Yesterday, my husband and I took Pea to visit the new school that we are trying to get her into for the fall. It’s a private school, which is kind of ironic since one of the main reasons we moved here is the phenomenal public school system. But in researching nursery schools, we were having a tough time finding a school that caters to the kind of education she was getting at her little nursery school back in Fort Worth. It was a Christian-based school, a tight little routine and a lot of structure, which my little girl seems to thrive on. We know this because on Fridays, when we’d drop her off for Mother’s Day Out, she would cry and beg to come home with us. But on school days, she’d run up the front steps of the school and into her classroom and we’d be left behind eating her dust. So, structure: good. Free play: not so good.

So I finally stumbled upon a school that has much the same philosophy as her former school and yesterday we went in and met with the Head of Admissions and the Headmaster and it was wonderful. She visited her classroom and spoke to all of the children and was friendly and outgoing and basically made herself right at home. This can be proven by the painting she brought home with her. When I say this child has no fear of new situations, I mean it.

And she was her usual charming self, saying “yes, ma’am” and “yes, sir” and “thank you” and all of the other lovely and polite terms that we’ve taught her. I was impressed but more importantly, the teacher and the administrators were impressed. My cheeks still hurt from all of the beaming I was doing. It’s just the coolest thing when you actually see all of your hard work pay off, you know?

I have to take her back to the school on Saturday for a little session where they watch the kids interact in a classroom setting and I’m looking forward to it. For Pea, because it’s a chance to connect with other children, something I know she’s missed since we left Fort Worth a couple of weeks ago. But I’m also excited for myself, because it’s a chance for me to connect with other parents in our new hometown.