But then it came time for that conversation and it didn't go as I'd planned. "Wait," her teacher advised. "If you can, give her another year to build up her confidence, let her blossom."
Huh? She can write her name! Knows her numbers and letters! Can sit still for long periods! She's tall! And a girl! It would be so much easier to just follow the rule: age 5 by October 1. But that seed of doubt was planted about intangible self-confidence and emotional maturity, and by the one person (plus the assistant teacher and the school director) who sees Fiona unfiltered in a classroom setting. So we talked to _a lot_ of people: teachers, friends. There was _a lot_ of Internet research. Then we had a Kindergarten teacher evaluate her. Then we had another conversation with the Pre-K teacher. It was my new obsession.
Long story short: We're going to wait. Despite my own hangups about other people's opinions, and what if she misses her friends and what if her new classmates will be too young, we were reassured over and over again that there'd be no harm in waiting, but there could be harm in pushing her ahead if she's not ready. And there is enough to indicate she is not ready.
So 2014-15 will be the year of Pre-K 2.0. The check has been deposited, the paperwork signed. It's done, and we feel like we've made the best choice for our girl.
Saturday's Super Hero Fitness was also a thrill. They pretended to drive Batman's car and they climbed a wall. That's all I could get out of her. She was beaming and kind of hyper when she got home.