Once again, I’m furious. I won’t go into the gory details, but let’s just say the school has taken it one step too far. In the two years he’s gone there my son has suffered through a couple of things that I felt were unfair. My fear, however was that I was being one of those mothers who feels that her child can do no wrong. Trust me, if there’s something going on, I’m pretty sure my child is involved, if not responsible for the entire operation. (Don’t tell him, but it’s a quality that I admire…)

Anyway, I’ve had it with the school and I would really prefer not to send him back there next year. So, today I started to make phone calls to other schools in the area. The one public school that I would consider is no longer able to accept out of area applications. Apparently the state of Florida, or maybe just the county has decided that they’re not going to do that anymore. Ok, so that one is out.

There are two private schools that are both Christian schools. One is Baptist, the other Non-Denominational Christian (I’m not sure what that even means, honestly). I called them both and the people that I spoke to on the phone both gave great impressions of the school. Next step is a tour. They’re comparable in tuition, curriculum, extra-curricular activities, etc. As I’m speaking to the schools, it occurs to me that I don’t even know the name of the curriculum that the current school follows. Being the paranoid that I am, I keyed in *67 on the phone in case they have caller ID and called the school.
The first person I spoke to had no idea what I was even talking about, the second person knew but wasn’t very nice.

Nancy: This is Nancy, what can I do for you?
Me: Hi Nancy, I was hoping that you could tell me a little something about ***** school
Nancy: ok, what do you want to know
Me: Can you tell me what curriculum you follow, please?
Nancy: Sunshine State Standard
Me: I’m sorry, what is that?
Nancy: It’s the high standard set by the state of Florida, that we must meet or exceed.
Me: Uh, like the public school?
Nancy: Yes
Me: and tuition is $3700.00?
Nancy: Uh huh.
Me: Ok, um thank you
Nancy: click

No good bye or anything… just a click in my ear. I’m paying for what then???

For the “high standard” of public school in Florida? Do you read the news lady?

For them to tell my child that the bible provides irrefutable proof that dinosaur and man walked the Earth together? (Yes he actually brought home a book that stated that)

For them to ask him every Monday morning if he attended church with his family?

For them to accuse me of going away for three day weekends when T stayed home from school on Fridays (after they sent a memo home pleading that if your child was sick, to please keep them home). I, not so nicely, explained to them that my husband was a sales manager for a car dealership and that he hadn’t had a Saturday off in years, thank you very much.

I’m also going to call the Montessori school on Monday. I just can’t be a part of this anymore and I really don’t want him growing up thinking that whatever anyone in a position of authority tells him is absolute truth. And that’s really what they want here.

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Due to the fact that I was extremely lucky in finding a cleaning service, Jim and I can play today.
He’s off, although he had to go in for a meeting… (They have so many meetings it’s remarkable that they have any time to sell cars). He’ll be home around ten and we don’t pick the kids up till three. So we have five hours all to ourselves. Maybe we’ll go out to lunch, maybe we’ll go buy that grill that he wants (ok, I want it too, but it’s really his thing). Maybe I’ll get my nails done while he shops for grills…
It’s nice to have some time together sans children to reconnect, have some adult conversation, make plans for the future. It’s hard to remember to do that when life, kids, school, work are always in the forefront of your mind. This time we have on his one day off makes a huge difference in our lives. I know I’ve said it before but the cleaning service was the best thing I’ve ever done… =)

So, I’m out of here folks. Have a great day!

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The local YMCA is having a special for the summer. $225 for four months. You can sign up anytime between May 1-Aug 31 and get four months of membership. They have lots of different camps for the kids, sports, frontier, adventure, etc. You can pick and choose which weeks your child goes, which camps he prefers to go to in any given week. The camp is an additional $80 for each week that he goes. Kind of pricey, but worth it. The school’s summer camp leaves a bit to be desired. They really don’t do much with the kids besides twice weekly trips to the roller rink, which T hates.

This is another reason I’ve decided not to move just yet. To pay $350 more per month for rent, plus all the summer things I’m planning (Camp, trip to NY, trip to Miami) I’d really rather not have to worry about money. I hate worrying about money…
And that might be stretching it a little too far. So, I guess I’ll be spending the summer at the pool at the “Y” instead of the one that would’ve been in my yard.

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