Doing Our Homework...

After four months of deliberating about placing Alex in the public school system, A.J. and I finally had what ended up being almost a two hour visit to what would be his future elementary school.  As mentioned in a previous post, we have spoken with many people at length, both teachers and parents, about the change.  While I have been encouraged by what they have said, I still felt anxious about the idea.  Our meeting today was with the school counselor, the principal and two second grade teachers (who A.J. actually knows).  We were given a tour of the school, saw many of the classes in action and had ample time to raise up any questions we might have about transferring Alex from a private school to this particular school.  Anything and everything.  They were very patient and willing to discuss, candidly, whatever things we brought up.  A.J. and I left so encouraged.  Any feelings of doubt I had about whether or not this was the right decision are gone.  I just have that peace that you get when you know you're in line with what God wants you to be doing.

A.J. and I decided to "break the news" to Alex when he got home from school.  We had planned very carefully how we would phrase everything, and how we would convey to him what a positive change this would be.  So this afternoon after he came home from school, A.J. brought him in to the kitchen table.  He kept things relatively to the point and simple and told Alex where he was getting to go to school next year.  He broke in to a wide grin and was beyond excited.  We were in shock.  Then we gave him a gift bag with a school t-shirt and hat to cap off the "news breaking."  Before we could even begin to tell him all the cool details of his new school the doorbell rang and his little buddy was waiting to play.  He told her he was going to be going to the same school as her next year, and they were both giddy.  The spirit of my own child surprises me sometimes.  I underestimate him.

In the coming weeks we will be taking Alex on a tour of the school, and have him meet the teachers.  And then later we will set him up for some assessment tests.  I'll be curious to see how he does - I'm not anticipating any great problems - but I'd like to know that his current education has served him well, and I thoroughly anticipate that that will be the case!

So a new chapter will soon begin in our lives this fall. Life is good.