School closures/delays?

I honestly feel like you would have been better off just enrolling your child in school this year. There isn't really a compelling reason to delay it, is there? If you were in Washington, D.C., they probably wouldn't even grant an extension, and I doubt it would be any different in Miami either. Around here, kids are sent straight to school even if they were born in mid-March—even when the mom specifically asks for a delay because the little one hasn't finished a preschool program yet. For instance, I know a child born around March 12, 2010, who just finished first grade last month. I saw a similar situation in Miami once; a boy born in mid-February 2009 was put in school too. I don't know if his mom asked for a deferral or not, but he wasn't exactly a star student—he passed with Bs—and his mom has to work pretty hard with him on his homework. He's already done with second grade now. It seems like quite a few of you from the Seattle area are posting about these delays. Maybe it’s just easier to get an extension where you are compared to other parts of the country? Personally, my birthday is November 25th, and I went to school at just under seven years old without any issues. And it wasn't just us, either; people born in the middle of summer back in '78 were also starting first grade. Everyone did fine, even though they had barely turned six right before school started. My dad actually started school when he was only six and a half. He always says he was the youngest in his class, and he was born on March 8th. It strikes me as a bit odd that they actually granted you the extension. I guess maybe they just didn't want to deal with the hassle and ended up passing everything over to the Department of Social Services.

I honestly think you just need to adapt to how the American school system works. Look, it’s definitely not perfect, but for a healthy kid, elementary school is actually pretty manageable. It certainly was for me. High school is where things get significantly tougher and the expectations really ramp up. Also, I don't quite get why you told your son he won't be going to school, especially since you said he finished his preschool program so successfully. Wasn't he excited about starting? Wouldn't it be better if he started now alongside kids his own age? It would be a challenge, sure, but I'm certain he could handle it. If he waits, he'll end up being the oldest one in the class, and the little friends he made in preschool won't be there with him. I'll admit, first grade wasn't easy for me either, even though we used descriptive grading back then. But everything finally clicked in second grade, right when I found myself in a really tough spot. My mom was sick, and at first, nobody knew what was wrong. Then I caught salmonella and missed two weeks of school. My teacher, Susan, was such a huge help—my dad even drove me to her house once just so I could catch up on my lessons. I still remember her asking me how my mom was doing while we were out on the playground. They really did have a sense of empathy back then. You really have to consider that school is where a child learns so much more than just academics; they're discovering a whole new world. Most teachers are genuinely good people. And please, try not to talk down about school to your son. That might be the worst thing you could do.

urbantinker8 my kid is back in regular daycare now, so after that whole delay, they won't be stuck at home 24/7 anymore.
The daycare psychologist, the school psychologist, the school nurse, even the specialists over at the Seattle medical center—everyone agreed on the delay. This isn't just me making stuff up, I swear. I only asked because my kid just isn't ready for school yet. That's it!

Honestly, school is probably the absolute least of any kid's worries in this life... ☕

Andrew Wright2 said:urbantinker8 my kid is back in regular daycare now, so after that whole delay, they won't be stuck at home 24/7 anymore.
The daycare psychologist, the school psychologist, the school nurse, even the specialists over at the Seattle medical center—everyone agreed on the delay. This isn't just me making stuff up, I swear. I only asked because my kid just isn't ready for school yet. That's it!

It's interesting how you selectively cite experts whenever it suits your narrative. Based on what you've written, it feels more like you decided on this delay a long time ago for your own reasons, rather than it being strictly about the child's readiness. What's the father's take on delaying enrollment?

Quinn:

Andrew Wright2 I guess what they're saying is... I suppose I should probably mention that I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately about how things seem to be shifting, though I can't quite put my finger on why it feels so much more pronounced now than it did a few years ago, if that makes any sense. It’s funny, really, because I was sitting there just the other day—I think I was near a coffee shop in Seattle, or maybe it was just a similar vibe—and it hit me how much we rely on these invisible structures to just, you know, hold everything together without us having to notice them most of the time. I guess what I mean is that everything feels a bit more fragile, or maybe just more transparent, which is a strange way to put it, but I feel like we’re all seeing the seams in the fabric more often than we used to. It’s not that anything is necessarily broken, per se, but it feels like the tension is higher, and I wonder if everyone else is feeling that same low-level hum of uncertainty, or if it's just me being overly contemplative during my downtime. Maybe it’s just the weather, or maybe it's just the way the world is moving, but I find myself pausing more often to consider the "why" behind things that used to feel completely automatic. It’s a strange headspace to be in, I suppose, being so aware of the mechanics of life while everyone else seems to be just cruising along. So, my little one is heading back to full-time daycare now, and I suppose I’m just sitting here processing the fact that, once this transition is over, they won't be home for twenty-four hours straight anymore. It's a bit of a shift, I guess, moving from that constant presence back to the regular routine, and it feels like a strange adjustment to prepare for. I mean, I guess it isn’t just my own personal theory or anything like that, because the preschool psychologist was on board with delaying her start, the school psychologist agreed, the school nurse felt the same way, and even the specialists over at the Seattle medical center and the speech therapist all weighed in and said waiting was the right call. It’s not like I’m just making this up as I go along; I only brought it up because, honestly, the child just isn't ready for school yet. That’s really all there is to it.

