First Grade

Today is the first day of first grade.  I am in awe of how time flies.  I didn't write as many summer snippets as I had intended.  That said, I am living a life without regrets as I see no reason to fault myself since most all of our summer days were well spent biking, swimming, playing, skipping, dancing, singing, laughing and spending time with friends and family.  

On Friday we went to the school open house where O met her new first grade teacher, visited her new first grade classroom and looked over her new first grade class list.  Before we left, she told me she had one more thing she wanted to do...visit her kindergarten classroom and her darling kindergarten teacher, Mrs. M.

O waited patiently as Mrs. M was talking to another parent when we walked in.  As soon as Mrs. M saw O she took her in her arms and gently and lovingly welcomed her back to school.  It was in that beautiful moment that all the wonderful emotions of the past year flooded over me.

For students, Kindergarten is a part of growing up.  For parents, Kindergarten also is a part of growing up and realizing that their children are becoming less intensely reliant on them.  There's some very big steps to take and sometimes some difficult bridges to cross, but along the way there are the most incredible teachers, family, friends and blog readers (that's you) providing encouragement and support to get us all through.  From the bottom of my heart I thank you!

This morning O told me her tummy kind of hurt because she was a little nervous about her first day.  I told her to remember that she can tell her tummy it will all be ok, because it will, and that her tummy knows from experience.  She nodded and smiled.  Last year, I had to set her in her seat on the bus while she screamed and cried not wanting to go.  This morning she boarded the bus without any reservations.  In fact, as her daddy went to kiss her goodbye, O reminded him, “no grown-ups are allowed in the bus”.

And now this blog comes to a close.  I certainly have enjoyed the journey.  I thank each of you for all the heart warming ways that you helped me find my way in the blogging world.   I clearly gained and I hope you did as well.  For all the many moments when Kindergarten Sucked, it was also those moments that O and I grew the most.  We grew closer and our hearts grew bigger.  Kindergarten doesn't suck.  No, not anymore.  Kindergarten ROCKS! And guess what, First Grade ROCKS too!  There will be moments where I may think differently, but those moments will be the ones when I will remember to tell my tummy, "Everything will be ok just like it all turned out in Kindergarten".  Yes, I truly believe, Kindergarten ROCKS!  

4th of July Moon

On June 29, 2012 a huge storm swept across our area and millions of people were without power for 4-5 days; some of them were without any power over the 4th of July.  Oh, and did I mention it was also during the hottest couple days of the year?  

We considered ourselves very lucky as we did not lose power.  We opened our home to whomever wanted to come and crash, even the dogs.  Everyone that lost power was overwhelmed.  Road rage was at its all time high.  

However, it didn't stop any of us from celebrating our nation’s independence.  Was it hot?  It was so hot.   Was it worth it?  Every minute.  Why?  Because it only happens once a year.

On the way home from the fireworks display, O and her friends commented on the redness of the moon.  

O said, "I bet the moon turns red every 4th of July."  

G said, "Maybe."  

C said, "I bet it's from the fireworks."  

K said, "Maybe."  

O said, "Next year we will have to remember to look and see if it's red on the 4th of July."  

C said, "Maybe next year it will be red, white and blue." 

K said, "Yeah, that would be cool; and there will be stars and stripes in it too."

G said, "Yeah, let's remember to look and see what it looks like next year."

It was such a beautiful conversation, and then somehow from out of nowhere, Katie Perry started singing on the radio and every child in the car had their hands up singing/ screaming at the top of their lungs, "Cause baby you're a firework, come on let your colors burst, make em go up up up, till they shoot across the sky sky sky.  Boom boom boom...Kindergarten SUCKS!

Running Away!

After getting mad at me because I wouldn't let her go on the bike path (it was the equivalent of rush hour for those that commute to work by bike), O yelled, "You are the meanest mommy ever.  I am so mad at you.  I am running away!".  Knowing its important for children to express their anger, I calmly told her that was just fine and that I loved her.  I also waved to her and yelled, "Bon Voyage!".  I then headed towards our house while she turned to go the other way on her bike.  However, it wasn't long before she followed me home to find me relaxed with a glass of wine on the porch.  

