[Bre*n*Will=Reid]

...and for those mommies with older LO's, how old were they?

My birthday is in late August, so I was 4 when I started (turned 5 a week later). Reid's birthday is Sept 6th, so I was really wanting him to start when he was 4 too. For some reason, I just don't want him to be one of the oldest in his class, which he will be since apparently CA has some new law/rule that Sept 1st is the cutoff I picture him getting his driver's license before everyone else and having that peer pressure of driving his friends....yeah. Just silly stuff I guess. I've always figured he would go to public school for K-8 but now I may want to look into private. I'm not interested in homeschooling.

[*JenJen*]

I was 5, which was the youngest state law would allow me to go. I was ready a year and a half earlier though, thanks to preschool and such.

[bittersweet]

I was 5. My bday is Aug 23 so I had just turned 5 before school started.

I think I would go through the same feelings as you if my baby was going to be the oldest in her class...but only for short time. Overall it is really a silly thing to be upset over, practically speaking. I think a lot of your feelings are just b/c you were always the youngest you can't imagine being the oldest. But by oldest...he will be days and months older than other kids, not years. And not all kids get a DL the day they turn 16 anyways. I certainly didn't. Jenna's bday is in Feb...but I don't want her driving anywhere in the middle of a Michigan winter with a brand-spanking new DL. I'll probably have her wait until the summer after she turns 16.

I totally get your feelings, but think about all the money you'd spend on private school. If it is b/c you have serious concerns about the lack of quality education he'd get in your district, then fine. But to put him in private schools b/c you don't want him to be the oldest in public school seems like something to think long and hard about. You could pay for his college and then some with the money you'd spend for 12 yrs of private school.

Plus at least for most boys, he may be better off going into college at 19

[~Caroline~]

I was 5. The cutoff date here was (maybe still is) Sept. 30 so you had to turn 5 before that date to get in. My birthday is in December so I've always been one of the oldest among my friends (most of them were summer babies). It never bothered me until much much later, actually, when I was the first one to turn 30

[LuvsPecanPie]

I was 4. I turned 5 a week later. My mom says I was always so much more immature than the rest of my class - she said I didn't catch up until middle school. I was in NY though, and the cut off is Dec 1st, so there were actually a lot of kids who were younger than me. To be honest, I hated being one of the youngest. I was the last to get my license, the last to turn 18, the last to do almost everything.

Just a thought... my Aunt started my cousin (Nov 24th - Cutoff Sept 30th), in a private Kindergarten so he could start when he was 4. He switched to public school in like 2nd grade. Don't know of that's an option for you, but it might work.

[Oriyan]

I was 5. The cut off here is December 30th. I turned 6 in Kindergarten, and turned 7 in 1st grade.

[SandKmommy]

5 but my birthday is in March. The age cut off here (even though I started school in Cali) in Idaho was 5 until the year I would've started. My friend was born August 18th, and because in 1991 when she should have started school the cut off was August 1st, she didn't start till she was 6 in 1992(when I was 5, she was born in 1986, me in March of 87)

Seamus will be 6 when he starts. Since he is a summer baby we are holding him back. His birthday is 1.5mo before the cut off (now Sept 1st since they start the second week of Sept.). Maturity wise he wont be ready, unless alot changes in the next year. At this point he will be in Head Start this year and next year and start Kindergarten at 6 in 2012

[JediRach]

My brother missed the cutoff by one day. He's the oldest in his class and its never been an issue for him. He just graduated from high school in June.

[Mjp121212]

They suggest boys wait that year due to maturity. Brayden will be 6 when he starts. I say let them be a kid while they can

[Angelaosaurus-rex]

I started at age 5 and turned 6 shortly after starting school. It never bothered me in fact I felt cool being older LOL! And really its not I was the only one that was older other kids had late b-days too. Only time it kinda sucked was when I started getting interested in boys and they were all younger then me.

