A really hard decision for me

I love your screen name, Lifez2short!!!! Thank your for the recommendation. Now that you mention it, I had a neice go through that program over 15 or so years ago. My sister still sings its praises.

Oh, mummymo, I love to see a response from you to any of my discussions. You have a way of making me smile or laugh or feel better about whatever it is. I bet people tell you that a lot. Thank you so much for understanding and for the vote of confidence.

Honey - thank you for the very kind and lovely words! I am glad if I can make you smile or feel better in any way - that is what friends are for! I know how difficult it can be to do your best for your kids - I am fantastic with other peoples kids but when it comes to my own - boy do I make a meal of things! lol As for the vote of confidence in your mothering skills - that is easy cos I know you will always put your sons interests first! xxx

Well, he will be 3 by the time he starts. And he will just go for two and a half hours, 2 or 3 days a week (still deciding). I will wait until he is 5 (he has an early September birthday so he will not start kindergarten until he is 6) to do the longer days. I do think it will be important for him to start being around the same kids consistantly and build friendships. I do participate heavily in a mom's group very active with playdates, but there is such inconsistency when it comes to who attends that I think he has not really formed any little friendships yet. Although at this young age maybe that don't really form friendships yet.... they do all seem to be independent about playing when we are together. Oh, there is just so much to think about and I just want the best for my little guy. I am so thankful to all of you for you input.

That is great, eaforeman6. Thanks very much for the link.

I think that it is wonderful that you are able to be home with your son, as well. When my son was about your son's age; we would watch Blues Clues, Dora....I found him some DVD's at the Dollar General that taught ADC's and we have always purchased educational toys....we took the time to listen to him and answer his questions....we would go for walks and talk about the colors, shapes, designs that the clouds made, how water evaporates..gets heavy from all of the moisture in the air and then either rains or snows...how the wind made the grass & trees blow...planted seeds and watched them grow.... I feel like we have created a desire to learn in him by reinforcing his natural curiousity... Now that he is 5, he has been writing his name for over a year...is learning words by sight like: all, at, can, big...I found some really good books at Walmart and we work in them every day....he comes to me each day and says "it is time for my homework, Mommy"...we are working in 5 different books right now....my plan was to complete 2 pages per book per day...many days he wants to do more and I let him...we read together and I let him read the words that he can recognize...we sound out words that are within his scope... I know that I got alittle long winded here....my friend, but I want you to also recognize the possibilities of preschooling at home...we take "field trips".....we have been to the lake...and looked at the insects, kinds of trees...how the water moves; we have been to a Veteran's museum; we went to a old water mill that was used for making electricity at one time.... Every place we go there is something new for him to learn and we use it that way...he initiates these conversation many times and we encourage it... I am sure that whatever you decide to do will be the best thing for your son....There are some good preschools...many chidren have benefitted greatly from them....BUT they can do as well or even better with the right experiences at home.... As for socialization skills, we have 7 grandchildren and we go to the city park where he has regular friends that he plays with....and of course, some of his father and I's friends have young children... I included a photo of the books that we are currently working on...in case you are curious...

You touch on a topic that might actually be what is making it emotional for me. I too am blessed to be able to be home with my son. I do not need to put him in a preschool I just have this idea that it is a good thing for him especially being an only child. I may be have begun to doubt that he actually needs it. I will definitely be taking your advice to make a clearer decision. Thanks so much for the response.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I think I have finally found one that strikes a pretty good balance between fun and learning. Yes, here is the US there is a lot of emphasis placed on "being ready for kindergarten".... I have always worried about the logic of that as so many children don't attend preschool.

Thank you. My husband would say amen to that.