End of an Era

I'm going to keep this short-ish, or I'll start crying. After 27 years Buby's wonderful little school will be closing its doors on June 18. The board ruled on Monday night {operating costs outweigh early enrollment commitments for the coming year}, and I found out on Wednesday morning right after taking this photo.


It's a travesty. This school, its teachers, and the entire community have brought such love and warmth to our daily lives over the past two years. Buby was a three-year-old Starfish and then a four-year-old Bunny and could hardly wait to be a five-year-old kindergarten Eagle in September.


In that teary meeting with Buby's principal and the other parents who attended the walk-a-thon, panic and sadness washed over me. We've grown attached to this school, along with so many other families, and it's late in the game. So late. But we acted fast and are now in the process of enrolling him in another {less convenient but totally worth it} school that we've adored for years.


This came right on the heals of other abrupt goodbyes. We found out this week that my OB is leaving me without notice. He will no longer practice obstetrics and gynecology since medical malpractice insurance has skyrocketed to unaffordable. He promised to catch No. 3, and now that won't happen.


Then... The Little Gym announced they'll be shutting down forever. I started mother-child classes with Buby four years ago, and it's been a big part of our family's weekly routine ever since. Bleu's graduation and metal ceremony was scheduled for June 21, but we found out on Sunday that her last class would be the very next morning. The gym cannot afford to keep their leases for June and decided to close all locations immediately.


Ugh. I'd say the economy was all-over bad here in the skirts of NYC, except it's not. I know other private schools with mile-long waiting lists, the kids' swimming classes this session are busting at the seams, and every single week of a pricey Nature Camp we inquired about is filled to the max. Plus, our itty bitty village has four fancy restaurants that are booked every night of the week. Cars around the block.


So we find Buby another school. We find Bleu another class. Life goes on, I guess, with a few tears shed along the way.