Now at 4.53am, I don't have anyone to talk to but only to write here to pour my thoughts out before they over-fill my mind and I might be too over-stimulated and can't get back to sleep...
Alvis baby is turning 3 next year and I'm sure parents of children at the same stage would be looking around for a good preschool to kick start the education journey. I seriously have been on this issue since the longest time, and all the time, I just cannot commit to one decision and stick to it.
Reason being, I always have to ask myself "Is the school the best?" and I'll be going all over the place sourcing for reviews on the school and hoping to gather as much information as possible. But if this is easy, then I wouldn't be so confused now. :(
I am now stuck in between: to send Alvis baby to childcare (full day program) or to just 3hours max a day school and maybe to attend enrichment class on weekends. Either way has its pros and cons BUT I just cannot weigh them. URGH.
A good friend has shared with me this childcare opening next month in Serangoon area. We're looking at registering our kids there together so they can be classmates and grow and learn together. I think it's a fabulous idea and I like how she suggested that we send them in at 9am and pick them up at 4pm after probably their Chinese lesson and they wouldn't have to be cooped in there from 7am - 7pm. I think this is a good arrangement because it's not really full day in school then. Alvis baby will get to come home and shower and rest just in time for dinner and we could spend the whole evening till bedtime together bonding with the family. What I am worried most is the naptime and mealtime in school. Will he be well-fed? Will the meals be as healthy and delicious as home-cooked? Will he nap well in school? All these questions inevitably pop into my mind EVERYTIME I am on this schooling topic. SIGH.
If I were to send him to just 3 hours class per day, I'm not sure if it's sufficient and the kids these days are all so competent and most of them have to attend enrichment outside the 3hours normal classroom time during weekdays. But of course attending 3hours school per day, I would not have to worry about his mealtime and naptime. I would probably have to sign him up for enrichment lessons over the weekends. However, I feel attending school almost everyday of the week is as tiring and as stressful as attending full day school 5 days per week. I've always wanted weekends-free-from-lessons for my kids so that we can go on family outings and learn through family bonding and spending quality time together. Imagine having to wake up everyday (including weekends) for lessons (academically structured or not) is quite a chore and mood-dampening no matter how enjoyable school may be.
I personally have faith and trust and confidence in Alvis baby that be it a 3-hr class or full day lesson program, he will put his energy to good use to concentrate, to learn and to foster good relationships with his friends. I have confidence in him that he will not give his future teachers much displinary problem. It's only me. The mommy. The sometimes-too-overprotective-mommy. The sometimes-think-too-much-mommy.
Full day school may sound long, but out of which 2 hours are dedicated to nap and 1/2 each for lunch and teabreak. Eating and napping at own time and own pace at home is indeed very comfortable and pampering, but I'm sure as kids, sometimes they enjoy the company in school and doing everything together makes everything more fun?
And I seriously don't know which is the best school to pick? No matter how expensive the school is, there's bound to be negative feedbacks. I know expensive schools does not means they're good and schools with a big establishment does not necessarily means it's super credible and have the best teachers. If only that is so, I think it would make everything easier. I think the best way is to still, let Alvis baby tries out on his own. To experience school life himself, as I think I have no say in which school he HAS to attend. It's all up to him.
I think I will most likely spend the day ahead and the day tomorrow, intensively discussing with my hubby on the best plan for Alvis baby. Maybe we should let him try and see how things go. Maybe I should put him full day and see if he can adapt, else switch to 3-hour class daily. Maybe I should..... ..... ....
Any kind mommy reading this? Would appreciate if you have any valuable feedback.
I think I feel better now... Time to head off to bed, I'll have to wake up extra early later to go to the market and prepare the ingredients for his meals before I go to work! Alvis baby is going to spend his day with dear daddy! And we're going to TMC to visit Baby Chloe! So can't wait!
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