I should run for office.
I am, apparently, the queen of flip-flop.
Not on purpose, mind you.
Remember this big announcement? And my reasons why?
Well, I take it back. Sort of. The house is still on the market but my heart is no longer in it. At least not for fall. We picked the worst market in 16 years to try and sell our house. In summer. A hot summer. We don’t have an agreement of sale yet. And that’s a problem.
You see, school starts next week. Next week. And Katie is in kindergarten. And I am not moving her about from school to school. So, she is officially going back to private school at Greene Street Friends. I love it there, she loves it there. They were kind enough to keep a spot open pending all of the craziness. And on next Tuesday, that’s where she’ll be. And where she’s staying for a bit.
I am so not good with change. Well, that’s not true. I’m fine with change. I’m the kind of girl, pre-kid, who could change on a whim. I would fly on a moment’s notice, get on a train just to see where it was going, open my own firm just for fun… Yeah.
But kids change you a lot more than you think. Now every decision isn’t about me. Or even me and Lawdaddy. There are three other little creatures to consider - four, really - we can’t forget about Lyle.
And the move was a big deal. We spent lots of time prepping the girls, and talking about Katie’s new school. Only there’s no new school. We’re back to the old school. And I like the old school. I just can’t afford the old school for three kids.
Sigh.
I always used to say that things happen for a reason. And now Lawdaddy is throwing that back at me. And my mom, too. While crying on the phone (yes, I’ll cop to crying) when our potential buyers dropped their offer (don’t get me started), mom was saying (after telling me to pray about it - at which point I told her that I had buried a St. Joseph statue in the front yard which kept her quiet because that’s Catholic and she has issues with Catholicism) that things happen for a reason. I’m not sure what the reason is yet. I’m working on it.
Maybe we’re meant to stay put a bit. I don’t know. I’m not sure what any of it means. I just know that half of our things are packed away in boxes, stored in the garage. And I’m not sure we’re going anywhere.
August 30th, 2007 at 1:38 am
Kelly, I don’t know if there’s a “reason” or not, but I know we’d all be happy not to have you farther away quite so soon. Maybe there’s a reason like a much cooler house at a much better deal next year or something . . . but I agree with not moving Katie from school to school so much. I moved schools a LOT when I was young, even though we didn’t move, and it was rough. My mom taught at a private school for 3 years, so I went there, then I went to public school, but in the “advanced” (in most places “gifted”) program, so it wasn’t our neighborhood school for the last 2 years of elementary, then the school system shipped me to another area where I knew no one for the first two years of middle school, then bussed me to the farthest end of the downtown area for desegregation in 8th grade, and then I got to go to the same high school for four years, finally. It was hard to always be “new.” I appreciate the diverse experiences (including the church preschool I didn’t mention), but it was like moving, even though we didn’t, in some ways. Consistency is important. Maybe you’re meant to move at the first grade mark and she and her two siblings can have the common experience of the same school system. I know my brother and I shared nothing school-wise but my senior year and his freshman year of high school and that feels odd compared to most folks. And, lord knows, Roxborough loves and wants you for however long you stay here on your way to your ideal family location! I am hoping and praying for the best outcome for your and Chris and the kids, whatever it might be.
August 30th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Kelly,
You’re so right about not moving Katie from school to school. Constancy really is important to kids. My family (Mom, Dad, 6 kids and one pet or another) moved quite a bit when I was young so I know from whence I speak.
While I know you have to do what is right for your family, I’m glad you will all be on block a while longer. Deep breath, a better offer will come along.
September 3rd, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Send your kids to one of the City’s great charter schools? If one gets in, the others are guaranteed spots.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Is that really true? I heard that there is no requirement for the school to accept a sibling.
September 5th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
From the Wissahickon Charter School’s website:
WHO CAN ATTEND CHARTER SCHOOLS?
“Charter schools are open to any student in Pennsylvania who is of the appropriate age or grade for the school. First preference is given to students living in the school district in which the charter school is located. Accordingly, Wissahickon must admit all Philadelphia applicants before any out-of-city applicants may be considered. All students, with the exception of the children of the school’s founders and siblings of existing students, must be selected by lottery. The first Wissahickon Charter School lottery will be conducted on April 1, 2002. A 1999 amendment to Act 22 also permits the formation of charter schools limited to children “at risk,” but Wissahickon is not such a school and will accept all applications.”
I don’t think siblings have to be selected through the lottery; they can get in at the discretion of the charter school’s administration which means that they typically get in if they have a brother or sister in the charter school.