As she came through the back gate she was pushing her bike ferociously and stomping her feet. Her eyebrows were cross … her lips were pursed and her cute little nose was flared.  She was mad and she was having no problem expressing it.  I calmly looked at her and said, "Did you decide to come back for dinner first?". She said, "Yes, but I'm still running away!".  I replied, "Of course you are, but how much better of a journey it will be when on a full stomach.  Why don't run up and pack your bags while I make you dinner so you will be ready to roll out when you are finished.  I should tell you, however, that anything that mommy and daddy bought for you, you cannot take with you."  She said, "Not even Marie Grace (her American Girl doll)?"  "Nope", I replied. 

She then ate her chicken nuggets, some grapes and a few carrots.  After a long silence, I then asked where she thought she might go if she ran away.  She said, "Well I can't go to G’s, K’s or C’s because they will call you.  But I could go to Mia’s.  Mommy, you were so lucky that you had a playhouse that you could run away to when you were a little girl!  I wish I had a playhouse."   

I replied, "It was lovely to have my own space to retreat to when I wanted to be alone.  I'm just wondering if Mia will have milk for you to drink before you go down to sleep tonight.  Do you think she will have a microwave to warm it up for you?"

After another long silence she climbed onto my lap and said, "Mommy, I've decided that I am not going to run away after all."  

"I'm so glad, O.  I would have missed you a lot", I replied.

Then I asked, "By the way, what was it that made you decide not to go?"

Smiling she said, "Because nobody else knows the song you sing me before bed every night."  

Phew!  This time me calling her bluff worked to my benefit.  Next time I may not be so lucky!  Kindergarten SUCKS!

Part of Me by Katy Perry

O and I love to dance especially when we are in the car driving.  We call it the car dance; all upper body.  The other day I was taking her and her friend Mona to the park, and all along the way we were dancing and listening to Katy Perry's song called "Part of Me".  

Katy Perry sings, "This is the part of me that you're never gonna ever take away from me..."  From the backseat, I heard O and Mona singing, "This is the part of me that you're never gonna ever take a wig off me."  I turned down the song and asked, "What are the exact words to this song?"  

O confidently explained that it is definitely "take a wig off me."  

Mona continued, "Yes it really is.  I know because think about it."

O adds, "Yes, think about it, Mommy.  Otherwise what would you be taking away?"  

Katy Perry gets it.  Love can be hard.  Maybe her next song will be called, "Kindergarten SUCKS!"

Summer Snipets

Good-bye Kindergarten...Welcome Summer!

Although not as frequent, throughout the summer, I will continue to write brief snipets about O's summer after kindergarten.

Many of you have asked me what will the tabloid will be for the next school year.  I have a few ideas, but would love suggestions.  Let the creativity flow and send me your thoughts via comments or by email.  

And stay tuned as kindergarten (still) SUCKS and first grade is set to be a grind!

Timeout

Yesterday, two of O's friends came over after school for a play date.  They were playing American Girl dolls when I overheard O putting her doll McKenna in timeout.  With a stern voice she said, "McKenna, that is not OK.  I'm surprised with your behavior.  You know that you are not allowed to eat in the attic.  You are going to timeout for five minutes."

I could not help but be reminded of the times O has spent her minutes crying in timeout.  At first we thought it was a remorseful cry, but then we realized that she was not crying because she was in trouble, no.  Rather, she missed her dog Porkchop (died when O was four).  You see, Porkchop would always go to time out with her and keep her company.  Our dog now isn't allowed to go upstairs and since her timeout location is on the stairs, our dog has been trained not to go near them. As a result, O tears up and becomes sad about Porkchop not being there for her.  

At the end of the play date there was a frantic search for McKenna.  O was asking me what I did with her.  Her friend, G reminded her of the sequence of their make believe play and before long McKenna, who had been in timeout for over an hour, was retrieved.  

