PARENTING August 27, 2001 Issue

Fear and loathing on the kindergarten circuit—healed

By Amy Richmond

My Husband, Dean, and I were thinking about sending our daughter, Lucia, to a private school. So last fall I attended an open house of schools. We live in New York City, and I knew that the application process was competitive and stressful, but that day I learned just how ludicrous it could be.

When one admissions director asked if Lucia was academic, I blurted out, "She's three!" Seeing humor in the fact I was spending more time and energy on my preschooler's application than when I'd applied to graduate school helped me stay grounded.

We spent hours filling out applications, writing essays, and taking school tours. Lucia took two IQ tests and was interviewed at several schools. Through all of this I mentally turned to God to see what He was showing me about my daughter and education. Each time I prayed I learned something new. I gained a stronger conviction that Lucia's individual talents—which came directly from God—could never be misunderstood, obscured, or undervalued in any way.