I think I mentioned somewhere in an earlier post that I probably have a better handle on things than those self-proclaimed school medicine experts, mostly just because I’m actually living through it every day with my son. I suppose you could say it’s a twenty-four-seven kind of thing, if that makes any sense, though I’m never quite sure if such an expression captures the sheer, exhausting persistence of it all. It feels like there isn't really a moment where the clock stops turning or the pressure doesn't just sort of settle back in, heavy and constant, regardless of whether the sun is up or down. Maybe that’s just how things work now, I guess, this idea that everything is always on, always moving, always demanding something from you at any given hour..
I guess they didn't really have much of a choice in the end, since after all that persistent pushing and those constant claims about how he just wasn't ready, they were basically backed into a corner and forced to issue a postponement.
I’ve been sitting here thinking about why some kids just aren't ready to hit the classroom, and I suppose I should probably set aside all that heavy political nonsense—you know, the usual shouting matches about historical factions or those local drug issues—because that isn't really what we're getting at here. It feels like there's a deeper, quieter layer to it, though I might be overthinking things. Maybe it’s just about developmental timing, or perhaps the way certain environments shape a child before they even step through the schoolhouse doors. I guess you could look at it from a few different angles, depending on whether you think it's a matter of emotional maturity or if the social structures around them haven't quite provided the right foundation yet. It's a bit complicated, I suppose, and there isn't one single answer that fits everyone, but it's certainly worth pondering.🙄)?
You mentioned that this was all part of some orderly development process, done without any real hesitation, and that it’s already been well over six and a half years since then—all of which you decided upon right around the time you were born, I suppose.
I guess I’ve been wondering lately if the first-grade curriculum might actually be a bit much for a perfectly healthy seven-year-old, though I suppose it depends on how you look at it. It feels like things move so fast these days, and maybe, just maybe, we’re asking them to grasp concepts that are a little heavy for their age, but then again, I could be wrong about that too.

feralmoose32 said:Honestly, school is probably the absolute least of any kid's worries in this life... ☕

I guess you could say that.

I honestly think he’d be much better off just starting school. From what I can tell, he actually mastered the required preschool curriculum quite well
so I don't see why he'd need to repeat any of it. It feels strange to send him back to daycare where all the other kids are at least a year younger than him. To be honest, the fact that they even granted this deferral surprises me. In Washington, D.C., there's no way he would have been allowed to stay back. I guess I just don't understand how they decided he isn't ready for school when he already successfully finished his preschool program. He's probably going to be so bored in daycare with those younger kids. Wouldn't it make more sense for him to be in a classroom with his actual peers, learning his letters and such? You might as well go ahead and pick out a school backpack; you really should feel happy that you have a healthy child who is capable of learning so much once he gets into a school setting. My only concern, I suppose, is whether he's socialized enough, since he only did the preschool program and hadn't attended daycare before that. And then there's the question of what happens a year from now. Some of these issues might just persist. Maybe, though, the first-grade teachers are just better this year.

I mean, I kind of caught on to the fact that they’re pushing back the start date just because the kid was born in November, and apparently, the mom had such a rough time in school herself that she wants to shield them from those same old traumas for another year... but now you're saying they aren't actually ready? I guess I'm just wondering why you feel that way. Like, what was the actual basis for the Department of Social Services deciding on a delay, and why on earth wouldn't they include the specific reason for the postponement right there in the official paperwork?