O picked her up and hugged her and said, "Oh McKenna, I'm so sorry.  I would never leave you.  I love you so much I would never leave you.  You make my snuggles so special.  Who would I snuggle with at night?  It's OK sweetheart.  I would never leave you.  Never.  What's that, my love?  You miss your doggy?"  There's no point in timeout.  I'm thinking we need a new discipline strategy.  Kindergarten SUCKS!

Stupid Choices

My husband and I work hard not to yell at O when parenting.  However, sometimes it's very hard to avoid it.   

Lately, O has been yelling as a means to interrupt a friend or to argue with her parents that Oreos before bedtime will help her sleep better.  

Yesterday in the car she said, "Mommy, I'm stupid."  

I took a deep breath knowing this was her way of getting my attention.   Then I said, "O, nobody is stupid.  Some people make stupid choices, but nobody is stupid.  What makes you say your stupid?"

Her response, "Because I yell at you."

I said, "Oh sweetie, I'm sorry.  I yell at you sometimes too."

Giggling O says, "Mommy, you're stupid."  Kindergarten SUCKS!

How Can I Keep From Singing!

For the first time in twenty one years, I sang a solo in the song "How Can I Keep From Singing" .  I'm so happy that I can check 'singing a solo' off my bucket list.  

My choir, the Levine Community Choir, held performances last Thursday and Saturday.  It was so much fun.  Friends and family came to support me, including O, who had a choice between my concert and her end of the year soccer party.  She and her friend Beatrice sat in the front row dressed in their Sunday best mouthing the words to the songs they knew, and even those they didn't.

While driving home, the girls informed us that if we heard some crunching coming from the backseat it was because during intermission they poured a tray of cookies and strawberries into Beatrice's purse.  I made the comment that O doesn't even like strawberries.  Beatrice responded, "Well she does now."  O backed her up.  Due to their sugar high, they giggled the whole way home taking pride in the fact that "nobody" noticed.  

A few days later after smelling a foul odor coming from the backseat, I found four moldy strawberries and thousands of cookie crumbs in my car.  I sang all the way to the car wash...Kindergarten SUCKS!

Occupation: "Tooth Fairy"

O lost her second left tooth on Saturday.  This time the "tooth fairy" was prepared.  She had small bills on hand.  What the "tooth fairy" wasn't prepared for was a list of questions she had to answer...

• What's your name?
• How old are you?
• Can I keep my tooth?

The "tooth fairy's" name is Sophia Grace.  She is 106 years old and was born on the same day as O just 100 years before her.  The tooth fairy pondered the last question for quite sometime.  Isn't the trade for the tooth the whole reason the tooth fairy leaves money?  The tooth fairy almost pushed the issue and then remembered the fit O threw that day when she realized she had left her purple bathing suit at the pool.  O couldn't stop crying, all the while saying, "I just miss my purple bathing suit."  

The "tooth fairy" left money.  The "tooth fairy" left the tooth.  The "tooth fairy" went to bed.  Kindergarten SUCKS!    

Preying Mantis Nymphs

After dropping O off at school, I went to spray the preying mantis pods with water when something caught my eye.  Looking closer, I realized that it was over 300 hatchlings.  I sat there and watched as more birthed their way out of the pod (what better way to spend a morning, right?).  I sprayed the water and then I began to panic.  What are they going to eat?  
 
 I called every pet store within a twenty mile radius.  Apparently, no stores in our area sells fruit flies.  I went online to find out how much it would cost to have them overnighted.  TOO MUCH! Then I called every petstore within a 30 minute radius.  Score!  Petco carries them.  I drove there hoping no cop would pull me over for speeding because who's going to believe this story ... or the fact that I would speed to feed preying mantises. 
 
 I bought two jars at $10 a piece.  The clerk told me I'd need a jar per week.   I did the math...if I'm to keep them for three months, the total amount of money it will cost to feed these guys is $120.00.  Did I mention this was a "gift" from my mom?  Oh what I could cross off my Nordstrom wish list for that price!  Probably nothing.  Kindergarten SUCKS!

