For starters, we live one block away from the elementary school in our town that's considered to be the best. Not saying much, in my opinion, but still reassuring. I've met with the counselor, the principal, the vice principal, all of the kindergarten teachers, etc. etc. -- and I really have no beef. We were thinking about enrolling a few months ago is why I did all that looking into it. At the last minute, I couldn't go through with it.

In the meantime, my business has literally just blown through the roof. I used to be able to work part-time at home and just incorporate work and school together. It worked. Now it doesn't. I could very easily work 16 hours a day if I didn't stop myself. Most days, I work about 12 hours. I could get a lot more done, however, in 3 hours of UNINTERRUPTED TIME. Know what I mean?

I had hired another homeschooling mom to keep Belle 3 days a week in the afternoons, but it's really not enough and I can't quite afford it yet. So I'm thinking that this year will be the "experiment." Belle can start after the holiday break, where everything will be like *new* again to the other students ... and then she will stay until summer, when all the other kids leave. In other words, her schedule won't stand out. And in the meantime, I can use that time to do all the startup work on this business and do a reassessment in the summer to decide if we want to continue with public school, or if I'm in a better position to resume homeschooling.

IT'S BREAKING MY HEART!!!! But I'm thinking it might be the best decision. I just had to let this out somewhere. Thanks for *listening*.

You have to make the decision that's best for your family, mama. ((hugs))

I coud have written the identical post. I have 3 kids in school full time, and one left at home.She could have started school this past Sept with the cut-off of December 31st - to turn four by - to start JK, but I kept her out as she seemed very young, imho.

I am self-employed and she was going to daycare 2 - 3 days per week. Lately though she has been very bored at daycare as the kids her age are in school, so she is hanging out with babies. Anyway, we have been happy with our solution but recently we moved (I did not like the school near us before we moved so there was no decision to be made). The school across the street of our new house is amazing. With her being bored at daycare, and me being extrodinarily busy with work (up to 60 hours weekly), I called around for a more structured, challenging daycare. What I found were daycares that offer the JK schedule at $500 per month.

My thinking is that I really do not want to pay a daycare that $ when she could go across the street to a good school for free (Hardly free given the taxes we pay...). So, being very nervous that she is too young emotionally and not in a hurry to get her in the school system at all, I went to meet the JK teacher, as I had heard the woman had a wonderful attitude. Man, was I impressed. So, Madison is going to start school 3 days per week in January(and maybe one day at daycare). If she is too young, either by my opinion or the teacher's, we will remove her and she can go back to daycare more. If she adapts well, yet could do with going to JK again, she can go until June, then she will be out for the summer, and back to JK in Sept. And lastly if she does very well and has adapted well she can finish JK and go to SK in Sept.

I wrestled with this decision long and hard before I was at peace with it. It is the best decision for her, given the fact that I do work. I may work at home but I am unavailable for constant interaction and do not have the ability to challenge my daughter, as well as facilitate social interaction with other kids her age.

SO I do know of the struggle you speak of. If we could afford it, I would not work and homeschool all our kids. However, my reality is that we could not afford to lose my income (and nothing to do with "luxuries") - I earn 60% of our household income. So given that fact, as well as the fact that the school is awesome, I feel it is best for my dd to go.

Good Luck with whatever decision you make....

*Hugs Mamma* This sounds like a very difficult decision! You may have already thought about this, but I'm wondering if you have a DH/partner who could watch your DD after he gets home from work for 3 hours so that you can get some uninterrupted time to work on your business? That might help to shift the situation enough so that you see things in a different way.

Take care!

(((hugs)))

Katie