We had school orientation tonight — at the private Christian school where our kids will attend this year. Interesting. A very new experience for me. I actually opened the student handbook and browsed through the rules. We have a dress code of course, since all the kids wear uniforms, but how about this? We also have a strict “hair code.”

Fad hairstyles are not acceptable. Any applied color that is not normal … is NOT acceptable for girls or boys. Hair is to be cleaned and groomed. Hair length for boys should not touch the collar of a standard dress shirt or cover any portion of the ears. “Rat tails” are not acceptable.

Rat tails? I had to think about that one. Oh yeah. Those things.

But the real music to my ears was this: Piano lessons during the school day. The piano teacher actually comes to the school, and if your kids are signed up, they’ll slip out of the classroom for a half-hour lesson, then go back to class. DURING SCHOOL HOURS. I don’t have to haul five kids to somebody’s house and keep up with energetic toddlers during lessons. All I have to do is become a kyoiku mama and tell them to practice at home.

Now THAT’S what I call an unexpected blessing.