Today's Chuckle

I was reading this post on the New York Time's Motherlode blog, and this sentence struck me as particularly funny:

As soon as the pregnancy test is positive (and often long before), “eating is no longer a simple bodily function, much less a pleasure to be savored; it’s a series of fraught choices, an act with grave consequences, committed three times a day.”

Three times a day?! Pregnant women only eat three times a day?! For me, that was not the case. Try multiplying that number by 10 and you'll get a more accurate number.

Yes, I Can Tie the Oscars to Parenting

After a prolonged adventure yesterday afternoon, followed by only a hasty nap in the car, MacBaby was quite tired yesterday evening. He fell asleep at the unprecedented early hour of 7:30, allowing MacDad and I to ensure the Oscar telecast.

Anne Hathaway and James Franco were horrible and inside jokes dominated the script. But, my biggest beef was with the best picture nominee montages. Luckily, I had seen a few of the films, because they included the freaking ending! With no spoiler alert! Had I not already seen The Black Swan or The King's Speech, I would have been piiiiiised when I realized that I had already seen the twisty (for Black Swan) ending.

Hopefully, the Social Network's ending was not included, because I have yet to see that one due to its length and MacDad's inability to start a movie and not finish it during the same sitting. I guess I'll have to wait until the next time MacBaby poops out early.

Perceptions of Parenting Before and After Baby

Before MacBaby's birth, MacDad and I had numerous conversations about the type of parents we would be. Looking back, we were clueless. As many ideas as you can have in your head about how you will parent, it all changes once the little one is in your arms.

We were both anti-formula (MacBaby had it on his first day of life) and anti-co-sleeping (MacBaby still sleeps in our bed). I remember in about my 8th month of pregnancy, MacDad and I debated crying it out. I was anti, and MacDad was pro. He positioned himself as the ultimate disciplinarian, needing to assert control over MacBaby's behavior.

Needless to say, this is not the case. It seems as though MacDad is a pushover, and must instill rules. For instance, when MacBaby finds Oreos in our bed at 9 p.m. (don't ask), he desperately wanted one. I refused, but MacDad, swayed by toddler tears, gave in.

Obviously, the cry it out method has not been discussed any further in our household.

School Days

As MacFamily unit is approaching MacBaby’s second birthday (time flies!), we have begun debating MacBaby’s education. There’s no debate that he’s getting one – it’s more a question of when and where.

While our school district boasts the third-best preschool in the state, MacBaby can’t enroll until he’s 3, which would be 3.5 with his March birthday. So, do we wait until then, or start him in another program, to potentially switch him a year later? Another big decision – will he go a half day, or a full day, and for how many days each week? Will I be able to leave work to pick him up promptly? What if there’s another MacBaby in our future? How will that affect our schedule?

In order to start answering these questions, I have been scoping out our options. Unfortunately, location plays a bigger role in our selection than I would prefer. As we can barely get out the door now, it’s unlikely that we will spend an extra hour in the car in the morning shuttling to school and work. In addition, we have ruled out preschools in churches, as we're not interested in religious education.

MacDad thinks I’m crazy, but I admit to judging a book by its cover. One preschool I heard great things about doesn’t have a Web site, so they sent me a brochure in the mail. This brochure has not been updated since 1982. There was a label over the pricing listing the current costs. I threw it out. Why, MacDad wanted to know, are the communication materials so important? What if it’s a phenomenal program?

As a modern mom, I need to be communicated with easily, and in ways I’m accustomed. If I can’t look at your Web site to figure out what my son will be eating on a given day, then you’re not up to speed. If I can’t email you, then forget it. If you can’t be bothered to update your brochure in 20 years, then what else are you neglecting?

In addition to appropriate marketing materials, we’re trying to decide what other aspects of a preschool are important to us. I want to ensure that MacBaby will get nutritious meals and snacks, not just a bunch of fried food and sweets. I’m looking for compassionate teachers who don’t raise their voices. An environment with a multitude of learning toys and opportunities for MacBaby to expand his awareness of the world is ideal.

What do you think the right age is for a kid to start preschool? What’s important to you in a program? We need advice!