It has been a rainy, gloomy time and hard not to let the mood go with the weather, especially when you are living in a 2 bedroom apt and to take the kids anywhere, I'd have to navigate the crowds, cover them up with a blanket and maybe rig a poncho around them or a big umbrella in the middle of the double stroller. It wasn't the worst timing since I'd been a little under the weather,really and so had little Huckleberry. He seems all better...I am still getting there. We had some short adventures.
Preschool Shopping with our Relo Specialist whilst kids stayed home with a sitter.Interesting. Don't really feel like going into it all, but my favorite place I liked because the Director was so very warm and one of the teachers was,too. She also had a DIET COKE on her desk and I felt bonded immediately! (Holler at you, Kelly, my City of Richmond teacher-friend and Ken, nicest PRINCIPAL ever, though you don't know about this blog, I will still raise my Diet Coke's to you,too. XO!) It was in this cute community called Lane Cove that neighbors our community, and is the home of our Government Council. She was a little Jennifer Martin-like for those of you who know her. Not as beautiful, sorry Heidi, Jennifer is tall and beautiful and so sweet! But just real and normal and nice. She has her own two year old at the center. I remember when my sister Janice was looking for childcare and I told her about Jen and thought there would be no reservation about her once she met her and there wasn't. (Ask Janice about Jennifer getting on the ground with ONE OF HER KIDS TO JOIN THAT CHILD IN A FULL BLOWN HISSY!) I imagined that one day I, too, might have a little preschooler at ImagineNations in Owings, Maryland. My life led me away from Calvert County. and it took forever before I even had a child. (I even interviewed with Jennifer once, but I just could not afford to make a salary that was not paying for my degree and my master's which I think was still in the works, though honestly do not know if the job was offered, just knew I couldn't do it... Always hated people complaining about daycare prices. The majority are underpaid no matter what YOU pay.)
I digressed again. The eve before the planned trip, I stumbled upon a preschool while window shopping online. The site was beautifully done and looks like a latidotty expensive private school, but unless it's in Greek, the fees are less than some places that I will never return to...one even in the same nice area that just had an odd, stinky kid smell. Not that of dirty nappies, but that squirmy unbathed smell...anyone know what I mean, jellybean? Grossness. I bet there needs to be some ear cleaning there. But gag me with a spoon, this Monkey Mama can only do those of her own and her kids, which you all know I do like a fetish. Ha ha ha! They offered that cool concept "Occasional Care",too, but I shall pass. Anyway, I know a website is an illusion anyone can create, but I can say honestly and not critically, many websites here are not as modern as ours and some places just have very basic info. So after my adventure with Jennifer (I will back track on that later or in another post), I went back to this website which I still had opened on my Magical Green Ipad. I call, though it is late and the after care lady says she will pass a message to the Director. I read newsletters, etc.on the site. It just seems lovely, homey, really. The director calls me the next day (this morning). She impresses me by phone and I hope I didn't ruin my chances because after she requested an email from me for contacting me and letting her know my interest, so she can give it to the preschool teacher. I sent her a lengthy one..She offered for me to visit their playgroup, but she is not doing school visits now so that the teachers and children can enjoy their last week together of the term. Oh how rosy are my glasses being polished?! She said that I could peek in. She would not say they were fully booked like most people say in their first sentence, but that they were just about sorted out for the next term, but to please call her back sometime between Dec.19-21st. Yes, I will , if I am still smitten with the school (link to come later) after I go Wed. Hells yes! We are going and I even got my relo. consultant on board to go with me,. She is one of those not shy types...
So, here is the letter I sent to the Director. Ikes. I am really opening myself up here. Be gentle on me folks. It has a few mistakes...but I was doing this to the tune of cartoons, and two kids playing...
Hello Juliana,
Per our discussion, I am sending a note of interest in your preschool for my daughter (MUFFIN), who will be three 19 Dec. She is bright and vivacious. She is eager to go to school and has mastery of her alphabet, knows much phonics,counts mostly accurately to 20, knows colors and basic shapes. She is spelling and writing as best as her motor abilities let her! She is a beginning reader. (I am a former primary teacher, but I swear, I have not pushed her...she is just one of those kids that absorbs it all easily and loves to learn).
Usually outgoing, we come from a large family of doting aunties, cousins and grandparents...that are all still in the US. She will sing and dance for them. She plays well in independent imaginary play as well as before an audience. She is going to be missing family terribly,and will truly enjoy having a school family. She can be shy around her peers, she also tends to be a bit bossy. It isn't that she doesn't want to play with others...she just likes to direct the show! So, skills wise, no worries. She is caring to other children and her sibling, has a strong sense of right and wrong i.e.she still talks about a little girl pushing her at a playground months ago and seems appalled that someone would do that. Notes when things that aren't very nice occur. I think she will enjoy the activities planned and they will benefit her. Socially though, she would truly flourish in a nurturing environment, fostering her independence a bit from Mom and having
something of her own, now that Mom has another baby to mind. Learning to share and solve problems and develop strategies for frustrations. It will be good for all of us. That being said, (Muffin) is very independent, "I can do it by myself " and has been allowed to help do lots of things at home, especially in the kitchen. She likes to help.
(Muffin)did participate in a two day a week, play school type environment in the states where she was with kids and a teacher. She was happy to be going and just turned to me and said "Goodbye, Mama "before I even walked her in or signed her in! The only thing I did not like about this for her, was this was not a consistent group of children every week. It was more like a playgroup with adult supervision and leadership.
Your website is beautiful and intrigued me. I read newsletters,etc. It seems such a warm community and someplace I would be so happy for her to attend. After viewing preschools in the area yesterday, I got bitten by the teaching bug a bit. I would love to help the teachers out and would be happy to help in ways that I am able, should an opening be available and upon visiting, if we like it as much as I feel we will. I can take home cutting projects to prepare, etc,help with bulletin boards, anything! I do have an 8 month old as well, so my in-school volunteering may be limited.
As mentioned, she is not consistently using the potty, but has and knows about it. She had initiated potty training and I am afraid I dropped the ball on that one. She was early, I was expecting her brother, we were moving from city to suburbs in the states. Then we had a baby, settled into new home and ...moved here! We will certainly get back on toilet training and since we move to Greenwich in two weeks. It will be perfect timing!
Our email is probably the best way to reach us until December 19th, when we will have moved to our rental home. Our phone number will be:xxxxxxxx
Our present apartment number is xxxxxxx. Please do not leave a message as we can't access the voice mail.
Would you be able to send me information for application?The enrolment info. online is being updated. I would most prefer two days a week, as I am a stay at home mom and still would like to enjoy time with her before this precious time is up! Are the fees on the site accurate?
Thanks for your time, Juliana. I hope to come to Wednesdays playgroup and will begin to organize that next.
Should you have any questions for me, please do not hesitate to call. In case it helps, we will be here for two to three years, so it would be ideal if we could keep her in the same school for that duration.
Very Truly Yours,
Valerie Sxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx
So, we shall see how that goes!
TIPS TO KNOW WHEN YOU COME TO AUSTRALIA:
Crackers are called biscuits! I think that is similar to the Brits.
You might have to ask for the Happy Meal Toy for your Happy Meal. at Macca's.
There is a free bus to take you 'round the CBD...Central Business District. Also...buses that are pram friendly. There you go.It's all I've got today.
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