Where’d You Go to School, Mom?

By Sarah McDonald
We all know that in New Orleans, the answer to “Where’d you go to school?” is meant to be answered with your high school alma mater.
I never gave much thought to the impact that question has in our little world until my daughter asked me the question. And, upon hearing my answer, she said, “Then I am going there, too!”
Five years old and one major life decision made! Check, right?
While I know I would love to see my girls grow up loyal to Green and White at Archbishop Chapelle High School, and my boys roll with the Rummel Raiders (my husband’s alma mater), it struck me as perhaps a bit unfair to our children that we set them up in friendly rivalries with their friends and neighbors with parents who went to different schools at such an early age.
Catholic education is such a gift, and, in New Orleans, we are so blessed to have extraordinary schools that are available to everyone.
Right now, our neighborhood is full of area high school signs. When the time comes, I hope that my children are open to finding out more about their options while secretly wishing they follow in mom and dad’s footsteps.
My daughters would be third-generation Chipmunks, and I would love to share that with them.
But, more importantly I want them to be happy and find the place that will help them grow into the woman God is calling each of them to be.
As long as they always remember no matter where they go, Deus Providebit (God will Provide).