during my writing hiatus, one particularly important thing happened. schools sent out their letters of acceptance to kindergarten and the district revealed the results of the lottery.

for me that meant the death of my dream of private, french immersion school (they didn't accept our brilliant, talented, creative, and occasionally charming daughter? well they can go f themselves!!). it also meant that we received notice that we got our first choice for public school — a cute, sunny local school, one block away, the smallest in the district. it turns out that two of our friday night club friends and another neighborhood family from laurel hill were assigned there as well.

so, after sulking and stewing for a bit — it was in the early stages of the foot debacle and i was confined to my bed and strapped to my laptop —  i emerged from my funk with the realization that, even if we were able to scrape together tuition for parker somehow, what would we do with roman two years from now? it's not like this concept had never crossed my mind but the reality is that i'm unemployed and dan is underemployed and it just couldn't happen right now.

i had to reach into my soul and remember that this is actually what i've really wanted. i had to look past the mediocre test scores, the lame pta fundraising numbers, and the principal who seems to place "diversity" above education. i had to put aside my dreams of my bilingual daughter, the excursions abroad, the global community of which she would have been a part.

what i have really been seeking for five years is a community of like-minded parents in our neighborhood — people whom i sincerely enjoy spending time and having a drink or dinner with,  and whose children my kids can grow up knowing. smart, motivated, involved parents whose children i welcome into my home, who would look after my kids when i need it, and who are willing to work hard to make sure all of our kids get a good education.

manifested.