Today, I paid Sophia’s enrollment fee in full. While I was writing the check and filling up the registration form, I can’t help but worry if I am making the right choice. If you have followed my school dilemma here in this blog or is a constant reader of my blog, you all know by now that my daughter goes to a progressive school called Toddlers Unlimited. She has been in this school for a year and half (close to to two years actually) already. I am very happy and pleased with this school but I think its time for my daughter to move on. I am not comfortable anymore to the setting that TU has as they are play based which I think is better for younger kids. But with Sophia’s age, eligible to be in Nursery Classes of bigger schools, I feel that she is up for the challenge already and is ready for a bit of drilling. Toddlers Unlimited is purely progressive. While others may find this an advantage, I do too, but at a certain age only. I believe at Sophia’s age, she needs atleast simple worksheets already and as I said, some drilling, in preparation for what is in store for her in the coming years. We all have different take on this matter as parents so what I’m writing in here is obviously, purely my opinions only.

This morning, while I was at it, officially sealing Sophia’s entry to big school that is, there’s this thought at the back of my head if it is indeed the right thing to do. And as I was observing Sophia in class this morning too, how she hugs her teachers and how she looks like she’s having so much fun at TU, it really tugs my heart and a part of me is questioning the very decision I just made. Is she really ready for big school? Is the kind of environment in big school the best for her now? Is she really ready for the drilling I want for her? So may questions really. After all the time I spent to give this school issue a thought, here I am still not a hundred percent sure. I guess I got to realize now that we can never really be a hundred percent sure on certain decisions, on certain things. Especially if it involves our children noh? Ako lang ba ito? Am I worrying too much? Is my being “sigurista” to a fault already?

Now that I think of it though, I guess I’m just probably having a hard time leaving a school that my daughter and I had learned to love don’t you think? Toddlers Unlimited has a very homey fell to it, very far from the atmosphere in big schools and their teachers and even aides are so loving to the kids. The kids are just so happy there. I need not explain why after saying all these great things about TU still made me transfer Sophia to another school as I already stated it above but I just wish and pray to God that I made the right choice.

Ang hirap pala. Pakibatukan nga ako at ng matauhan at magtigil na kakaisip.

The daddy and baby’s routine just before we hit the bed. Yes, she eats Fisher cheese balls, the ONLY junk food she likes. And yes too, they both eat on the bed.

Bad example ang daddy

Every Thursday, Sophia and I attend Gymboree’s Art Class at Gymboree Alabang. I personally join Sophia during this parent-baby class which I enjoy so much as I get to see Sophia have so much fun painting, dancing, singing and playing pretend. There are a few other mommies like me who join their kids during the class too. But most kids have yayas that attend to them while in class.

I see yayas of all kinds, all sorts. And I tell you, a number of them are those hard-to-find-we-dare-not-let-go yayas we would all want for our kids. I am so.close to pirating them as Sophia’s yaya is about to leave already, LOL. But the rest of them? Oh gawd, I would rather just kill myself before I hire one of their kind. I’m sorry but I just can’t help but observe and notice how other yayas attend to the kids. Others would rather make tsismis with other yayas than take care of their charge while others pass time texting, texting and texting some more not minding whether their ward is about to fall, bump or is pulling other kids’ hair. Some would look like they are about to swallow their alaga when being stubborn and malikot. I bet the kids’ parents who obviously are not there to supervise are clueless as they’re busy working that’s why I can’t help but feel sorry for them. I bet too that when these yayas are infront of their employers, they are as holy as angels.

As a parent who is currently looking for a replacement yaya for Sophia, such observations make me more cautious when getting or hiring a new yaya. It helps me remind myself too of how I should be thankful that I can personally supervise Sophia and the yaya at all times as I am a stay-at-home-mom. I also come to realize that we really cannot depend on anybody to take “extra good” care of our kids. We would always find someone to take care of them but I don’t think “just taking care of them” is good enough for me. Is it good enough for you?

Finding one reliable yaya is really hard, such is an understatement. But I’m telling you, letting go of one is extra harder. Sophia’s yaya is about to leave in a month or two and as early as now, I pray for for another good one to come our way. I believe good yayas are another form of blessings that we should not take for granted. After all, they take care of our greatest blessings – our kids.

I really hope, in time, we’ll find a new “extra” blessing again.