Mall Field Trip

Last week, I joined a field trip with O's class.  They have been studying the Presidents, especially those engraved on coins and pictured on bills such as Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson.  Accordingly, a field trip to the National Mall was organized even though we did not visit the US Mint.     Five kindergarten classes, each approximately 20 kids, and enough parents so that every two children had an accompanying adult, boarded the three buses at 0900 hours.   We started at the Lincoln Memorial and ended at the Washington Monument.  After the Lincoln we stopped at the Korean War Memorial to have a snack and sat around the fountain underneath the trees.  As we were leaving O's friend, Jay, spotted a robin in the tree.   He stopped and focused with wide eyes and then shouted, "Look!  That momma robin is feeding her baby birds in that tree".  We all stopped and focused our attention.  Suddenly, the Presidents lost their importance. The kids could have watched it all day long.  The robin would feed a worm to one of the babies and then fly off only to return with another worm -- all the while the little beaks in the nest were opening and closing in anticipation singing "chirp, chirp, chirp!".  A part of me wanted to hurry the children along and the other part of me wanted to be child-like again and watch mother nature play out.   All in all it was a wonderful day.  Did the kids have fun?  I think they did.  Which monument was O's favorite?  The Korean.  Why?  Beause she got to watch mother nature at its finest.   I realized honoring mother nature around me daily is more often than not a rushed experience as we often hurry kids and ourselves along to keep an agenda.  True, I had seen a robin feed her young many times in my life, however I don't often get to have the chance to share the experience with children.   That night before bed O asked, "Mommy, remember the robin and her babies today?" I replied, "Yes." She then asked, "How did she get eggs in her belly?". Kindergarten SUCKS!

Kindergarten SUCKS!: Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Kindergarten SUCKS!: Take Me Out to the Ballgame: Last week, my husband's firm hosted his staff and their families for a night out at the ball park.  The Washington Nationals played against ...

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Last week, my husband's firm hosted his staff and their families for a night out at the ball park.  The Washington Nationals played against the Baltimore Orioles.  O was invited to bring her two friends, Mimi and Lina.  

After filling themselves full of chicken nuggets, french fries, hot dogs and cotton candy they started to take interest in the game, especially the "fan-cam."  Each time it would say make some noise, the girls would scream, dance and wave to get on the jumbotron.  No luck.  Around the 8th inning one of our friends bought them ice cream bars as a conciliation prize. 

Our family has a silly game we play with any kind of food, but especially ice cream.  O's daddy tells her it smells funny and asks her to smell it, O smells it and the ice cream gets all over her nose.  

O decided to do this to Lina who in turn did it to Mimi, and before we knew it the girls were giggling while painting their faces with ice cream in hopes of getting on the "fan-cam."  It was all in good fun, but to no avail.  The gal sitting in front of us told me she so wished she could be a kid again.  It was a beautiful moment that unfortunately the fan-cam" did not catch.

After wiping their faces, Mimi jumped up with her eyes wide opened like she had just seen a ghost yelled, "Ms. Tasha, Jesus is up at bat.  Look at the screen it says Jesus is batting.  Ms. Tasha is that really Jesus?  That's so cool.  I saw Jesus tonight". 

How do I break it to her that Jesus is actually pronounced (Heh-soos) and his last name is Flores and he is not the man who Christians believe turned water into wine (one of my favorite biblical stories)?  Kindergarten SUCKS!

Kindergarten SUCKS!: Borrowed Dreams

Kindergarten SUCKS!: Borrowed Dreams: Our family friends shared with us a beautiful part of their bedtime routine which we have now implemented into O's.   After t...

Borrowed Dreams

Our family friends shared with us a beautiful part of their bedtime routine which we have now implemented into O's.  

After tucking their children into bed they whisper to each of them a dream they want them to have.  Our friends came up with this concept around the time their twins turned four years old.  They did so because, like most four year old girls, their twins always dreamed about becoming a princess and marrying a prince and living happily ever after, etc.  However, it was important to our friends that their children learn at an early age that dreams can be so much more. 

O now loves this part of her evening.  A few of the latest dreams we have given to O.  Tonight try to dream:

-about using eye droppers and peanut butter to find a magical cure for cancer.