Ryan Stewart8 said:I mean, I kind of caught on to the fact that they’re pushing back the start date just because the kid was born in November, and apparently, the mom had such a rough time in school herself that she wants to shield them from those same old traumas for another year... but now you're saying they aren't actually ready? I guess I'm just wondering why you feel that way. Like, what was the actual basis for the Department of Social Services deciding on a delay, and why on earth wouldn't they include the specific reason for the postponement right there in the official paperwork?

But the child was actually born in November 2010.
The kids required to enroll in school this year are those born by March 31, 2011.
So the kid is already six years and eight months old, and yet they aren't starting school in two months because... well, just because, I guess...🙄

My kid won't be the oldest in his class—he’s got buddies who were held back too, born in early 2010.

Like I told my friend—she’s a special ed specialist working both at the local preschool and the elementary school here—she asked for a deferral for her son, too. He’s totally on track, socially solid, can read and write, all that good stuff. She got the green light. She actually has three kids, and there are others in that same preschool who got a delay just because their parents requested it.

We just asked, and everyone was cool with it. Nobody rolled their eyes or acted like the kid would fall behind in life. Honestly, people were telling us, "Good call." We didn't bribe anyone or pull any strings through connections. Surprising, right?? Apparently, that's how things work in America.

So yeah, around this part of the US, they're pretty chill about it. Getting the paperwork from social services is just standard procedure. I already mentioned who gets approved.

The official notice doesn't explain *why* he got it, just that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, under the Department of Education, agrees with the committee's decision based on all the files from the psychologists, speech therapists, and school doctors. It’s for a perfectly healthy, well-adjusted kid who basically taught himself English just by watching TV and cartoons.

I’m just thankful I have two healthy kids.

Also, I was calling out the communists, the ultra-right wingers, and the religious zealots—not the extremists if you can't tell the difference, I can't help you.

I wasn't throwing around "expert" opinions; I was just describing the actual process for delaying enrollment. You know, the whole runaround with the preschool psychologist, the hospital specialists, the speech therapist, school med, and even the dentist.

And seriously, it's not like 🙄 we pulled some crazy stunt or anything. We went through the proper channels and got the deferral because we were straight up honest about what we wanted. And nobody—literally nobody—gave us grief or fought us on it. Does that even register with you people?!

As for you implying my kid has "problematic parents"—maybe take a look at your own families and how you treat your kids. Or your parents and grandparents and what they did in the past.

Hey, let's go. Let's throw the first stone if we're gonna play that game. Is that what we're doing?

My kids have everything they need. They're well-adjusted, not spoiled, and they never throw tantrums in public or at home. We handle everything by talking to them on their level. They go on trips abroad every month, we're always with them, and they get 3-5 hot meals a day. We're hands-on, but I've never said a bad word about school to my little one because I know how much that matters. He loves preschool. We never force them into anything. There were times they didn't want to get in the pool, so I just wiped them down with a warm towel. If they didn't want to eat something, I just made something else. It's always about understanding, never force.

My kids come first. Period.

I never said I'm with my child 24/7; I meant every parent is (figuratively speaking). Try reading with a little comprehension.

If you guys think being a "junkie" is a vibe, then go ahead and let your kids be raised by them. See if I care.

It's not like I'm acting superior or anything. I'm not. I'm flawed, and so were my parents. I'll be the first to admit it.
But since my husband and I have been through some stuff in life, we figured we'd use that knowledge to make sure our kid doesn't have to struggle through the same thing.

Would it kill you to make life a little easier for your own kid once in a while?

Delaying school isn't delaying life; it's just a 365-day delay. That's nothing compared to a lifetime.

My bad, I said I'm with my kid 24 hours a day, but I meant figuratively, not literally.

Andrew Wright2 said:My kid is already enrolled in a standard daycare. Let’s use some common sense here.

Besides, you nosorog actually said yourself—if I recall correctly—that kids shouldn't even start school until they're 8 or 9.

I'm not denying my kid an education; I just pushed school back by one year. That's it.

I'll definitely keep you posted. Just hang tight until Friday.

Actually, you're remembering that wrong.
I've commented on other threads before, and while I personally wouldn't want to send my kid to school at all, that doesn't mean I'd break the law. That's just my way of venting because I'm not a fan of the system. Honestly, I love my own skin too much to risk getting sued for fighting regulations; if I didn't enroll them, I'd just end up having the whole legal system breathing down my neck.🤷

On this specific thread, I've said several times that I support delaying enrollment if the child truly needs it. However, if you have paperwork from the CDC, there should also be a recommendation regarding what the child will be doing during that gap year. A child can't just skip school and do absolutely nothing.

