Decisions decisions

Well...

IF we get a court date in July, which is "possible" (there is a reason the word possible is in quotation marks)then that likely means August, which means I'll be gone approximately the first 3 months of the school year. Not only that, but when I return I'll have a 8 year old, who knows little/no English, that I'll have to begin working with to get caught up, in addition to the most active 3 year old EVER. I know my limits and I know my capabilities, I also know I am NOT supermom, nor have I ever claimed to be.

To that end... what do I do about school for Aidan? We've thrown around several possibilities:

1. We do school over the summer and then take an extended break while I am in Russia

2. We take a summer break and then Darren spends 3 hours each evening doing school with Aidan while I am in Russia

3. Aidan attends the public school that is right behind our house

4. We send him to the ridiculous expensive Christian School with a full time nurse

5. We send him to the less expensive PCA (Presbyterian Church of America) school (that we LOVE) which has just acquired a full time nurse.

6. Aidan stays home and we send V to school.

We also had several arguments for and against each possibility:

For example:
We could go with option 1 as listed above. However, we are ALL (especially with Darren working so much and being gone for most of April) ready for a SUMMER, and IF we end up in Russia the end of summer/fall I can't imagine not having spent the summer focusing on Aidan and Asher and just enjoying time with them. Similarly, we've thought about starting when we normally would (if I'm in the US) and then taking an extended break while I'm gone, but then don't feel that is the solution either, as then I'd have to play catch up with Aidan, begin working with V, and preschool with Asher. No way could I spread myself out and give all three of them what they need.

We've thought about option 2. Continuing to H.S. and having Darren do school with Aidan at night when he gets home from work (while I am in Russia) but we don't feel that is the right solution either as the boys will already be missing me, and then to have Daddy come home from work and spend the next 2.5-3 hours doing school with Aidan would be unfair. Asher wouldn't get ANY time with Darren, and the time Aidan saw him would be spent solely on doing schoolwork.


We've looked at some more Private School's, and found some that are slightly more reasonable then $600 a month we were looking at last year. We would feel comfortable with both the curriculum, care and location and most important, THEOLOGY but just don't see how we could possibly swing the tuition...

That leaves public school, which of course I'm not thrilled about, BUT I personally don't think it's the end of the world either. IF we have to make that decision, it's only 5 minutes from the house (and in case of emergency for my mother in law who will be caring for the boys during the day would be super conveinent) academically it is the best in the state... and Aidan knows enough to stand up for his beliefs and what we've taught him... at Max he'd be there for a year, depending on when we traveled maybe only a semester. My biggest concern is he'd fall behind because he's so far ahead... and I don't want him doing that either, the last thing I need is a "bored" child...

And finally option 6. which is really not an option at all. Aidan is well bonded, well attached, and VERY versed in his beliefs, he's social, he's confident and he's not afraid to tell it like it is. I know he'd ENJOY going to school outside the house. V on the other hand will still be new to everything. New to the family, new to the culture, new to his surroundings, I can't fathom sending him to school for 7 hours a day-I think he needs to be home, I think he needs the comfort and security and one on two (Asher will be here too) attention that I'd be able to give him. I also think it would create a unique bonding opportunity for V and Asher.

Well... to conclude allow me to introduce you to our goal school for Aidan this fall: Covenant Classical Christian School. Perhaps if we sell the house we'll be able to come up with tuition? ;)

The above link is being testy so if it doesn't work for you just copy and paste:
http://www.covenantcs.org