Public or Private

Where we would send our children to school was not something we took into consideration when we moved to Georgia. Jason and I both grew up in the Midwest where we were offered an excellent education through the public school system. My high school was very competitive. You were not in the "in" crowd unless you were in honors classes and played a varsity sport. My teachers wanted us to excel and worked with us to make sure we did well. My parents very rarely had to help me with homework and never had to monitor my progress at school. Report cards were sent out, I got patted on the head and life moved on.

I'm not sure if things have changed in the Midwest (I graduated 13 years ago), but things are definitely very different in the south. The school systems in Georgia are deplorable. Parents spend 3-4 hours each night with their children working on homework. Grades, quizzes and tests are monitored via online services. Parents are forever having to work with the schools and teachers to get the best for their children. Now, I'm all for parent participation but I feel like it should be because I "want" to...not because the school is failing my child and I have no choice. Georgia schools teach kids to take tests...simple as that. I want my children to walk away from 13 years of school with knowledge, not just the ability to memorize.

So, if I don't trust the public schools to do this what other option is there? Right now there is a lot of hype on charter schools. You can find charter schools all across the nation, but they're just starting to get popular in Georgia. These schools are public schools but teach with a more hands on approach and are allowed to be more flexible with their curriculum. Test scores are actually higher (possibly because the students are actually learning) and graduation rates are almost 100%. After hearing such great things about charter schools I decided to look into it for Ayden. Hmmmm. Apparently these schools are mostly being developed in Metro Atlanta...not down in the sticks by us. There is one charter school in Coweta County just west of us but it would be waaaaay out of my way for work and since we live in Fayette County, we'd be last on the list.

If charter schools are out of the question, then all we're left with is private. $$$ That's all I can think of. $$$ We don't have a lot of $$$ just sitting around. I plan on picking up some financial aid forms while I'm on maternity leave and we'll cross our fingers and pray we qualify. I'm hoping that because we'll have Ava in daycare, Jameson in daycare/preschool and Ayden in private school (and the fact that plumbers and payroll accountants don't make a boat load of cash), we'll get some sort of help and be able to send Ayden off for a another year of quality education next fall.

NOTE: I do realize that not ALL of Georgia's schools suck. There are some great schools in Peachtree City! But we really want to buy a larger home for our growing family and we prefer to not live in congested Peachtree City.

So, keep your fingers crossed that Jason and I are as broke as we think we are so that we can get a great discount on a private school education for our kids:)

Parenting Is Hard Work

Well, it certainly isn't a cake walk! And we're definitely not given an instruction manual at the hospital after delivery. Once you can prove you're able to change a diaper and you can get your baby to latch on for nursing, you're pretty much so kicked out of the hospital. Then you get your baby home and all you want to do is change it's clothes about 10 times a day (because everything is so darn cute!) and stare at your new bundle of joy.

And then reality sets in. You lay down in bed for a comfortable nights sleep and BAM! The baby is up...wanting to be fed, needing it's diaper changed or just looking for snuggles and love. And whether you nurse or bottle feed, there will still be those midnight feedings. And if you nurse...well, let's just admit it...bad things happen to the girls! As you're sitting there at 1am listening to info-mercials while nursing your newborn, you realize that you're breasts are never going to look the same again. But it's all worth it because you only want the best for your baby, right? Right!

Okay, so now you've got nursing/bottle feeding right and you can change a diaper in under 30 seconds. You haven't drowned your baby in the bathtub yet he/she hasn't rolled off the bed with a crash landing on the floor. Now it's time to move onto solid foods. When's the right time to start? Regular or organic? Rice cereal or a combo of rice with stage 1? These are all valid concerns because at 6months, we're already worried about screwing up our kid's life!

Next is rolling over, crawling, walking and talking. And once your child is mobile and talking...it gets even more scary. You're more concerned about what you say and how you act so that you're setting the right example. Things that once seemed so innocent (like TV) now become your worst nightmare. Whoever said children are like sponges, was right on! My darling Ayden hears everything, repeats everything and remembers everything.

My point to this is that parenting isn't exactly easy (like I thought it was going to be while still pregnant with Ayden). It's definitely the most rewarding thing I've ever done though. My hope for our children is not that they become the next rocket scientists. I would like them to do well in school so that they can succeed in life, but I feel like there are other things that I need to teach them as well. Manners, respect, morals and compassion...just to name a few. I feel like those "life lessons" are harder to instill in our children than the ABC's. When you're dealing with a 4 year old and a 2 year old, it's dang frustrating!!

If you've met Jameson, our 2 year old (wasn't that a treat?), you'll see where my frustrations lie. He's got the face of an angle and the personality of a demon. He can be sweet and cuddly and precious. But he can also be a terror. We've tried just about everything we can think of with him. Anyone else out there going through the terrible two's? Ayden, our 4 year old sort of skimmed over this stage so I was ill-prepared for Jameson. Well, everything we try with Jameson sort of fails. I'm going out this weekend to buy some books that will hopefully give me some much needed inspiration and advice.

