Approaching 40, what to do about my daughter's middle school entrance exams? Public or private, and the whereabouts of my FIRE unemployed husband.
My daughter is in third grade, and it's about time the word "middle school entrance exam" started popping up.
That said, in our area, only a few kids in the class take middle school entrance exams.
Most kids just go on to the local public middle school.
Even though my mom friends say, "We're fine with public school, right?"
I occasionally hear voices saying, "I went to check out a cram school."
Yes, it seems that in our area, attending cram school starts in earnest from the fourth grade.
Cram school and private school are a double trial of resolve and household finances.
Honestly, both cram school and private school cost money.
My self-proclaimed FIRE, unemployed husband also says,
"Hmm, if we're going to do private school exams, I really need to start working soon..." but he only says it.
There is still no sign of him taking action.
(Isn't the word "FIRE" too convenient?
It's a magic word that makes even being unemployed sound positive. Lol)
But when I think about my daughter's future,
"Education expenses" are definitely a real issue.
I feel like we are truly being tested on how we as a couple face this.
The option of a public integrated junior and senior high school
I only recently learned that
there seems to be a "public integrated junior and senior high school" in our area as well.
Since it's public, the burden on the household budget is small,
and since there are no high school entrance exams, it seems like my daughter would have more peace of mind during her adolescence.
Thinking, "This is it!"
I immediately checked the application requirements and acceptance rates.
The acceptance rate is surprisingly high, and it seems all the kids in this area take the exam just for the experience. Haha
I want her to continue her extracurricular activities
However, I don't think a daily life consisting only of studying is right.
I want my daughter to continue swimming and rhythmic gymnastics as she does now.
She isn't improving at all in rhythmic gymnastics, but she has been working hard at swimming lately, and going to practice with her friends seems to be what she enjoys most.
Extracurricular activities that don't require practice at home are great, aren't they?
Since she stopped going to after-school care, she has been going out to play every day after school.
When I see that smile, part of me thinks, "This is fine for now."
So, no matter what path we choose,
“I want to make sure she doesn't lose her sense of self.”
Approaching 40, parents are being tested too
Middle school entrance exams aren't just a child's problem,
they are an event that tests a parent's values and resolve.
“What kind of environment do I want her to learn in?”
“How do we reconcile this with our household finances?”
“How can we cooperate as a couple?”
…It’s like a microcosm of life.
Before I knew it, I was approaching 40.
Thinking about my daughter's future has become a time for me to think about my own future as well.
Looking at the local cram school's website,
I spend nights wondering, “How should I envision this child's future?”
Perhaps my daughter's entrance exam issue is also one of the walls I face at 40.