MamaCare Monday

The topic for this Monday is very dear and near to my heart and an issue that gets more and more difficult as the years go by staying in this community.......quality education.  I have always heard many times prior to having a child that doing this particular job (motherhood) is hard work, expensive, challenging as equally rewarding, etc... I agree with most of those things and another adjective I would like to add to the pot is anxiety filled.  Not because I am so much worried that she is going to hurt herself or get hurt, children getting hurt comes with the territory, its to be expected. Its the angst and the anxiety I feel every year as my daughter is becoming of school age, trying to sort out where she will go for school and summer camp activities to occupy her time and provide her with the best education.  Trust it has been no small feat and each year as she gets older and older, it becomes that much more difficult especially as she becomes more perceptive and aware.

As great as the area of JC is with our blended community of diversity, young, and transplant families and singles, with high rises popping up everywhere, small emerging businesses, plethora of developmental programs for young children, one thing that this city seems to be lacking and hasn't gotten quite right is the educational component. Its like being stuck between a rock and a hard place as a parent going through the constant rat race every year to make sure I secure a spot somewhere and/or discover a school that is a good fit for my child, its like a full time job.........oh wait, it is a full time job, I am her mom so its always ongoing.  It has gotten so ridiculous and competitive that you have parents camping out, sleeping on the street for days (yes we were one of those parents) in front of schools for the Abbot pre-K programs in the rain, sleet, or snow so their children can go to and be in a descent school for just one year! There are about a handful of charter schools around and I don't even want to get into the crazed lottery and wait-list system with those, it is enough to pull your hair out!



http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2017/03/snow_doesnt_deter_parents_camping_outside_jersey_c.htmlhttp://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2017/03/snow_doesnt_deter_parents_camping_outside_jersey_c.html

What are our alternatives? what do you do as a parent? remember we are talking about education for barely school age children 5 and under, not even Kindergarten yet, I know its ridiculous, however for working parents, especially those in business for themselves, it has become to me a growing issue in my community. Sure we can pay out of pocket and go the private route but once again being an entrepreneur and trying to maintain the educational expenses for a child not even really considered in school until Kindergarten gets extremely pricey and can become an exorbitant cost.  So the question again, what do you do?
Well first thing is don't panic and try not to worry, trust that is easier said than done especially coming from me, but if you can reserve some of that heightened energy, bottle it, and try to redirect and focus it on making the best decision for your family, it will serve you much better.  When you are relaxed you can see opportunities on the horizon that you might not have noticed prior to being in a frenzy, and with that said opportunity has presented itself in the form of BLMS Montessori school http://www.bergenlafayettemontessori.com/




My daughter Isa had the pleasure of attending this school and being exposed to Montessori education at Bergen Lafayette Montessori when she was 18mnths old to 3yrs.  In an effort to save money with some strategic financial planning, my husband and I being entrepreneurs, we took advantage of JC's free education Abbott program for Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4.  Loved and love both of her teachers she had for both years but next year for K in the public school system is when the real intense curriculum begins and I just want to make sure she is prepared. So I was over the moon when I caught wind of the news that BLMS is not only expanding into elementary but they currently have a petition going to try to get their school program WITHIN the Jersey City Public Schools system.  Not just another charter school, but alternative public school curriculum to offer more available and proven successful education options for the JC community of parents whose children are in the primary years of school. Someone who has experienced this program first hand and has seen the strong learning foundation it has given my daughter even though she has been out of the Montessori school system for 2yrs, I can't say enough great things. If you are a parent like me where you are looking for something different and want to explore other educational options for your child and/or children than just what is available and what public school area you are zoned for, please spread the word and sign the petition here:

https://www.change.org/p/jersey-city-board-of-education-public-montessori-program-in-jersey-city-public-schools?recruiter=193329911&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink



The big meeting with the school board is this coming Tuesday March 14th where our voices as a community can be heard and possibly effect change. Not to sound like an after school special (no pun intended) but the journey to a thousand miles begins with one step. If as a community we want to have better or rather more educational opportunities/options to fit the learning styles and needs of all children, here is your chance to help make a difference and create something new. The goal is to reach 500 votes, so far they have 291, lets carry them over the finish line........

Remember mamas invest in yourself so you can continue to invest in others, until next Monday.......