Changing Schools soon, how to tell DS?

[greenmansions]

So, my DS attends a lovely small private school, in kindy. It is a K-5 and we planned to keep him there. While in the world of private schools the tuition is lower than most, my DH has been laid off since end of August and we are getting nervous about next year.

I put in for public school for next fall as a backup plan in case DH was not working yet, or if whatever job he gets does not pay well enough. I listed a good charter-type of school as our first choice, and our neighborhood school second. Neighborhood school is good, but is your typical rewards and punishments kind of school. Charter is much better in that respect, as well as having more progressive programs. I recently learned of an opening at the charter and if we go now, we can have the spot. If we wait til next year we enter the lottery pool to get whatever is still available, so the chances of getting in are practically zero.

So we have opted to take the spot rather than risk being put into the neighborhood school next fall. I am so sad to be leaving DS's school that I am just achey about it. How do I tell him? Is it going to be OK if I cry, or do I need to be all confident about it being the best thing? I mean, there's less than 2 months left at school and my son is happy there.

[Emmeline II]

We are trying to get ds into a charter school and he is not bothered at all at the thought of leaving his current school.

I would take him for a tour of the new school and perhaps see if you can have a "going-away" at his old one.

[LuckyMommaToo]

I vote definitely don't cry! Talk about it with DH or your friends and get the crying out. For my DS, I would be presenting it as an exciting adventure, especially b/c it's for such a short time. Any chance you can have a playdate with a kid in his future class?

Really, kids are resilient. He'll be fine. Acknowledge his sadness, if he expresses it. Are there things the new school has that the old didn't (better playground, hot lunch, etc.)? Sell it!

Good luck. You'll get through this.
-e

[greenmansions]

Thanks mamas. Well we had a change. When I went to turn in the forms to take the spot, I was informed that there was actually not a spot. I was misinformed by the person I spoke to the other day. While they had two kids leave they were actually at higher enrollment than they were supposed to be and they weren't going to take anyone to replace them. So that's that for now!

Thanks for your support. I know I will cross this bridge eventually so I am glad to have the input.