Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Monday, February 14
Olivia's Latest Obsession: "Monkey Dooo!"
If she isn't chanting the theme song Caillou *in near perfect pitch* (that's a proud mama speaking), Olivia is constantly lobbying for the TV channel to be changed to her favorite programming. It is quite easy to fulfill these requests when the programming can be found On Demand (under the Kids menu for Sprout-PBS)--and even easier to live-with when they are only 5 minutes long--like her latest obsession, Monkey See, Monkey Do aka "Monkey Dooo!" This mini-show combines two things Olivia loves---animals and dancing around. I highly recommend it.
Monday, August 30
Just Like That.
And just like that...I started my grad school program last Thursday and by the end of my first class I decided this wasn't the program for me. Just like that.
What does this have to do with being Charm City Mama, you ask? Well you become a new parent, balance career and home and then decide to throw grad school in the mix within the first year of your balancing act and see how confident you feel. I've told myself that any time invested in school (away from my family) has to be totally worth it to me (financially and personally). I've decided it's the right thing to do for my career. It's a good example for my family, although Charm City Daddy has enough degrees for both of us.I want it and there is no time like the present.
If you didn't know, I work at a university. I love it, btw. One thing working at a university and in academia does, it either gives you or further exacerbates a thirst for knowledge. That combined with a free tuition perk is a fantastic combination. AND in most cases your studies aren't limited to your home institution. You have a choice of any program offered in a system of universities.
Because I was willing to take a few calculated risks, I have been given some incredible, early career opportunities in the poltical arena that have accelerated my career path. Now with my position in higher education, I consider myself in the development phase of my career where I need to hone my skills.
Like most working professionals, my graduate program needs and expectations are pretty specific and practical. "Show me how to do/think x, y, z, thanks bye." Unfortunately after further inspection of the graduate program in which I was recently admitted I realized it would be too broad and too theoretical to be beneficial to my immediate career needs. It really hit home when each of the students in my class began to do their introductions in my first class. Many had not yet started their career or were making a career shift. Neither apply to me.
Luckily there are several top-notch options for my area of interest in the DC area---political, strategic, crisis communications. Even better, I've found two that are fully online and/or can be combined with an MBA track.
So, just like that, all hope is not lost. Now back to the application process!
What does this have to do with being Charm City Mama, you ask? Well you become a new parent, balance career and home and then decide to throw grad school in the mix within the first year of your balancing act and see how confident you feel. I've told myself that any time invested in school (away from my family) has to be totally worth it to me (financially and personally). I've decided it's the right thing to do for my career. It's a good example for my family, although Charm City Daddy has enough degrees for both of us.I want it and there is no time like the present.
If you didn't know, I work at a university. I love it, btw. One thing working at a university and in academia does, it either gives you or further exacerbates a thirst for knowledge. That combined with a free tuition perk is a fantastic combination. AND in most cases your studies aren't limited to your home institution. You have a choice of any program offered in a system of universities.
Because I was willing to take a few calculated risks, I have been given some incredible, early career opportunities in the poltical arena that have accelerated my career path. Now with my position in higher education, I consider myself in the development phase of my career where I need to hone my skills.
Like most working professionals, my graduate program needs and expectations are pretty specific and practical. "Show me how to do/think x, y, z, thanks bye." Unfortunately after further inspection of the graduate program in which I was recently admitted I realized it would be too broad and too theoretical to be beneficial to my immediate career needs. It really hit home when each of the students in my class began to do their introductions in my first class. Many had not yet started their career or were making a career shift. Neither apply to me.
Luckily there are several top-notch options for my area of interest in the DC area---political, strategic, crisis communications. Even better, I've found two that are fully online and/or can be combined with an MBA track.
So, just like that, all hope is not lost. Now back to the application process!
Friday, June 26
Nursery University
Like many couples these days, Charm City Daddy and I have been actively saving for our child's education--before we even knew we were expecting.
And like all parents we want our child to have access to the best education possible. Of course leading up to a formal school experience, we feel exposure, socialization to other cultures, and hands-on learning is extremely important preparation--hence the desire for an au pair, as I have mentioned in previous posts.
Over the weekend CCD and I happen to catch this silly, but interesting, documentary called Nursery University, following various NYC parents and their rigorous application process to NURSERY school! Here's the trailer:
After watching it I felt relieved that 1) Charm City Daddy and I aren't CRAZY, 2) While Baltimore prep schools can be rather competitive, they aren't as bad as those in NYC.
It was clear that some (not all) of these earnest parents were more obsessed with the status of certain schools and the admissions process than they were with their own child's personal development and academic experience.
We are already scouting out some of the area programs that Olivia can start attending as early as 6 months for a weekly class. Today we just found out there is a one-year waitlist for 2 year-olds to enroll this program. Just peachy.
Nonetheless, I am not stressing. I refuse. Olivia will be in good hands and has many wonderful options ahead of her including the opportunity to attend the early-childhood development center at the university I work for--which is great!
Btw, if we keep this pace up with each child, I'm not so sure we'll make it to four. The preparation for children/parenthood is intense!
And like all parents we want our child to have access to the best education possible. Of course leading up to a formal school experience, we feel exposure, socialization to other cultures, and hands-on learning is extremely important preparation--hence the desire for an au pair, as I have mentioned in previous posts.
Over the weekend CCD and I happen to catch this silly, but interesting, documentary called Nursery University, following various NYC parents and their rigorous application process to NURSERY school! Here's the trailer:
After watching it I felt relieved that 1) Charm City Daddy and I aren't CRAZY, 2) While Baltimore prep schools can be rather competitive, they aren't as bad as those in NYC.
It was clear that some (not all) of these earnest parents were more obsessed with the status of certain schools and the admissions process than they were with their own child's personal development and academic experience.
We are already scouting out some of the area programs that Olivia can start attending as early as 6 months for a weekly class. Today we just found out there is a one-year waitlist for 2 year-olds to enroll this program. Just peachy.
Nonetheless, I am not stressing. I refuse. Olivia will be in good hands and has many wonderful options ahead of her including the opportunity to attend the early-childhood development center at the university I work for--which is great!
Btw, if we keep this pace up with each child, I'm not so sure we'll make it to four. The preparation for children/parenthood is intense!
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