musings.

siri is still napping, and we have music class in 50 minutes. i thought i'd let her get as much sleep in as possible since we will be going to a greek food festival this evening. ever since our return from greece, jeff and i have been on the lookout for good greek food. nothing has even come close to the delicious cuisine we had in greece. we're hoping that tonight's festival, held at a greek orthodox church, will bring back some culinary memories.

i feel torn in a million directions this week. aside from the usual (academic) work, (mommy) work and (house) work, we've been preschool shopping. i know what you're thinking. it's preschool, how difficult could it be? if you ask this question, you clearly have never tried enrolling a child in a preschool in san francisco. this city is filled with *very* educated people with considerable amounts of social and cultural capital. everyone wants the best for their children. the kids need structure; they need play; they need a second language; they need field trips; they need science and math in the curriculum; they need art; they need etc., etc., etc. does this sound ridiculous? yes, but not in 21st century america. given that it is much easier to attain a college diploma than say 50 years ago, there has to be something extra special about that college diploma or that graduate degree. and the mystery ingredient? a reputable institution.

now, jeff and i are not educational snobs. we both attended public elementary, middle and high schools. we attended public universities for college and graduate school. we don't want siri to become a product of private education. but, moving away from oregon to attend grad school in california has taught both of us one very valuable lesson: the prestige of your educational institution does matter. let's face it, better schools have better resources (libraries, financial support, etc.), they have deeper networks with alumni, and the name recognition. oh, the name recognition...

esteemed institutions also want to recruit well-rounded individuals who know how to balance work and play, who know a second language, who has traveled to different locales, who are artsy, etc. etc. the preparation starts at home, yes. but, importantly, it is influenced by peers. so, choosing a preschool becomes more than considering the curricula, the pedigree of the teachers, the cleanliness of the facility, and all the other usual factors. selecting a preschool also includes taking a tour and seeing the kids who attend there. how do they behave toward one another? are they well-kempt? do they use proper vocabulary when they need to go potty, want to eat or are hungry? i also take note of the kids' clothing, but that is not a real factor of consideration at all. i just like to get ideas for my own child.

preschool applications are stressful. the admissions board not only considers the child, but also the parents. i spent over two hours on preschool application short answers, making sure to hit on points they may value in their student body and parent community. i dress up for the tours so that teachers and directors see that we're professionals (jeff is of course in work clothes, so no need to dress up). it's all about goffman's presentation of the self (some of you get this, others, just trust me or look it up).

we have yet to submit an application, but we have to do it soon: waitlists are anywhere from 12-18 months. somedays i am angry and frustrated at the preschool system in sf, and also at ourselves for buying into this ridiculous procedure. but, i know the type of opportunities i want to create for siri. i know what's at stake here, and i'm sorry to say that the current world climate forces us into this situation. it's just part of the game. and we play.