Lisa J Lafave

The Fertility Coach

You are here: Home / Archives for University School

University School

A Proud Moment

by

When I pick the boys up from University School, at 2:45 PM in the afternoon, it is common practice for many of the boys and their moms to sit in the grass talking and coloring or having a snack, and then go climb a tree, or play ball. Quite a few of us stay late regularly.

The other day, one of my friends was hanging out with the group. She was approached by two women, and the next thing I knew she was in tears. I really didn’t know what had happened. Two other moms were soothing her, so I thought it best to leave it be, and find out about it later.

My son, Giles, was walking by, and noticed she was crying. Instead of acting like he didn’t notice, or coming to me to ask what happened, he looked her way, caught her eye and said, “Want to play ball? Want a snack?” Everyone burst into hysterics, including the woman who had been crying. He really broke the ice, and changed the tone of what was going on. Judging from the expression on his face, I would say, he was delighted, with his intervention.

My child had chosen not to ignore someone in pain, but chose instead to act, and offer her a bit of kindness, in her moment of despair. I was really proud of him. He had used both kindness and bravery in one small act.

Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC
A Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
Written in My Little Brick in University Heights, Ohio

Founder’s Day

by

My twin boys, Jarvie and Giles, both started kindergarten at University School this Fall. They are in the very same class and each day I get the daily report! My boys are so different in looks and demeanor that the teachers say, if someone entered the classroom and was told there were twins in the room, they wouldn’t be able to pick them out!

University School is a private, all boys, day school. Jarvie and Giles have had a very smooth transition from pre-K to kindergarten and really love US. I am sure the smooth transition has everything to do with the school, their methods, and their teachers, Cathy Schreiber and Chelsea Bobnar, who clearly know what they are doing. US is a very special place and we are very lucky to be a part of their community!

Today is a very important day in the history of the school. It is Founder’s Day and the boys are celebrating 125 years, since the inception of the school. Thus far, the school has had 7 head masters. Apparently, each one stays for awhile. What follows is a discussion I had with Giles, one of my five year olds, last night, in anticipation of Founder’s Day.

Giles: Mom tomorrow is Founder’s Day and there are two very exciting things about Founder’s Day. The first is that our Headmaster Mr. Rein will be installed. You know he isn’t really the headmaster yet, until he is installed tomorrow.

Mom: Well that is very exciting! What is the second exciting thing dear?

Giles: Mom we get to be with our senior buddies again tomorrow. We are going to get to do all kinds of things with them.

Mom: Oh honey I am so excited for you. You are going to have a wonderful day tomorrow!

Giles: Do you know Mom we get to ride a bus to the upper school? I don’t think we get to go in the building there, but I really wish we did!

Mom: I don’t know when, but someday I will make sure you get the chance to visit the upper school, and go inside the building!

Giles: Oh Mom that would be so great!

Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC
A Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
Written in My Little Brick in University Heights, Ohio

The Boys Start Kindergarten at US

by

The first morning, when we arrived at the circle at US, as we hopped out of the car, Giles remarked, “Boy Mama why didn’t they take time to think through the parking?” I thought this was an amazing observation for a five year old. Don’t you think? Truth be told, after that initial glitch, everything has been uphill!

As we entered the building what we observed was teachers and staff outside welcoming boys to school with the typical handshake. It was quite striking. This simply handshake, right there on the sidewalk, was the beginning of my boys’ formal training at US! I did not realize it then, but in fact, my boys shook hands with the new head of school, Ben Rein, on that early morning on their very first day at University School! If I were to tell the truth, a tear dropped from my eye, just from seeing the sight of so many young boys shaking hands with their elders. This was acculturation in progress.

Week one at US is now complete and the boys are loving it! In fact, every night Giles comes home and tells me how much he loves US! Jarvie and Giles are in Mrs. Schreiber and Miss Bobnars’ class with 12 other boys. A few of the boys they knew previously from their travels. If first impressions can be trusted, all in all, it looks like a good fit.

The highlight of the week was definitely the Handshake Ceremony. The kindergarteners and all the new boys shake hands with everybody else in the University School Community. My boys shook some three hundred hands that morning as they were welcomed into the school. They were especially excited to shake hands with their cousin Ben, who is now in 7th grade. When Jarvie came eye to eye with Ben he melted into his arms. The thrill of Giles’ moment with Ben was caught on film.

On Thursday after school, the boys got in the car and reported they had learned that there would be a football game on Saturday at 1:00 PM at the upper school campus and they wanted to attend.

I was very impressed that my kindergartners could be told about an event with date, time and location and then accurately share that information with a request to attend.

After completing some fact finding and verifying their story, I made arrangements for the boys to attend their first US football game today with their nanny, while I attended a funeral for the father of a classmate of mine from Laurel, one of the other independent schools in the area. Indeed there were US alums at my function as well.

Did I mention that Giles are Jarvie a legacy boys at US? Well they are. Nothing like a bit of tradition! Their grandfather attended US, their three uncles, my brothers, attended US and I cross registered from Laurel! Let’s not forget Cousin Ben attends US. So there you have it.

Just to round out the week, there was a gala reception at one of the families’ homes welcoming all the parents of the kindergartners to the school. This was attended by parents, teachers and administrators. It was a truly phenomenal event! Think wedding, not get together! I was privileged to attend. It looks like I am really going to enjoy being part of this community! I am sure to have more to share with you regarding the boys’ experience at US at a later date!

Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
A Single Mom By Choice Raising Twin Surrogacy Boys
Written in My Little a Brick in University Heights, Ohio