In the short list of things I do well that doesn’t include making coffee so strong that it can change your gender, I would list the following:
Diagram sentences
Independent eyebrow movement
Procrastinate
Write
Swim
Now, you probably knew the first four of those, if you know me at all. But I don’t get to show off my swimming ability very [...]
The sibling rivalry has become an epic battle of wits. Disagreements are often solved either with screaming–in which I get to intervene before it becomes hitting–or rock, paper, scissors. You’d think the 6 year old would hold the upper hand here, but the 4 year old knows how to strategize, and wins the battle 4 [...]
The last few conversations with Kelsey, for posterity:
Bob
Both girls have long been interested in the story of my father, who passed away in 1998. We talk about him as though he is present, which he very much is. Kelsey asked me the other day if my father was proud of me. It was a difficult [...]
Kelsey is making huge profits from the Tooth Fairy!
Her first tooth came out on January 21, right before her day camp at the stables to ride ponies all day. The second tooth came out the evening of January 22, while she was in the bathtub.
The third tooth is a work in progress. She’s actively wiggling [...]
Kelsey is reading everything in sight. She curled up the other night on the couch with The Cat in the Hat, and read the entire book by herself.
Today, a snow day, she has gone through all her school reading skill level books (level 6, for those familiar with such things), and is looking to delve [...]
How do you know when the school you’re sending your child to isn’t a good place for her?
When she asks you if she can go to another school.
When the school and/or teacher has acted in such a way that you fear for her safety — physical or emotional or both.
When, 2 days into beginning a [...]
It’s been somewhat awesome but mostly sucky in these first few months of Kelsey’s kindergarten experience. Let’s focus first on the awesome.
Kelsey has all satisfactory and outstandings on her first report card. She knows her letters, is a good beginning reader, is excelling in areas such as math and art, and is socially mature and [...]
My child’s first day of kindergarten, I get scolded by the principal.
I was only trying to park in one of the parking lots. I didn’t know it was the parking lot with the forbidden entrance between the minutes of 7:30am and 7:45am on school days. The bustling, walkie talkie holding principal set me right, trying [...]
Today is popsicle and playdoh day!
Why, you ask? Well, two reasons: First, I could make grilled cheeses on my back patio. It’s moving upwards toward 100+ degrees today, and popsicles were invented for this purpose.
Second: We’re celebrating REPRESENTATIONAL ART! Kelsey, age 5, created her first sculpture that represents … something! She says it’s a playdoh [...]
We have entered the duplicitous stage with our 5 year old.
Kelsey has created and daily practices her sneaky, evil laugh. It’s too silly to be sinister. I’m pretty sure she came up with this laugh after watching The Backyardigans episode about Superheroes vs. Supervillains and the Race to the Tower of Power. The bwah ha [...]
