First Day of (Pre)School!!!

Our original plans have changed; I was fallen prey by the preschool madness. Here, it is, as I imagine everywhere now, pretty crazy when it comes to enrolling your children into preschool. You would think you were applying for an ivy league education. Hopeful parents apply as early as December for the following August's enrollment. Lines wind around the block. Apparently it is next to impossible to get your children in as 4 year olds, as that is much too late. Those slots are filled by children from the 3 year old classes. Lotteries are held for the negligent hopefuls, tears are shed, and huge application fees are spent-nonrefundable. During Kate's 3 1/2 years of life I have poo-pooed the notion that I must enroll her into a preschool when she is an infant to secure her future as a four year old and ultimately scholarly success during her lifetime. After all, I am a professional educator. I have seen first hand the "benefits" of preschool, and feel the preschool pressure to be nothing but a scare campaign, akin to McCain's desperate attempt to scare the electorate as to Obama's "questionable" associations. But, I now have egg on my face. I have always planned to send Kate a couple of days, in the morning, when she is 4 to preschool. Just to start to bridge her into formal education. I kept her calendar full with social engagements as I do believe that is the true benefit of preschool. I, however, did not take into account two things. One, that all of her friends would be going to preschool, making it harder to get the kids together. And two, how much Kate took to her little playschool at the gym every Thursday morning. She showed me that she was ready to jump in, perhaps before I was ready. Such is the natural progression, isn't it? Anyhow, our choice was not wrong. On Kate's first day of preschool, Kate jumped into it with gusto and joy that I can only hope continues throughout, at least elementary school....and then maybe medical school?