Basically, assuming there's something productive to do with the child—like strengthening certain skills or developing interests—that just wouldn't fit into a standard school schedule.

So, you really have to decide: does your child actually need "that something" to catch up on or learn during this year, or do you just feel like this extra year is a right you're entitled to simply because you're the parent?

As for the people who agree that a delay is necessary, I think any professional would realize that if they don't grant a delay upon a parent's request—especially if that parent shows clear animosity toward the school in front of the child—starting school will be a total nightmare for the kid. Plus, the cooperation between the school and the parents becomes non-existent. (Which, by the way, you admitted to yourself: how much did you reveal during those evaluations? How much did the people making the decisions know about you before your little one even sat down at the desk?) Personally, I'm fine with that being noted in the CDC files. It becomes part of the record if other issues pop up later, whether viewed as a mitigating or aggravating factor... since the measures the agency takes are tiered from light to heavy, everything gets tallied up eventually.

And hey, maybe there really are genuine difficulties they spotted that point toward neglect, in which case talking to the staff might give you some guidance on how to fix things.

Andrew Wright2 I suppose I should probably mention that urbantinker8 was saying...
And so, I suppose, that’s just how things stand. 🙄 I mean, we actually went through the whole process, did everything by the book, and then just asked for an extension—honestly, we were just upfront about wanting more time. And surprisingly, nobody, and I truly mean absolutely nobody, made a fuss about it. There wasn't a single person pushing back or trying to cause trouble. I guess I’m just sitting here wondering if anyone else finds that hard to wrap their head around? It feels almost too easy, maybe.

I’m having a bit of a hard time wrapping my head around the sheer amount of contradictions popping up from one post to the next here, I guess. It feels like the goalposts are constantly shifting, which makes it somewhat difficult to follow the actual logic of the conversation, maybe.
If you made that choice right when the baby was born, and then decided to go through with it again nearly seven years later without any real, solid justification... well, from where I’m sitting, it just feels like you did it simply because you could. I guess it comes down to that "because I felt like it" mentality, if that makes sense, though I might be oversimplifying things. It just seems a bit arbitrary, maybe.
It’s funny how things work out, I guess. In one post, you’re busy tearing into those so-called "experts" you had these intense discussions with, acting like they don't know the first thing about what they're doing, and then in another, you're suddenly their biggest supporter just because they went ahead and granted you that extension without making a fuss. It's a bit of an interesting shift, isn't it?
I guess you just end up drifting off into these totally unnecessary historical and ideological tangents that don't really have anything to do with what we were actually talking about in the first place.
I suppose you could say the kid is pretty far ahead of the curve, though I guess it depends on how you look at things. They’ve picked up about two pages worth of a second language just from watching TV, which seems like a decent start, maybe? Beyond that, they’re completely healthy and perfectly socialized, and since they’re already over six and a half years old, everything seems to be unfolding exactly as it should, I guess.
I mean, I’m really not sure how much this is actually clicking for you, but if everything we've discussed is truly the case, then—not just from a legal standpoint, but just based on common sense, too—it seems like all the requirements for starting first grade are met.☕

Look, I'm all for helping the CSS if they actually need it. But why should I jump the line for something I don't even need? They themselves said the kid is perfectly healthy, so why would I snatch resources away from someone who actually needs them?

My little one’s already practicing writing and drawing—hasn't quite cracked reading yet. We play constantly, hit the beach every day, he plays with other kids and his sister, goes fishing with Dad all the time, can use a computer, and speaks both English and Italian without me lifting a finger... even though I mostly speak English to him while we play... etc, etc.

I'll be sending my kid to school, obviously. I'm not breaking any laws or anything crazy. This delay was granted legally; I didn't just pull it out of thin air.

Besides, you go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to file a statement confirming the child doesn't have a disability or developmental issues. That's exactly how they determine if someone actually qualifies for that kind of assistance. We don't qualify, and I have zero interest in taking what isn't mine.

Sorry if I misremembered you saying that. I just remember reading your take in that thread and it stuck with me.

First you’re stressing about the CDC because you have no idea why they're calling or if this is even standard procedure, and now suddenly it's totally normal. Not to mention all the other contradictions in what you're saying.

Andrew Wright2 said:Need some intel from anyone who’s dealt with school deferrals before.

So, we actually got the extension. My kid is 6.5 right now—he would've started school at 6.10, which is why we pushed for the delay. Even the local elementary school agreed he's just not ready yet. Anyway, I'm wondering if any of you got a call from Child Protective Services asking for a statement? If so, what was that actually about?

