DC Metro Mom

If you’re like my boys and me, you’ve been chasing around space shuttle Discovery over the past week. I heard about the shuttle coming up from Florida to the Air and Space Museum by Dulles a few months ago from one of my wonderful Northern Virginia mommy blogger connections and have had the days blocked off on my calendar ever since then. My twin boys are obsessed with all things space.  

On Tuesday the boys and I went down to the National Mall to see the shuttle fly over atop a modified jet. What I found the most intriguing was the sense of waiting expectantly with so many other people--  on the ground or on the tops of buildings— all waiting for the same thing.  We were by the Capitol, and judging from the crowds on the terraces, there were not many people left inside the Capitol. Everyone looking at the sky.

I didn’t know what to expect when my friend said, “Let’s go to the farm museum!” What’s that? A farm with placards? Taxidermy cows and chickens? I had no idea. Is there manure involved? She described it as kind of a mini children’s museum. Today we went to the Heritage Farm Museum in Sterling, and I was pleasantly surprised. It’s like one big display room of a normal, adult museum that has quite a few hands-on elements for kids. It’s the perfect blend of children’s and adults’ museums. For DC moms, it’s about 40 minute drive, and of course less for most NOVA moms. We spent over an hour and a half inside and about 15 minutes on the big tractors out front with our almost-three year-olds. Here’s the lowdown:

Barn: Inside the barn, kids can not only milk a pretend cow (water comes out) and gather wooden eggs in baskets from a plastic hen house, but they can also dress the part. There are overalls and bonnets and such for children who want to look the part.

I recently saw a story about Backpack for Kids on NBC4 news.  I was really moved by the effort to help local youths get ready for school.  My own daughter is starting kindergarten this September.  I must admit I was a little shocked to see that her school supply bag would cost $50.00.  Ouch!

When the NBC4 Backpack for Kids story aired, it suddenly struck me how many local families won't be able to buy school supplies for their children.  I immediately headed to my local CVS and bought a backpack.  For $12.99 you too can buy a backpack for a local child in need.  It is so easy.  You buy the backpack and CVS takes care of the rest.

I recently saw the movie a "Race to Nowhere".  A friend mentioned that this Indie flick was playing at a local theater for a limited audience and tickets were going fast.  Always intrigued by a "hot" topic, I decided to attend.

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Do you ever have questions or concerns about how your 3-5 year old is walking, talking, playing, or behaving but don't know whom to ask or where to go for help?

In Washington DC it is estimated that 12% or more of children may have some type of developmental delay.

Let’s face it preschool is a big step for most parents and children. This is the first “official” school setting that your young child will be experiencing. Despite the fact that this is one of the first “Big” developmental milestones for your little one, it will be you that is obsessing and stressing over the decision and process surrounding preschool selection.

I went into the process with the faint memory of my years in preschool. Your parent signs you up and off you go. Now have fun and listen to the teacher…right? Wrong! First you need to select from an insane number of preschool options in our area. There is curriculum, class size, hours, religion, price, teacher tenure, security and more to consider when choosing where Junior will spend his days coloring. Of course today’s preschools offer much more than finger painting and snacks. Some higher end schools have these kids learning Russian and dissecting frogs (I kid you not!).

So my oldest, K, goes to the local public school. And by local, I mean 2 doors away. I have to say that we are lucky to live in an area that has some of the best public schools in the country. That said, I know a bunch of people that send their kids to private school. That just kills me. You pay all this extra money in property taxes and other fees to live in an area with high quality schools - and you send your kid to private school. I just don't get it. But anyway...

In our County we have options for school - we can go to the neighborhood joint, or we can select other options- like Montessori or Spanish-immersion. But we really wanted her to go to the local school, and I am so glad we made that choice.

First, at the Kindergarten orientation last year the Principal said we could schedule an appointment to come meet with her individually. So, I did. And at that meeting, she suggested I take an hour and visit the three kindergarten classes to get a feel for them, and offer my advice on which one would be best for my child. And so I did, and we love the teacher we selected that K got.

Now, as we approach 1st grade, I asked the Principal if I could do the same thing and for first grade. She welcomed my input, so I went and observed the three 1st grade classrooms. They were all great, but I definitely had a preference, which I emailed the principal.

I know that not all public schools are as welcoming, or helpful, or high quality. But I am so grateful for ours!

Cross posted http://www.threetimemommy.blogspot.com/.