Challenger

Ok so I think most people that know me, knew I was going to be one of "those moms." Long before I ever even had children I talked about how I expected them to be, what I would do if they were a certain way, my hope for them, how I planned to teach them, etc. Well, turns out there are a whole bunch of moms just like me when it comes to education. Granted Winter is 3 going on 4 in May, but her life has a plan until she is at least 18. I told you I was one of those moms. What I mean is I have every intention of giving her every advantage I can. I want her to be exposed to every positive thing there is out there for her. If I can't afford to give her something that I think will make her future better, I am going to make it happen. I am not living vicariously through my daughter, rather I am hoping to open every door along her path so that she may choose a happier, brighter future.

When Cory and I got married his niece Elizabeth was going to pre-school at Challenger. Kami, her mother raved about it. Elizabeth was learning to read at much higher level than would have been thought possible for a pre-schooler. I did a little research, learned all about Challenger and other pre-schools in Utah, looked up where the best school are, and finally found out all I could about Montessori schools and teaching. I fell in love with Montessori teaching methods and knew if our children were anything like us, this would be the best way to start their education.

Cory always felt like school should have been less structured and more, learn what you want to learn, when you want to learn it. He basically did school because he had to and just did it because there was no other choice. I personally think he could have home schooled himself and been above and beyond anything the public schools did for him. I had a terrible time in school all through elementary and that followed me up until college. I battled with teachers and never really understood what was so important about everything I was being taught. Once in college I think Cory and I both found a happy medium. Yes, there are requirements but you get to choose how you fulfill them, you do it because you want to, and for me professors aren't tripping over their own authority.

Back to the matter at hand. Montessori schools are few and far between and even further are ones that are actually accredited in Utah :( It is just another one of those things that hasn't caught on here. There are however, Challenger schools. Thank goodness for Challenger schools and all that they offer. Winter loves school. She loves her teacher, the other kids, learning new things, singing silly songs, playing outside, practicing writing her name, reading letter combination, and the hundreds of other things that she has done in the past few weeks. EVERYONE there is SUPER nice and that makes me feel good about giving them my money, but more importantly that I am giving them my child and her future. Me and those moms, take our children to Challenger.
I honestly think one of the biggest deciding factors of us buying our home where we did was because there was going to be a Challenger school built literally just around the corner from us. We liked Farmington for a long time, drove through the area often, usually for no reason at all. We had looked at the new town houses that were being built in Farmington for a long time, but just couldn't decide if it really was going to be the best place for us. One day when coming to look at the town houses, there it was, a literal sign! The sign said future home of a Challenger school. It was posted across the street from the town houses sites. That was it for me, we put a deposit down on a town house and made plans to move to Farmington. Well, fate had other plans for us and we didn't buy a town house. Instead we went through four months of house buying drama and ended up living where we do now.

Long story short, Winter started school at Challenger and I couldn't be happier!