We won the lottery!

The academic lottery, that is... My son won the last available slot in the kindergarten class of the local charter school, ensuring both him and his little sister an opportunity to learn in an environment that affirms and promotes moral values common to all faith traditions: integrity, perseverence, courage, wisdom, prudence, and justice.

Personally, I am also a little relieved that he won't be riding the school bus. On the two mornings he went to public school, he returned to inform me that two little girls had kissed him. On the bus. (Older women, no doubt -- second grade or so.) I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet -- and take comfort that this kind of thing won't be encouraged at his new school.

He wasn't thrilled at the prospect of having to start a new school twice in the same week, but all apprehension vanished as soon as he saw his teacher: tall, blonde, pretty, and gentle. He forgot to be mad that he wasn't in the class with the dinosaurs (the other K class makes a papier mache replica at the end of each year), and threw his arms around his new teacher's teeny-tiny little waist. "I like you!" he declared.

She giggled, delighted. "I like you, too!" she replied. And in that moment, I liked her as well.

So I'll have to drive carpool for the next eight years. It's worth a little peace of mind.