This little llama turns 5 on September 23rd.
What does that have any thing to do with January?
Well you see… I am thinking about school.
And when this little llama should start school.
You see… according to the the school district where she will be attending, the “rule” is that the child must be 5 by October 1st in order to start Kindergarten. This puts Charlotte starting Kindergarten before she even turns 5 in the fall of 2010.
Did your eyes juts pop open as big as mine?
I know… Dilemma, huh?
Now, I think she is a smart little cookie. Mature, yes (though we do still have the occasional temper tantrum). But ready for Kindergarten in August? I just am not sure I can do it.
So, do we send her Fall 2010, or wait a year and send her Fall 2011 when she is about to turn 6??
I am waiting (hoping, praying) for the Angel Gabriel to come down into my living room and give me a word from the Lord…but I have a feeling God doesn’t use Gabriel anymore…and if he did it would be for much more important things.
I am in a conundrum, and feel the weight of responsibility in making a good decision. This could change her life. What if her future husband is out there and my deciding to send her early or send her late changes the course of her life forever!?!
Do I think I have that much power?
Although I want to be a good steward of these decisions,
do I really think that I can move the chess pieces
to produce a smart, beautiful, successful girl?
God knows her future.
The God who knit her together in my womb, has a plan for her and it is for her Good… to prosper her and to give her a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11)
I am going to have to make a decision… and trust God to work it out for her Good. But while we are praying about this decision, and seeking God’s will about what course we should take…
I ask you, my bloggy buddies.
Please share in the comments what you would do
if it were your child.
Would you send her at barely 5
or
Wait a year and send her when she is about to turn 6?
Wait, as a former teacher the students who were older were much more adapted and mature than the younger ones (even the well mannered, smart younger ones)! I have the same dilemma with Lily although I don't really get the choice the cut off here is Sept 1st and she was born Sept 5th, so there is my decision. I think the fact that your little llama will be 4 for at least a month into school is a probably the biggest factor that I would look at. They will be in school the same amount of time so in the end you are setting yourself up for less time with her as she would graduate a year early....why rush it?!
ReplyDeleteOkay...I'm probably not going to be much help but since Addison was born ON the cut off date...I think of it often. (Yes, I'm already stressing about this). My thoughts (most probably don't make sense!)
ReplyDelete-Do I really want to drop a 17 old girl off at college
-Do I really want to send my 13 year old daughter to high school with 18 year old boys?
-How will she feel about being the first to drive? Last to drive?
-What if I start her when she's not yet 5 and it doesn't work and she struggles?
-What if she could have/would have done great starting earlier than later.
I know no help but maybe just maybe it will in some way!
I'd wait. We have the identical dilemma with Jack. Birthday is August 23rd. Cut off is Sept. 1st. We're holding him back.
ReplyDeleteI posted on FB. We waited w/ all 4. Also, Betsy's 1st grade teacher wanted to put her in third the next year. We also waited there too. She was the top of her class - would she drop? She wouldn't be driving w/ others, etc. We have no regrets. I've heard many parents say, 'Oh, I wish I'd waited until Jr. was a year older til I put him in school.' I've never heard one say, 'I sure wish I'd started Angel when she was a year younger.' I've seen some do well at 4 1/2, but why take the risk? Pray, pray, pray.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a tough call! My big girl is turning four in June and she is begging to start school. We can't afford to put her in pre-school so I'm looking forward to her starting Kindergarden this year just so she can get out and interact with other kids her age and learn from someone other than me.
ReplyDeleteI will say a prayer for you and hope that you'll have peace with whatever decision you make!
Gosh...I must be tired! Meant to say that my big girl is turning five in June! Sorry about that! :)
ReplyDeleteHaving an August baby we've already thought about this a ton. We could very well change our minds 5 years from now, but we're leaning toward waiting a year. Primarily because we'd rather Berkley be the oldest in his class than be the youngest. We'd rather him be bigger on athletic teams than smaller. We'd rather him be more mature & potentially a leader with his classmates than less mature & a follower.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your decision. I'm sure I'll be asking the same question in 5 years and expect to receive your words of wisdom then!
