Moving on up...

Life moves at a fast pace.  Too fast.  One only has to pause briefly to notice how quickly the days and weeks pass by us.  Time waits for no man.

Jake is just about 13 and we have begun our high school applications.  How did that happen?  My mom keeps reminding me that high school flies by and judging by how quickly primary school has progressed, I can only imagine.  How sad.

Choosing a high school has been substantially more difficult than choosing a primary school ever was.  For us, the local primary school was perfect.  It was close to home and well run.  It has a high level of education and the kids are well mannered.  It's one of those older fashioned government schools.  Plus, we knew the then principal as a family friend.  Choosing a high school has, for us, been a really tough.  One one hand, do you choose all boys schools outside the area, which would result in plenty of travel time, but would potentially open more doors for Jake growing up, or do we again choose the local school, which is still young and ironing out problems, especially with regards to discipline.After lots and lots and lots of deliberations, we have decided to apply at just 2 government schools - our local and another not too far from home. 

We had to weigh up our options and I think that it makes sense not to have to travel too far for school.  Travelling to the more affluent Southern Suburbs all boys schools, would mean getting up at least 2 hours earlier every morning and sitting in traffic to school.  My office is really close to home and so I'd have to do the great trek back this side, again sitting in traffic.  And then I'd have to repeat the exercise every afternoon.  Believe me, I'd do it with a glad heart for Jake, but we do have to be realistic as well.  I am a single parent.  If I am unwell one morning, getting Jake to school will be a problem.  While he could possibly get into a lift club with other boys traveling from this side, lift clubs mean that Jake will have to wait until his friends are finished their extra murals before he can come home.  It will be a long day for both of us.

So, as we say "local is lekker", Jake is going to support our own school.  Co-incidentally, it's the same school that Jacques and I went to, along with all of his aunties, most of his uncles and 2 of his cousins (Abi & Becky).  We are the "old boys".  It's quite sweet to know that this little tradition is continuing with the next generation and one just has to hope that we have taught our kids enough to know right from wrong.  Jake has been brought up with strong morals and he will need to lean firmly on these.  All schools have their problems and I like the idea of Jake being close to home, having more time for himself and having friends in the area.

Hope everyone's well

Love Sue XXX

PS.  I got blocked out of my blogger account and only just had time to sort it out...  hopefully I'll be around a bit more now.