Monte-sorry?

In the continuing saga that is my life, I have been researching prekindergarten schools for my almost four year old little guy. Until now he has been attending what I consider a normal preschool program. Each class has their own room, the classes are separated by age, they have a solid structure to their day, etc.
Today I toured a highly recommended Montessori school. I am a really laid back person but this place made me feel like I am wound tight as a Twizzler. I do know the Montessori philosophy is a tried and true one. In fact my brothers and I went to a Montessori school when we were young and I have numerous friends who send their children to Montessori schools now.  I do believe in its benefits - afterall I'm pretty sure all kids need to know how to tie shoelaces (even if kids shoes have gone the way of velcro) but I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the difference between this school and the one we have been attending.

My feelings of trepidation started when the woman who runs the school could not shake my hand because I had caught her in the middle of cleaning out the bunny cage. Hand shaking issues aside, she was very nice. During our tour she was a bit distracted by something that had happened just a few minutes before I got there (something bunny and poop related I am guessing). I get that, I work from home and have 2 kids and dogs. I live my life distracted. 

But being me, I started in on my list of 346 questions - all of which seemed to have the same answer - the kids work at their own pace and are allowed to explore what they like to do and who they are in their own time.  I'm cool with that, truly am, but I also have a 4 year old boy who needs to be Kindergarten ready in about 16 months so I want to make sure he isn't so busy exploring his interest of standing on his head that he forgets to learn his ABC's.

I know it doesn't sound like it but I really liked this school, it is just the laid back attitude and lack of walls that completely threw me.  I'm still trying to shake the feeling I was in a drug induced Alice in Wonderland dream.  The boy who couldn't be older than 3 that walked past me wearing a lab coat carrying a beaker filled with a bubbling blue liquid and had a bunny rabbit hopping happily behind him had a lot to do with that. 

Stay tuned to see where Z man ends up.  Next week we tour a private Catholic school...