The Weekend Is Not Near, It’s Here.

April 4, 2009

Where did the week go? It probably blew through with that wind that plagued us this week. Driving up North on 101 to work every morning I noticed the hills of the Silviera Ranch/St. Vincents were not only carpeted green, but with huge patches of purple, orange gold, and yellow. The wildflowers are out in force this year and are breathtakingly beautiful, and makes you want to be Ferdinand, the Bull napping under an oak smelling the flowers. These beauties are also my torturers because my long absent allergies have returned.

Bright Horizons at Marin Commons

As a working mother of a pre-K son, I understand the value of high quality childcare and pre-school. In the Spring of 2005, when our son was 15 months old, we decided as an only child he needed to be socialized with kids his age outside of the home environment. We lucked out because Marin Day School in St. Vincent’s was just opening its doors to the public as its sponsor, Lucas Films moved to San Francisco. What drew us was the engaged and effectionate staff, the age appropriate activities, and a wonderful playground. Our son has really thrived there and is ready for Kindergarten.

What I like about my son’s experience there is that the staff allows the children to be children and follow their interests. They allow the kids to explore, create, and even ride a large Tonka truck down the small hill in the playground. Kids learn about creating dams in the sand and are allowed to float from Our World (dress up and pretend play), Science Rocks!, and Art Smart. More than all that I really appreciate the time they take in developing relationships with other children and how to make good choices. As kids get older they are encouraged to take on more responsibility, independence, and to work out their disagreements and get help when they cannot. You can go to work and know that your child is in a wonderful place where they will blossom.

Plus, they don’t have any requirement that your child has to be potty trained nor do they charge extra for those kids who haven’t been potty trained. They believe as we do that it is far better to let potty training happen organically when the child is ready. Arbitrary deadlines only stress the parents and kids when you have to tie badly needed child care to when your child is potty trained. The staff is willing to support parents and kids during potty training, and believe that it is moved along by kids seeing the older kids go on their own.

Opening around August 2009, Marin Day School will change its name to Bright Horizons (the name of the Corporate Headquarters) and move from St. Vincents to Marin Commons. Marin Commons is just off the Lucas Valley exit next to the YMCA on Los Gamos Rd. While they won’t have the amazing play yard that they had at St. Vincents, they will have far more room in the classrooms and their outstanding staff will be there. Bright Horizons at Marin Commons will be located at 1600 Los Gamos Drive, Suite 230, Lobby C in San Rafael. You can contact them now at 415-492-2262 or marincommons@brighthorizons.com. Let them know that Marin Maven sent you.

The classrooms will be seperated in four groups: Infants (6 weeks – 18 months with a 1:4 ratio), Toddlers (18 months to 30 months with a ratio of 1:6), Twos (30 months to 3 years), and Pre-school/Pre-Kindergarten (3 years-5.9 years). The center is open from 7:30am to 6:30am, which allows parents enough time to drop off and pick up their children.

This is my way to thank all the teachers and staff over the years for enriching our son’s life and allow him to grow into the boy he has become.

Wine Auction for Huckleberry Youth Programs in Terra Linda

For 40 years, Huckleberry Youth Programs have been making a difference in the lives of at-risk adolescents and their families. On Saturday, May 9th at 4pm to 7pm, you can show your support and be whisked away to a 5-acre estate overlooking Lucas Valley. There will be valet parking, hors d’oeuvers from Insalata’s, wine tasting, and bid on wine — all for a $75 donation for a great cause.

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