[Trannyfromtheuk]

Here the cut off is September 1st. Mia is a October baby so just misses the cut off. Over here they can start school the term after they turn 3 so for Mia that will be January. She will be in part time school (nursery) (one half day and two full days) till January next year when she will have just turned 4 then she will be in full time nursery till the September before she turns 5 she will go into reception class. I'm not sure wich if your Kindergarten

[LisanAndy]

I had just turned 5 that July. Since we're homeschooling we'll start Taylor at 4 turning 5, so in 2012. She wouldn't be allowed to start until she was 5 turning 6 for public school. If for whatever reason public school became a better option for her then I wouldn't hesitate but I'd rather her be home schooled.

[**Jenn**]

I was 5, my birthday being in June. The cutoff at the time was January 31st and I had a friend with a late January birthday and she didn't like being the youngest.

Here the cutoff is September 1st so Liam will go next year--he'll be 5 in December, so 3 more months. Lochy's birthday is the end of August so he'll go the year after. I like that they'll be a year apart in school. Liam has a handful of kids in his preschool class turning 5 before him (he has a party to go to in a couple weeks actually).

Personally, I'd rather my child be older rather than younger.

[**jessie**]

I did not attend kindergarten (or pre-school). I started in 1st grade at 5.

In went to private school 1-8, and the cut-off was Sept 1st. My Bday is Aug 31 so I was always THE youngest in the class. I really hated being the youngest... especially in high school and I was the last to get my license.

[*Mrs.J.2011*]

I was 5, my birthday is in February. Here in MA we have the same September 1st cutoff law. My sister has the same birthday as Reid and surprisingly, she isnt the oldest. She's the 2nd or 3rd oldest but she loves it. I pointed out to her that when she is old enough for her permit and license she will be the first to get it out of her friends (of course even tho she is only 11 right now she loves that idea!)

[..Christine..]

I was 6 actually.....I started in Texas and my birthday is end of August. We will be waiting until lyla is 5 turning 6 to start kinder! I'm such a huge advocate for children already being 5 before they start in K. It's such a huge difference socially and emotionally! They also do better academically.

[~Jess~]

I was 5 when I started (Apr. birthday, so about 5.5 years old, really).

I'm such a huge advocate for children already being 5 before they start in K. It's such a huge difference socially and emotionally! They also do better academically.

I completely AGREE! Kindergarden used to be what preschool is now. Kindergarten used to be all art projects and solidifying shapes, colors, and letter sounds. My son was doing BOOK REPORTS during kindergarten last year. He knows addition & subtraction, and reads fluently! Like my pediatrician told me: "kindergartners are expected to do too much these days. My biggest goal in kindergarten was to get thru the day without peeing my pants!"

Zach was already 6 when he began kindergarten (July b-day), and Ethan will turn 6 a few days after starting kindergarten. Bre, a LOT of moms, especially of boys hold their boys back until they are closer to 6, so Reid will probably be closer in age than you expect.

My hubby was physically one of the smallest boys in his grade and it really messed with his self-esteem. He was a late bloomer, so it meant a lot to him for the boys to wait too, so that they had less risk of experiencing the same thing.

I think it's different for girls though and do plan to start Lyssa when she is 5 (Aug. b-day).

[KatiInCT]

I had just turned 5 when I started and I ended up skipping a grade so I actually went to college days after my 17th birthday and was not 21 when I graduated college. I was definitely always the baby.

I do think it is different with boys. We will be starting Osric when he is 5 (turning 6 in December).

[.Brandi.]

I was 5 years old.

I know we're homeschooling and that's not your line of schooling for Reid, but even for the program we have Edward in, he had to be 5 on or before October 1st to be considered for Kindergarten, otherwise, they wouldn't take him. Luckily, he turned 5 in July. Public and Private schooling are the same here in Colorado as the homeschooling program we use. And technically, the program we use is a public school program, he just does his learning at home instead of a brick and mortar building, because we are enrolled in the local school district.

[ShannonMVT]

My bday is in December so I was 5.5 when I started.

However my niece had the same issue as Reid might. Her bday is Sept 3. So what her parents did was private school just for kindergarden, so she could start when she was 4. Then the next year they switched to public school. I think she just had to pass the state kindergarden test and then she was good to go to first grade in public school.