Neither! But if you have to choose between those two options, then wait so you have time to seek out His will and what His Word says about teaching our children. Carrie, I really think you should homeschool her and teach her first of all to love God and fear Him. You won't get that in the public schools. Our time with our children is very short, why shorten it? God gave your children to you for a season. After graduating two from Homeschool highschool and one to heaven and one more to graduate this year, and 5 more to go, I am more convinced than ever that God has given us the great responsibility to train up our children and that homeschooling them is one of the best means of His grace to do it. Parents are the primary means of grace in our children's lives. We do not have to deal with so much junk that you will have to deal with if she goes to public school. They will be bombarded with atheism, humanism and immorality. Our children are standing on a sure foundation of God's Word and truth when they graduate high school. Although I am more convinced than ever that the spiritual training we give our children is more important than the intellectual, I have found that my children have been very well prepared for college and have learned how to study and learn on their own instead of being spoon fed. Both our oldest have gotten the highest academic scholarships.I am also very convinced that our time with our children is so short and I don't want to waste it. There is plenty of help out there and you are such a good and godly mother. They need your influence and interaction with you and other godly adults more than their peers. You will not regret it, if you homeschool. Have you read, Home Grown Kids, by Raymond and Dorothy Moore? It is a great start and you are welcome to borrow mine. I will pray for you. No matter what you decide remember that God is Sovereign. He is in control. I will pray for God to give you peace and direction from Him.
ReplyDeleteLove, Laura
Eph 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
NKJV
Deut 6:6-9
6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
NKJV
We will be in the same boat in a few year since Josiah was born August 27 and the cut off here is September 1. We will wait until he is about to turn 6 before starting. As a teacher I can tell you that even by 5th grade there was huge difference between the older and younger ones in my class. Like Courtney, we'd rather our boys be the oldest than the youngest in their class. And I was one of the oldest in my class- I have an October birthday- and it was the best for me. I also agree with Becky above- probably the better question is ask is not "Is my 4 year old ready for Kindergarten?" But is my 10 year old ready for Middle School, 13 year old ready for high school, my 16 year old ready to be a senior and my 17 year old ready to leave me for college? I am eager to hear what God leads you all to do. You are very right- HE is the one in control of her life. There is a lot of comfort and freedom in the sovereignty of God, isn't there? :)
ReplyDeleteHey Carrie. You're getting lots of good feedback! We're a year behind you, but here's my two cents. :) I saw my niece start too early and have to repeat Kindergarten which makes me also lean to the waiting side, BUT most schools evaluate K5 kids before the year starts to ensure that they're ready. Is it an option to let them evaluate her when you get there and have the teacher's input to help you make that decision?
ReplyDeleteEither way, you're right. Every day, milestone and decision of her life was decided long ago and you have nothing to fear. His purposes for you are good.
Hey Carrie! Its Becky Knight! Thought I would put in my teacher two cents...for what it is worth :) I am a late August B-day and my parents started me at 4. Looking back I am glad they did.
ReplyDeleteBut, in saying that, I don't think it is best in most cases. Being a third grade teacher, I believe waiting is 9 times out of 10 better...
If she was a boy I would say definitely wait b/c they mature so much slower. I definitely see that in 3rd grade.
But, I think bottom line, you know your daughter best...and you have a direct line to the Lord...and He is in control...just like you said!
Praying for you guys as you transition! How cool!
Mine went to school this past year right after she turned 6. Our cut off date is August 1st. She turned 6 September 2nd. From where she went to preschool for 2 years, she is now bored with what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
i'm a september baby too and i started kinder at 4 i must say the only downfall to me of starting school young is you graduate young heehee that means when i went on my senior trip i was 17 and because we went out of the country i needed more than a parent letter. over all i was in honors classes and always top 5 of my class i think she will be fine.
ReplyDeleteI started school when I was 4 (turned 5 in Oct) and I must admit that I think I turned out just fine! I went off to college at 17 and graduated with honors. But I do understand that it is a tough decision.
ReplyDeleteFollowing you from MBC!
I think it all depends on the child. If your first child is anything like mine, she is very independent. If she's been excelling in preschool then she'd probably be fine. No matter which decision that you make it will be the right one.
ReplyDeleteHey Carrie! I am SO thankful that my parents started me early...and I still met my wonderful husband who is 3 years younger! HA!
ReplyDeleteCharlotte is smart and mature...its the boys who need to be held back. By the way, didn't you graduate early? Like mother, like daughter right?
Either way, we all know you and Dave will wait on the Lord to give you an answer.
Hey Carrie!
ReplyDeleteEven though I'm not a mom, I thought I'd throw in a teacher perspective since I teach Pre-K. :) I think you should go ahead and start her since she's been in preschool. From what I've read on your blog, she seems to be doing really well and a lot of those first few weeks in kindergarten focus on adjusting to school, being in a group setting, follow simple directions, self-help skills, etc. which I'm sure she's already picked up on. Unless you've noticed any significant difficulties with any of those things, I'd say go for it! :)