Stay at Home Mom - Richardson,TX

I have a 2 & 4yr old and neither go to preschool. I plan to homeschool and quite frankly think preschool is a waste of time (not that I could afford it anyways). I do all the same things you are doing, and also find it hard to meet other parents & kids who want to play and hang out outside of classes, library, McDonald's, ect. Next year we will be doing a homeschool co-op. Even if you aren't going to homeschool forever, this may be something to look into until she goes to school. If we were closer I'd love to hang out!

I think you have to do what you feel is best for your child. Kudos to you for taking the time to spend with her. Enjoy every day of it. I'm a stay at home mom with my two sons and I wasn't with my daughter. I had my daughter in my 20's and my son's in my late thirties/early forties. My daughter went to daycare and I missed out on alot whereas I am making it up with my sons (different circumstances now). I too had a hard time connecting with mom groups--they are clickish and most tend to stick with moms their own age and I'm an old mom now. Trust me, when your daughter becomes a tween or a teen, she'll find her own set of friends and you'll spend less and less time with her. Please don't feel that she's missing out on preschool. Most kids just play in preschool. Continue spending time with her like you are and build upon a good lifelong relationship with her--it will pay off for you when she starts those peer relationships later on. The best part is that you are making lifelong memories for her now:)

M.

I didn't put my kid in a preschool because 1. we couldn't afford it with me not working. and 2. I knew I was going to homeschool later, so I didn't really want to put him in a preschool. Don't let other mom's make you feel back for not doing it. My experience has been that my son learned more at home playing with me then his friends who's parents paid bookoos of money to send them to a program. It sounds like your daughter is already way ahead of her peers too. We haven't had trouble finding playmates - we just work around their school time. Preschools are usually only 3 days a week and sometimes 1/2 days at that so there should still be plenty of time for playdates. It also sounds like she is having plenty of social time at the things you are taking her to - like dance and the library. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Wish you lived closer, we could get out kids together. :)

I'm a stay at home mom also with two kids 6 and 3 I also run an in home daycare which is mainly my niece and I'll be getting an infant in a few months I've been going back and forth on this issue as well. I just started teaching preschool with the girls and they seem to be doing ok my niece is better than my daughter as the saying goes your kids will do better with someone else but I'm going to keep at it I feel blessed to be able to stay home with them and teach them. We go to church so she gets to socialize then and then this September she will be in awana's at church. You might look into maybe a dance class or story time at the library.

No you are not the only one.
Each Mom does as they feel is best.
Sure, kids this age benefit from Preschool. They learn a lot in many ways and get academic prep for Kindergarten.
But there are also many Moms who "homeschool" their kids, and their kids are home.
And yes, there is a lot of "pressure" to have a child this age, IN a Preschool or enrolled in a program.
I feel that too.

My daughter went to Preschool from about almost 4 years old. She wanted to go. She was happy.
My son is 3... and he is home with me. I am a SAHM. We cannot afford to enroll him in a program or school right now. So that is our reason. Also though, unlike my daughter, he has no interest inn going to "school." And his "readiness" is different from my Daughter. So, I shall wait and see, regarding my Son.

Ultimately, go according to your child's "readiness."
But at this age, they do benefit from learning age-appropriate "schooling" or academics. The website
http://www.carsondellosa.com/cd2/default.aspx?HolderName=...
Has a lot of resources for "teaching" your child at home.
This is what I used for my kids.

All the best,
Susan

No u r not alone-I have a 4yr old who is not in preschool-we cannot afford it and due to her birthday she would have to do 2 yrs of preschool which I find highly useless. She is smart and knows what they will teach her in preschool.
As far as groups I tried a few and no u r not alone there either-it is hard to connect w/people or they are not accepting in the groups I like or u try a group and they are so clickly just like high school. We do not know many people here and it is hard to meet people.
Hope u find this helpful and know u r not alone. L.:)

As a SAHM and a former preschool teacher I do not think that 2 years of preschool are needed. Enrolling a child the year before Kind in plenty. The 3 year old program is for socialization and learning to sit still.
Have you tried Library story hours?
I know it is hard but sometimes you just have to put yourself in a situation where there are alot of kids and moms and start saying hi and maybe exchange a few #'s if you hit it off...it is alot like dating ;) only instead of going to the bar you are going to the park and your child is your wing man!!

Well, since you are only recently staying at home, she probably has already been in day care. That is really all it is for, some social interaction. My kids are 2 and 4 and they are not in any program. Take her to the library for reading time or do little activities with her learning time like you are doing. She is already in dance, so you are giving her plenty of time to interact and learn. That is all she really needs.

Oh, I agree with another mom, a lot of mothers groups do seem clicky as well. Maybe one day, you'll have your own little click!

I have a 2.5 year old. We do Gymboree, but my daughter has never been in daycare or preschool. She's extremely smart and loves other kids.

I would like her to have one on one time with another child so she learns to interact better than with a full group of kids. So I understand what you mean. I try to have play dates with other kids, but this seems to only happen once a month or less. It will get better once the weather gets better. I did join a group on meetup once, but only went twice and didn't like the dynamic. I'm a little older (38) than most women with children my daughter's age, it was really hard for me to have a child through fertility, and she will probably be an only child. It seems most of the other women are in their late 20's, were able to get pregnant on demand, and are pregnant with their second or have just given birth.

As far as activities, I do review a few sites to see if there are things going on during the week:

http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/calendar/dallas-tx-u...
http://familyeguide.com/user_vcalendar/week.php?id=3&sid=