T WANNA PUT ON HER PULL UPS.
Sigh.
2 comments:
Good luck with the interview. Quite frankly, I think you guys are ahead of a lot of people by just being Hawaii, as close to nature as one can be without sacrificing the gist of modernity. I'm also shopping for Nathan's daycare/preschool recently so I can feel the pain. When I saw one school asking 2 year old to wear uniform, I wasn't sure how I should feel. What I always tell people based on my personal experience is that it is easy and cool to wear uniform. But I see my little one wandering in the house wearing my Crocs on his feet, or mumbling "I'm going to turn on the music; I'm going to dance," I ask myself what's the hurry to be like a grown-up when he is just beginning to learn who he is! But in the end, I think I'll still do what you do - get your child into the best school you can by all means. My rational will be that it's the best thing I can do for my child in an imperfect world where I cannot be with him for as much as I would like to.
Good to see a new post - I've missed having updates on your blog. I love all the new Maddie pictures and anyone in their right mind should take your interesting, independent little girl with her own mind over some kiddo who hops on command!
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