I can't help feeling like they're out to get us. But hey, if this is just standard procedure and everyone goes through it, then whatever. It's just that every time I hear "CPS," I have a total panic attack thinking they're gonna come after us or try to take my kids. I know, sounds totally paranoid, but I can't help it. 😢

Andrew Wright2 said:My kid won't be the oldest in his class—he’s got buddies who were held back too, born in early 2010.

Like I told my friend—she’s a special ed specialist working both at the local preschool and the elementary school here—she asked for a deferral for her son, too. He’s totally on track, socially solid, can read and write, all that good stuff. She got the green light. She actually has three kids, and there are others in that same preschool who got a delay just because their parents requested it.

We just asked, and everyone was cool with it. Nobody rolled their eyes or acted like the kid would fall behind in life. Honestly, people were telling us, "Good call." We didn't bribe anyone or pull any strings through connections. Surprising, right?? Apparently, that's how things work in America.

So yeah, around this part of the US, they're pretty chill about it. Getting the paperwork from social services is just standard procedure. I already mentioned who gets approved.

The official notice doesn't explain *why* he got it, just that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, under the Department of Education, agrees with the committee's decision based on all the files from the psychologists, speech therapists, and school doctors. It’s for a perfectly healthy, well-adjusted kid who basically taught himself English just by watching TV and cartoons.

I’m just thankful I have two healthy kids.

Also, I was calling out the communists, the ultra-right wingers, and the religious zealots—not the extremists if you can't tell the difference, I can't help you.

I wasn't throwing around "expert" opinions; I was just describing the actual process for delaying enrollment. You know, the whole runaround with the preschool psychologist, the hospital specialists, the speech therapist, school med, and even the dentist.

And seriously, it's not like 🙄 we pulled some crazy stunt or anything. We went through the proper channels and got the deferral because we were straight up honest about what we wanted. And nobody—literally nobody—gave us grief or fought us on it. Does that even register with you people?!

As for you implying my kid has "problematic parents"—maybe take a look at your own families and how you treat your kids. Or your parents and grandparents and what they did in the past.

Hey, let's go. Let's throw the first stone if we're gonna play that game. Is that what we're doing?

My kids have everything they need. They're well-adjusted, not spoiled, and they never throw tantrums in public or at home. We handle everything by talking to them on their level. They go on trips abroad every month, we're always with them, and they get 3-5 hot meals a day. We're hands-on, but I've never said a bad word about school to my little one because I know how much that matters. He loves preschool. We never force them into anything. There were times they didn't want to get in the pool, so I just wiped them down with a warm towel. If they didn't want to eat something, I just made something else. It's always about understanding, never force.

My kids come first. Period.

I never said I'm with my child 24/7; I meant every parent is (figuratively speaking). Try reading with a little comprehension.

If you guys think being a "junkie" is a vibe, then go ahead and let your kids be raised by them. See if I care.

It's not like I'm acting superior or anything. I'm not. I'm flawed, and so were my parents. I'll be the first to admit it.
But since my husband and I have been through some stuff in life, we figured we'd use that knowledge to make sure our kid doesn't have to struggle through the same thing.

Would it kill you to make life a little easier for your own kid once in a while?

Delaying school isn't delaying life; it's just a 365-day delay. That's nothing compared to a lifetime.

My bad, I said I'm with my kid 24 hours a day, but I meant figuratively, not literally.

Not trying to sound like a broken record here, but based on my own experience dragging through the school system and seeing what my husband dealt with, we just decided to wait until the little guy was actually born before making any calls about starting school.

I’m just calling it like I see it based on the professionals I've dealt with my whole life. And yeah, I mentioned people who work with kids but shouldn't be allowed anywhere near them. If you want to roll your eyes at me, go ahead. Seriously. When your kid gets bullied by someone, feel free to just roll your eyes too. Tell them "that's life, get used to it."

Even Verdan said it herself—some experts are total trash and some are actually okay. Some people are just garbage and some aren't. Apparently, I fall into the "trash" category because we asked for a delay and actually got it.
Like I'm the only person in America who ever requested a delay and supposedly "crippled" their kid just because they're spending another year in daycare instead of starting first grade.

It’s totally standard procedure. I talked to them myself, plus a special ed teacher who went through the whole thing alone.

And seriously, do you guys just live life with zero fears?

