Preschool Madness

Wow, this preschool thing is crazy. This past month we have attended 3 open houses and submitted 5 applications for cooperative preschools in Portland. Cooperative preschools are run by parents, they offer lower tuition and as a parent you help in the classroom and participate on the board or other position. In Portland almost all the schools choose applicants by lottery, drawing a name out of a hat. There are generally 15 kids in each class and the amount available depends on alumni or siblings of previously enrolled children.  There is one preschool that has 14 spots available for new students and the others range from 6-10 spots.  We received one letter that has Cooper on a wait list, #12 of boys. This school was my number one pick for many reasons plus the perks of close proximity to our house and the attached coffeehouse. 
Saturday we skipped yoga and used our couple time to go to the last two open houses of the month.  It was nice to go without Cooper because we were able to engage with the parents and teacher without him interrupting or wanting our attention. We asked a lot more questions and get a good feel for each teacher and atmosphere.
This whole process has produced anxiety in me, I am waking up anxious before the open houses, I remain anxious up to the deadline of the applications and then I got anxious when we got the first letter. For me this is simply because I have no control over this process and it is driving my control freak nature crazy. As my mate says, "worry is your ego's way of giving yourself a false sense of control."  Gotta love her, she is my balance and reason. I just want the process to be over and for us to know which school he is going to. All the co-ops that we visited are great and have the same concepts. Any one of them will be perfect for Cooper, I just want some say in it and I guess I will have that once all the letters go out. One teacher explained it well when she said that every year there is a fruit basket upset in the summer. I can see how even as #12 we have a chance at that school as the other lotteries are done and familiesnpick favorites.
For now, Sharon and I have the same favorite school and it changed from the one that is closest to our home. I will be glad when this process is over and we have a two year break before the dreaded Kindergarten round-ups start. That is another process that is going to produce anxiety for a whole host of reasons.