#23

Today is a RED LETTER day: kindergarten registration for Maja. I can imagine to some people this would not seem to be such a big deal, but in our neighbourhood for our local public school is it. Richard was in line for registration at 6am. In the dark, cold, mid-January freezing-ness with a thermos of coffee and some hot bagels. And guess what? He wasn’t the first in line for one of the coveted 51 spots. He was #23. There were people in front of him with lawn chairs and blankets!

WHAT? Did I just say “public” school? Yes. A public school in Philadelphia. You heard me correctly. I have not lost my mind. And people lined up in the pre-dawn hours to get in? Uh-huh.

Our local public school is somewhat special, you see. It is the reason houses in our neighbourhood are so expensive as you have to live within a catchment in order to attend this school. The school which is partnered with the University of Pennsylvania and therefore is so well run. One of the few schools where a child can actually get a decent public school education in this city.

Disappointingly, though, Richard didn’t have to stay out there for 3 hrs waiting until the doors opened at 9am. A security guard handed out numbers and sent everyone home with instructions to come back at 8:45am. I am only disappointed because when the time comes I can not hold the guilt over Maja’s head:

Your father stood out in the cold for THREE HOURS so that you could go to school, young lady!!!!!!

Alas, he only stood out there for about 15 min. Ah well, there will be other opportunities to instill parental guilt on my child. For now, I’m just glad we don’t have to pay for daycare for Maja anymore come September.