If a person doesn't have any fear, they're either crazy or something is seriously off.

Apparently, it's "contradictory" to feel scared when someone explains—after talking directly to the CDC and a specialist—that this is just how things work.

Looks like none of you have ever actually dealt with people driven by ideology. So, when someone describes what that looks like in the real world, suddenly everything is "contradictory." Either it clashes with your little principles, you haven't experienced it firsthand, or you're one of those ideological types feeling personally attacked.

Andrew Wright2 said:Not trying to sound like a broken record here, but based on my own experience dragging through the school system and seeing what my husband dealt with, we just decided to wait until the little guy was actually born before making any calls about starting school.

I’m just calling it like I see it based on the professionals I've dealt with my whole life. And yeah, I mentioned people who work with kids but shouldn't be allowed anywhere near them. If you want to roll your eyes at me, go ahead. Seriously. When your kid gets bullied by someone, feel free to just roll your eyes too. Tell them "that's life, get used to it."

Even Verdan said it herself—some experts are total trash and some are actually okay. Some people are just garbage and some aren't. Apparently, I fall into the "trash" category because we asked for a delay and actually got it.
Like I'm the only person in America who ever requested a delay and supposedly "crippled" their kid just because they're spending another year in daycare instead of starting first grade.

But honestly, that sounds a bit like a "I'm just over it" reaction where you might be projecting your own past frustrations onto your child.🤷
Who can really guarantee that a kid will have the exact same negative experiences you did with school?
There is no way to know if they'll end up with a terrible teacher this year, either.
And who's to say the teacher next year won't be absolutely perfect?
Plus, there's the possibility that they might actually miss being with their peers this year, especially if they start next year alongside kids who are a year and a half younger.
Or maybe an eight-year-old will struggle with a specific subject that would have been much easier to tackle when they were seven.
Even then, there is always the chance they might just end up incredibly bored in preschool this year.

I suppose you might be speculating a bit too much here, fighting against ghosts from your own past, when in reality, there aren't any certainties to be found.
And that includes the idea that delaying enrollment is necessarily "making life easier" for them.

Andrew Wright2 said:Look, I'm all for helping the CSS if they actually need it. But why should I jump the line for something I don't even need? They themselves said the kid is perfectly healthy, so why would I snatch resources away from someone who actually needs them?

My little one’s already practicing writing and drawing—hasn't quite cracked reading yet. We play constantly, hit the beach every day, he plays with other kids and his sister, goes fishing with Dad all the time, can use a computer, and speaks both English and Italian without me lifting a finger... even though I mostly speak English to him while we play... etc, etc.

I'll be sending my kid to school, obviously. I'm not breaking any laws or anything crazy. This delay was granted legally; I didn't just pull it out of thin air.

Besides, you go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to file a statement confirming the child doesn't have a disability or developmental issues. That's exactly how they determine if someone actually qualifies for that kind of assistance. We don't qualify, and I have zero interest in taking what isn't mine.

Sorry if I misremembered you saying that. I just remember reading your take in that thread and it stuck with me.

It’s funny how you don't seem to have an issue with cutting in line for preschool spots, though I suppose where you live, those openings are popping up like weeds everywhere.

From where I'm sitting, everything seems so perfect and seamless in your world that you wouldn't even know what to do if you actually had to deal with the CDC.

Don't sweat the daycare spots. Every kid got in.

Fruit Loops nobody can give you a guarantee on that. You know it too. My kid won't be the oldest either—there are plenty of older kids still stuck in preschool because they started late.

Look, I’m not out here demanding my kid gets some saintly teacher because that's just not realistic. It’s not like I had one bad year in school; my husband and I both dealt with crappy teachers from elementary through college. And I'm not talking about grades—I earned those myself when I didn't study. I'm talking about the vibe between the teacher and the student. There were a few rare gems who were actually decent humans, people I still respect today. But most of them? Totally ideological hacks who micromanage your life and insult you over nothing. Not once, either—it was constant throughout our entire education. So, go ahead, tell me how you guys "approve" of that system!

I've gone through four different trade schools plus college. So yeah, my path wasn't exactly your standard K-12 straight shot.

Joseph Stewart7 said:It’s funny how you don't seem to have an issue with cutting in line for preschool spots, though I suppose where you live, those openings are popping up like weeds everywhere.

From where I'm sitting, everything seems so perfect and seamless in your world that you wouldn't even know what to do if you actually had to deal with the CDC.

Signed.