Squirt's first year of preschool is coming to an end in a few weeks and, like many parents do, I can't help but think back on the past year.  Even before preschool started it was tough for my wife and I to even decide which school he should attend.  When the first day of school finally came around I had high hopes but, unfortunately, it didn't turn out as expected.  To make matters worse, over the next few weeks Squirt didn't adjust well to his preschool. After much thought, we transferred him to a preschool with which he was more familiar but quite far from our home.  We managed to get him squared away in his new school and he came to enjoy it very much.  This was a weight lifted off my shoulders. Last summer I remembered looking forward to Squirt's first year of preschool very much and now that it has pasted, some memories will always stay with me.

Dressing Squirt for school in his little uniform.

Getting that last hug and kiss from him before he goes into his class.

See that day come when he wanted to walk into the school yard on his own and he made me kiss him in the truck where no one would see.

Seeing him almost burst at the seams with excitement because he had his latest school project to show me.

Doing homework with him.

Listening to him recite the songs he learned in class.

Seeing him write his own name (still a work in progress).

Letting him take the school bus home from school (his preference by the way).

Finding a best friend and inviting him over to play after school.

Listening to the high lights from his day in school.

http://twitter.com/squirtsdad/status/71730180082769920 I can only imagine what the next school-year holds for him, and I, but we are looking forward to it.  In the mean time we have a whole summer vacation to enjoy...

...And we haven’t even started preschool yet.  Being a dad, I always want to make the best decision for my son and I want the best for my son.  When it comes to entering school I want to give my son the best chance to succeed, that means picking the best school.  Unfortunately, it looks like it also means the most expensive school.

My wife and I are on different pages when it comes to picking a school for Squirt.  She wants him to go to a school which is small and caters only to very young kids.  Equivalent to what you would call preschool through 2nd grade in U.S. standards.  My first perception of this school when I visited it the other day was that it was more of a day care than a school.  The kids didn’t seem to be doing anything and they were just being “watched” as opposed to some type of craft, reading time, activity, etc.  Of course, I may have just showed up at the wrong time to see more of what they offered.  The most appealing thing to my wife is that it will not cost us a fortune to send Squirt to this school and it’s where our daughter went 10 years ago.

On the other hand, the schools I prefer are full elementary schools, the U.S. equivalent of preschool to 6th grade.  The two schools I’m considering are quite a bit more expensive but when I visited them I caught a glimpse of different classes (with kids about Squirt’s age) actively being taught by a teacher in front of the class and even one class in the middle of P.E.  Squirt liked watching that class from the Principal's office window and mimicking the stretches the kids were doing.  Problem is, my wife is not on board with me when I mentioned the prices of these schools, actually, no one I’ve talked to has agreed with me sending my son to one of these schools.

I’ve already turned down an enrollment for Squirt at the most expensive, and probably the best, school and I was only able to get him on a waiting list at my 2nd school of choice so there is a possibility we may not even get in.  Everyone is telling me that I don’t need to spend so much on school and Squirt is a smart boy so he will do great at any school.  That may be true and only time will tell, but is it so bad that I want him to get the best education we are able to get him?  While the schools I prefer will put a strain on our budget I believe we can swing it.  School doesn’t start for another few months so I’ll be stressing about it til then.