If you too are struggling with the terrible two's, I thought you may find some of these books interesting:

Positive Discipline for Preschoolers
Positive Discipline - The First Three Years
The Mighty Toddler
How to Say No to Your Toddler
The Happiest Toddler on the Block

I'll let you know how I like them. I'll probably get one of the first two on my list first and go from there. Just keep in mind that what works for one child, may not work for another. My boys are prime examples of that!

The ups and downs of parenting...

Parenting is the most rewarding thing I've ever done, but it's also the most difficult. Ayden made easing into parenting so simple. He was such a good baby! He slept in his crib since the day we brought him home from the hospital. He never even attempted to get out of his crib on his own until we transitioned him to a big boy bed. He has always been a good eater and even potty training wasn't very difficult. We went through the normal toddler stuff like hitting and biting but it was so short lived. Ayden has always caught on to what is right and what is wrong. That doesn't mean he always chooses right, but when he does something wrong he is so remorseful. I love our conversations together. I feel so blessed that Ayden was my first born.

Now if Jameson had come first, he may be an only child. He hasn't been easy from the very beginning. It's almost like someone said "Hey, she got off really easy with #1 so let's spice things up with #2". Jameson has a mind of his own...not quite as moldable as Ayden. He knows what he wants to do, when he wants to do it, how he wants it done and who he wants to do it with. If you mess with him, beware. I definitely pick my battles with him...some are just not worth fighting over. He sleeps with us, is interested in everything to do with going potty in the toilet except for the actual act itself. He can't sit long enough to eat an entire meal and is a true pro at throwing temper tantrums. You can yell at him, spank him, pinch him and flick him...without him batting an eye. When I truly make an impact with him, he runs to his brother for hugs and comfort. Don't get me wrong...he has his sweet moments too but raising Jameson is a constant uphill battle.

Despite all of the madness in our home, my boys can melt my heart. Sometimes I'll walk into a room to find them playing so nice together. Or I'll find them on the couch watching cartoons and Jameson will have his head resting on Ayden's shoulder. Every day I pick them up from Marguerite's, I'm greeted with such enthusiasm and hugs and kisses. I love that when we read books together, Jameson has to sit on my lap and Ayden glues himself to my side. It cracks me up when Ayden sings songs during bath time and at the end of each one Jameson claps his hands with so much excitement. It never fails to put a smile on my face when the boys run around the house naked (trying to hide from me) when it's time for their bath.

I know parenting isn't supposed to be easy...if it were, we would take our babies home with a big, fat how-to manual. But we don't get that manual. We have to figure things out through trial and error. Something that works for one child, may not work for another (as in my case). But at the end of the day...after the commute, stressing at work, rushing home to make a balanced and nutritious dinner...I look at my babies asleep and am in complete awe. They're ours...all ours... and they love us. No matter how many times we yelled at them to stop hitting the TV with the hammer or no matter that we wouldn't let Ayden play with playdough because he pushed his brother off the ladder to the bunk beds. No matter all of that stuff...they still love us. And to me, that is what makes parenting all worthwhile and the most rewarding experience.

I'm very excited for baby bean to join our family. Whether a boy or a girl, their little personality will add a whole new twist to our family. I have to admit though...I sort of hope he/she is more laid back like Ayden:) I'm not sure I can handle another Jameson!

BTW - I think I mentioned this already, but our next ultrasound is scheduled for 7/14. Hopefully we'll find out the sex then!

Parenting and Life Balance Quiz

If you are a parent and don't subscribe to Kaboose, I strongly recommend it. Not only do they send great kid friendly recipes, but they also provide fun arts & crafts ideas and valuable parenting advice. Today they sent me a Parenting and Life Balance Quiz. I was hesitant to take this. Did I really need someone else to confirm what I already know??? Of course my life isn't balanced. It pretty much revolves around work and my kids. Jason and I both come last. Isn't this the norm??

Well, I took the quiz and was not exactly surprised at the results....

Your Quiz Results
You Could Use More “Me-Time”

You could use more me time. Get serious about making that time a priority.
“Many parents go about their daily life making sure their children, spouses, parents, friends and neighbors are all taken care of, and they never take a moment for themselves,” says Elizabeth Pantley, president of Better Beginnings, a parent-education company in Kirkland, WA, and author of The No-Cry Discipline Solution: Gentle Ways to Encourage Good Behavior without Whining, Tantrums & Tears (McGraw-Hill). Unfortunately, neglecting your emotional and physical needs can leave you stressed, resentful and at risk of depression and other health problems. “It’s more difficult to take care of your children if you don’t take care of yourself,” adds Pantley. “You can even lose the spark that makes you who you are.”

How you scored - 57%

66% of users are like you

So I need more "me" time, but 66% of all other users could use more "me" time as well. For some reason that makes me feel better:)