Posts by Kate Morgan14

rowdypanther12 said:I get that, but I think I'd prefer my little one to gradually get used to being home alone.

By the way, I'm making a note to bring some heavy-duty staplers for the school inspection.😁

Mine wouldn't do it—she was terrified of staying home by herself. It wasn't the commute that bothered her, just being left alone at the house. Now, finally, toward the end of the school year, she's willing to try it for short bursts...

Just ask everything about the school. When yours starts, try to get Miro Čolak for after-school care—she’s absolutely fantastic. 🙂

Overall, we're happy with the school and the teacher. They really go the extra mile to provide individual attention, pointing out what's working and where there's room for improvement.

The only downsides are that the building is old and pretty run-down, they don't offer after-school care starting in second grade, and there aren't many extracurricular activities available.

My experience with after-school care—just for first grade, unfortunately—has been incredibly positive. We have an amazing teacher who worked as a classroom teacher until last year, so she actually knows what she’s doing. She has been such a massive help, especially when we hit bumps in the road or when my kid was out of school for over a month due to illness. She truly goes above and beyond—doing so much hands-on work with the kids, prepping activities in her own free time, and making sure they get outside every single day. The students absolutely adore her.

We are really going to miss this program once second grade rolls around.

At the end of the day, after-school programs are entirely dependent on the quality of the teacher you get—that's just how it works. You get some absolute gems, and then you get teachers who clearly don't want to put in the extra effort, but that's just the reality of the system everywhere.

rowdypanther12 said:Yeah, you should probably start easing them into the school commute.
We’d have to drop our little one off at school by 7:00 AM, and honestly, driving an hour there just for the sake of it feels like a total disaster. Plus, instead of heading straight home, she could use that afternoon time to just relax and recharge a bit.
The goal is definitely to get her commuting independently as soon as possible; I’d rather she be in after-school care than sitting home alone from noon until we get back around 5:00.

Personally, I don't care if she stays in after-school care rather than walking home alone. At least in the program, they're playing and socializing—she won't be the only one hanging out until 5:00 PM...

Even though we live just two blocks from the school, I’d much rather have her under supervision at the school than walking home to an empty house for an hour or two.

The only option left is those private daycare setups in the neighborhood—I've heard they're actually great. You drop the kid off at school, they stay there, get their homework done, study, and then parents just pick them up after work. But man, they cost $233 a month, and that doesn't even include food.

The real issue is that schools just don't have the physical space—which is exactly why there’s no after-school program available. My kid goes to Stenjevec Elementary School, and since they're lacking room, there isn't even an option for second graders. It's a nice idea in theory, sure, but practically speaking? It's nearly impossible to pull off.

I reached out to City Hall regarding the education department, but it was a total waste of time—they simply don't have any vacant classrooms to spare.

My kid is starting at a school where they only offer after-school care for first graders—which is going to be a massive headache down the road. I definitely can't leave her home alone once she hits second grade. Honestly, I don't trust her to just sit there, get herself ready, and actually focus on schoolwork when she gets home in the afternoon. Plus, I really don't want her spending half the day just rotting in front of a screen. Look, I don't mind if she spends some time on a tablet or watching cartoons—that’s fine—but I refuse to let her spend five hours every single day glued to a device instead of doing homework, studying, or actually playing. It’s a dilemma. I’ll likely end up paying for an after-school program or asking my mom to help out, though that's easier said than done since she lives quite a distance away from us.

Nicholas King said:I mean, what does a "good music school" actually look like to you?

To me, a good music school is one that actually assesses whether a kid has an aptitude for music—rather than just forcing lessons to squeeze money out of parents. If there’s no genuine interest or drive from the child, don't push it. Some kids simply aren't built for music; they belong in something else entirely. That needs to be accepted. You should try to find where their talent lies first, rather than just chasing tuition fees.

My niece's godmother is asking for cash because she’s trying to save up for a new computer... I want to help, but I don't want to overdo it or make it awkward. How much is considered a reasonable amount here?

I was thinking about giving her $333 and maybe picking up a small gift too—though I'm stuck on what that should be.

My delivery went pretty smoothly even though the baby was a bit on the heavier side (about 8.8 lbs). I was able to sit normally after just five days—but then, a month later, internal hemorrhoids hit me out of nowhere. Dealing with bowel movements became an absolute nightmare... the pain was honestly unbearable 😲.....and it dragged on for four or five months because I couldn't touch any medication while breastfeeding. You might be dealing with the same thing if you're struggling right now....