Finding the Right Fit: A Mom’s Perspective on School Choice

What a wild ride the journey of Motherhood is.

Watching our children grow is all I ever wanted to experience as a mom.  It really is one of the most rewarding positions in life to hold. There is so much joy in the celebration of birthdays and milestones, and for all the hard moments, there’s an equally joyous event to celebrate.

At the same time, it is one of the most demanding jobs there is. From physically caring for another life, to shaping and molding them into responsible caring adults, motherhood is no easy feat. In today’s society, everything must be considered and weighed, and the feeling of potential judgement can be felt from many angles. Having four of my own children, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with fears of making the wrong decisions for them. Striving to make the best decisions while considering their needs feels like an endless pursuit. Once we left the toddler stage of life, a factor came to mind that my husband and I never gave much thought to prior—the right educational fit. Are there one-size-fits-all options? Do we send our children to public school or charter school? Do we brave the task of homeschooling? Could we even afford the possibility of a private school? The questions were endless—that’s for sure.

At first, we choose homeschooling. The school options in our area didn’t align with what we wanted for our children academically or spiritually, and we didn’t believe we could afford a private school tuition. We juggled homeschooling for years until, ultimately, I longed just to be their mom and not have to carry the weight of meeting each of their unique academic needs. We desperately wanted a school that could come alongside each of our children and maximize their gifts and learning, all in one spot, while respecting our religious beliefs.

Choosing the ideal educational environment for them for was at the top of our priority list. All four of my children were created so uniquely different. Between talents and struggles, how does one find the right academic fit for all of them in one place? I have two grade-level learners, one that struggled with challenges, and one that soared above the grade-level norm. I was overwhelmed at the idea of finding a fit for all four of them.

I weeded through the options for hours on end—a daunting task when there were so many other things on my to-do list. When an advertisement for PCA came my way, I was intrigued to say the least. The perfect fit? Could it be? Could we actually afford it?

An Open House event provided the perfect environment to get so many answers to the questions we had. We were able to meet teachers and talk to administrators and not just talk to an Admissions Counselor. Seeing their passionate hearts for teaching the next generation really gave us a glimpse at the heart of the school. The passion and love they displayed for their jobs was evident. Being able to walk the halls and see the classrooms where my kids could sit next year turned my “what ifs” into “must haves”. Having my kids in tow with us that day, taking it all in with my husband and I, was a gift. They were able to get a sense of what it would be like to go to school at PCA. They felt the strong sense of community and belonging right from the moment they entered the doors. Our hearts were given peace that day. The decision was made and PCA is where we became planted. Watching our children bloom and flourish here has set my mind at ease.

Small class sizes and intentional leadership from teachers have help shaped my children into students who are thriving and proud of the work they are completing while aligning with the vision we have had for our children all along. There are boundless ways for them to grow at PCA. From learning a new instrument in band and developing new skills in orchestra to excelling in athletics, my children have certainly grown since they entered the doors of PCA. They have found their artistic ability and their unique individual giftings. Sending my children to PCA has not only been the right educational choice for them, it has also provided me the opportunity to do what I wanted to most—be a mom while still being able to be part of my children’s education. Partnering with PCA has proven to be one of the best decisions we have ever made.

If you have had the same questions, or wrestled with what the right academic fit for your family is, I would encourage you to attend an Open House and see if PCA is the right fit for your family. Just come and see.

You may be pleasantly surprised.