Back to (Two) School(s)

Seems like yesterday she was just beginning kindergarten, but somehow this morning it was already time to register our daughter for her first year of college! Where did the time go?! She's actually a Junior in high school now but over the summer she was accepted into our local state university for dual enrollment so in all likelihood, she'll not attend anymore classes at the high school & instead take all of the rest of her classes at the university to receive dual credit for both high school and college.

Students receive a lot of encouragement to go to college but, aside from scholarships, the Dual Enrollment Program is one of the most practical ways of encouraging them to do so that I've ever seen and I'm grateful for the more affordable option the program makes available to us ( only $100 per credit + books & supplies / aprx $1500 per semester). If all goes according to plan, when she graduates from high school Playmaker will have already completed two years of college as well. She can still play high school sports, much less time will be wasted as she'll actually be in school less and two less years will be required of her schooling should she choose to continue her education - & and we stand to save aprx $10,000 in tuition/fees (as compared to regular instate tuition at the university) over two years.

Virtual Birth Announcement

Playmaker walked in the door Fri after school carrying an infant seat w/ a very cute baby (doll) that was hers - for the entire weekend. She named him Logan.

Now - This was not your typical doll - but rather a very high tech Child Development lesson in parenting & as close to real as it gets w/o being real! Logan weighed about 8 lbs...cried, slept & needed to be fed & changed much like a newborn. If he didn't get what he wanted when he wanted it, he cried LOUDER! Playmaker had a baby book she had to record in all weekend when he cried, how long it took to care for him & what activity it interrupted each time...which - true to form - was often sleep! She wore a wristband that essentially connected her to the baby for the whole weekend & she carried a bag w/ a bottle & baby supplies.

Altho' I was expecting this assignment, I can't tell you how taken aback I was when my "baby girl" walked in carrying that oh so real looking baby boy!! Yikes! Playmaker looked so grown up!!... & like she knew what she was doing! At first it was fun - & her friends who slept over tho't so too....but - by the time they left, I think they'd had enough! Baby Logan went to church w/ her, to a friend's house, to a hockey game ... all the while demanding her prompt attention off & on. By the end of the weekend ...& after being woken up several times each night... she actually broke down in tears of frustration....& I overheard her sounding oh so much like her own mother at times.

From Fri afternoon to Mon morning Baby Logan demanded her attention nearly 50 times!

Playmaker played "mommy" quite well - but I'm pleased to say she's in no hurry to have a real baby anytime soon!! I didn't particularly like the idea of being a grandmother at my age either....or loosing sleep b/c of a crying baby in the night --- but ---eventually I think I'd enjoy having grandchildren - so I hope she's not totally opposed to the idea of having children after all of this ...and when the time is right :)