There aren’t a lot of preschool choices here for kids who aren’t living in poverty or with special needs or for families that don’t believe bible verses should be on the syllabus. I’ve heard there are a few spots in a preschool class at the main elementary school without any strings attached…except kids have to be in class five days a week for a full school day. Plus? I’ve seen the rooms at that school, and they are cold and rundown and not any place I would want to spend my time. I definitely don’t want to send Anya there.

Luckily, there is one more option. Blue Mountain School.

Andy, Anya, and I went to BMS Wednesday for the morning, and we had a really good time. The environment was warm, and cozy, and loving and full of fun things to play with. There was a shelf holding wicker baskets full of pine cones, finger puppets, mardi gras beads, bits of fabric, and sea shells. There were lots of wooden puzzles, blocks, dress-up clothes, books, a wooden kitchen, a kid-sized table set with a tin tea set, and a cozy corner with fluffy pillows and a canopy. The wood floors had snuggly rugs in the play area, and one wall had a big sliding glass door looking out on the play area and woods. For snack time, the kids and teachers sat down to wooden bowls of fabulous-smelling oatmeal delivered in papa bear, mama bear, or baby bear portions. The teacher and aide seemed as at home in the classroom as the kids and were really interested and caring with the kids.

Anya didn’t want to leave. If not for the lure of the library, we’d probably still be there.