Anxious to See How It Ends? So Are the Writers.

"Lost" and "The O.C.," along with "24" and "Desperate Housewives," are high-profile serials with substantial, devoted audiences, but no one - not writers, not network executives and not viewers - knows exactly how they will end their seasons. Their writers, like others in Hollywood, are trying to devise the perfect season finale - with little time to spare.

Christopher goes for his kindergarten screening, today. This is my last one, and yet I am filled with the most suspense. Chris is a quirky little kid. He is already reading, at least at a first grade level. He knows numbers up to I don't know what, and already has asked questions that in order to answer, required us to introduce him to the concept of infinity.

Despite the fact he's academically advanced in comparison to his sister and brother (who are no schlumps), he's the least mature of the three of them, at this age. I mostly think he'll pass the screening, but even if he does, I expect it will be a more difficult adjustment for him. I honestly don't know what to think, going in this morning, so mostly, I'm trying not to have an anxiety attack. Plfffffhhhhhhhhh.

The real Alison Dubois (like from Medium) is on the Today show right now, and she's actually better-looking than Patricia Arquette.

(edited to make it not sound like I'm psychic myself.)

You are watching TV right now, aren't you Jesse?

xpost hahaha!

but no one - not writers, not network executives and not viewers - knows exactly how they will end their seasons.

Why am I not surprised?

Good luck to you both, Cindy. Are you thinking about keeping him home another year, or not?

Thank you.

Six months ago Jesse, that would have been an almost definite yes. But I am almost certain now, that he needs it. He's been in a small, private pre-school (6 kids in the class), and even if he doesn't pass the screening this year, he's going to need something bigger next year, where people don't make Oh-that's-just-Chris allowances.

I expect it will be hard for him (and his teachers). He's just still babyish, but also extraordinarily bright, one of the fluffiest bunnies ever (when he's king of the forest there will be nothing in the forest but sunshine, butterflies, and sweet animals), but strong willed as all get out. I think that might prove to be a difficult combination.

A lot of the babyishness is our fault, and may also be the result of birth order (and the spacing between kids). We're addressing what we can (raising our expectations, mostly). I can't even be specific as to what I'm afraid of, going in, today. I'm just so *meep* over it, I can't even be properly mournful about this being my last baby to go through this.

Good Luck Cindy.

My wife is all set to home school our daughter (actually, it's distance learning through a public school but still is essentially home schooling). I admit I'm apprehensive. My wife talks about wanting to go back to work and being stressed even on days when the kids go to preschool. So basically, I'm worried about her going crazy.

I have to admit, the idea of homeschooling with a sufficiently social framework sounds marvellous. No way I could pull it off, but it is seductive.

However, I think that much of the stuff that sucks about school is also a valuable lesson, and I'd hate to throw a kid out into the world without having had them chewed up a bit by institutions.

Gud, I can see why you would be. You know, she might need the break, even if she home schools later down the line, in the here and now, if your school system isn't actually bad, it might be good for her, if E and L went to primary school for a couple of years.

I would home school because there are things I do not like about public education, and we cannot afford private education--except that I know I would go crazy (I'm not far from it, now), and I'm afraid I would bring my kids with me.

It's not even the time home or being with them constantly (although I do think for my own sake, I need them to go to school, so I don't become a total recluse). It's that I'm too damned serious about their school work, as it is. My oldest son, in particular...I think I'd break him. I'm ashamed to admit he's much better off at the school than he would be with me.

Ack. I have to stop procrastinating. 11 o'clock is going to come, whether or not I am ready.

Wish us (no) monsters.

Man, there's no way I be could be a full-time parent, much less homeschool a kid. I was just saying this yesterday -- there's no way a kid isn't getting more from being with both other kids and trained adults, instead of with just me. I admire the hell out of people who can do it, but I know I'd lose my shit after three days.