Three Down...

Well, Brian's coming back from his third underway very soon. So far so good, although I know the Nassau will be stepping it up soon in terms of frequency and duration of the times at sea. We definitely miss him while he's gone, but I've also gotten the feeling I can swing it, especially now that preschool is starting next week.

Speaking of which, Sydney is nearly done being 3, but will still be in the 3-year-old class, 5 days a week due to her October birthday. I went to Parents' Night last night, and I've got to say Yokosuka Co-Op Preschool will be a tough act to follow. The girls' new preschool (Miranda will go one day a week) is supposed to be one of the better ones in the area by reputation. The teachers are very experienced and I know the girls will love it there. But having a comparison now, I really appreciate our Yokosuka experience--mainly in terms of the smaller intimate size of the school, great resources, and excellent communication.

Probably in part because I'm new to the school and relatively new to the area, I have felt a little in the dark. I feel somewhat better after receiving information at the Parents' Night. But to be honest, in new uncertain situations, I know me, and I sometimes tend to sit back, make my observations, assume some things for the worst, but hope I'm wrong.

So, I started sizing up some things during the Open House today. I was on a roll with mainly good or neutral observations. We were the first to arrive. Of course, Sydney impressed her teachers--using her good manners, recognizing her written name, and stunning them with her art (which they don't know, but has improved immensely over the past year). Some other observations: most of the kids in Sydney's class are boys, 7 out of 12 kids. And three out of a class of 12 kids have the name Jack, interestingly enough.

Then I couldn't help but notice one mom of a little boy (wearing that old-fashioned, or what I call "new country-club" wear, whose blond hair happened to be longer than any of the girls in the class). This mom arrived late decked out in a fancy pant suit and then monopolized the teacher with what I assume was a balanced mix of pride and flattery, interspersed with, "we like to do the Thomas the Train Edible Arrangement platters of fruit," when talking about what her snack contribution will be. OVER THE TOP, no?

I don't want to be like that. In fact, I can't help but put myself in the teachers' shoes and it almost makes me feel embarrassment on behalf of this mom. But...there's still this overwhelming sense of competition that people like that arise in me. It's part insecurity, in all honesty. But the other more productive part is wanting to be ambitious enough on behalf of my child--to advocate for her--so she will be recognized and get the attention she deserves.

Well, I only have "three down"--this is only preschool and the beginning of a long haul of wanting the best education for my children. I realize I will always have to stifle my insecurities and just be my plain, yet hopefully down-to-earth, self while some overzealous parents try to steal the show. It is at times like these when I can learn from my three-year old--who is outgoing, smart, and self-confident, with the perfect amount of eagerness to please. I know Sydney and Miranda will always be their own best advocates, making my anxiety a moot point, my job a lot easier, and my own pride bordering on obnoxious, I know.