-about how to teach your younger cousin how to sing karaoke.

-about flying a kite on the beach this summer.

-about flying in a spaceship to Mars and writing your name on surface.  (Copied that one from a recent episode of "Modern Family".

Last night I tucked O in and gave her a dream.  "Tonight may you dream about...", but before I could finish she interrupts me, "Mommy, tonight will you please not whisper it?  Tonight say my dream out loud, please!  Your breath STINKS!"  Tonight, my sweet daughter, may you dream about your mommy brushing her teeth.  Kindergarten SUCKS!

Kindergarten SUCKS!: Girl Scout Encampment

Kindergarten SUCKS!: Girl Scout Encampment: On Saturday, O and her daisy troop, and four parent volunteers, including chez moi, participated in Girl Scout Encampment.  It was a fun ...

Girl Scout Encampment

On Saturday, O and her daisy troop, and four parent volunteers, including chez moi, participated in Girl Scout Encampment.  It was a fun filled day of activities and no running water.  O tie dyed, participated in nature walks, learned about bald eagles and even won a freeze dance competition.  She also experienced using porta-potties.  By the end of the day she refused to put anymore Purell on her hands.  She missed soap and water.  It's a good thing her leaders brought handy wipes.  

It was a full twelve hour day.  We left at 7:30 am and returned home around 7:30 pm where my wonderful husband had dinner ready along with a fat glass of red wine waiting my arrival, as well as a big steak for the huntresses upon their return (O had a quesadilla actually).

Over dinner O told her daddy all about the day.  She said, "It was so much fun."  My husband replied, "That's so great.  You should tell mommy thank you for going with you."

O looked at me with a big smile and said, "Mommy, thank you so much.  I had fun with you.  Let's never do that again."  Kindergarten SUCKS!

Kindergarten SUCKS!: Queen of the Ants

Kindergarten SUCKS!: Queen of the Ants: After school yesterday, O had a lot to tell me..."Mommy, did you know that ants live in a colony?  The ants work for the queen.  The queen i...

Queen of the Ants

After school yesterday, O had a lot to tell me..."Mommy, did you know that ants live in a colony?  The ants work for the queen.  The queen is bigger than all the others and she has wings.  Really, Mommy.  I'm not really sure why, but that's how you can tell she is a queen.  And, there's a special room in the colony for the queen.  It's called the queen's room.  Next to the queen's room is the egg nursery where the ants take care of the queen babies and up above that room is the larva cocoon room.  Across from there is the food storage room and down below all of the room's is a room called the winter room.  Now mommy, you are probably thinking that this is where they store their winter coats and hats, but it is not.  It is where they go for the winter.  It is really big because all the ants have to fit into it.  The queen lives in her room while all the ants work for her.  Oh and I have good news.  Did you know there's only queens, no kings.  Girls rule in the world of ants!  Oh and I almost forgot, right before the queen ant dies, she lays an egg and that egg will be the next queen; until she lays an egg, she is the only queen ant in the entire world."


I said, "Wow O, that's really amazing.  You learned a lot today.  Are you sure there is only one queen in the entire world?  Goodness, she has more power than Queen Elizabeth of England."  It's so sweet how small their world really is.  I couldn't help how lovely it might be to come back in my next life as a queen ant relaxing in my room while the worker ants bring me food, a world where girls rule...


However, my thoughts were quickly jostled by O whom replied, "Yes, really!  My teacher told me.  And Mommy, after the preying mantis' are born, I think it would be a great idea to get an ant farm like my friend Jack has in his room."  An ant farm...mmm...with all of them creating a trail to my kitchen so they can get more food for their queen...Kindergarten SUCKS!  

Mother's Day Love

Yesterday I woke up to the whispers of my husband and O discussing the plan for the day.  

A few minutes later, O came in and informed me that I needed to sleep "a lot" longer so that her and daddy can run to the store and get flowers and pick up breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts (the surprise came out in the ruse).  As she left the room, she realized she had let it slip … "But you're not supposed to know that, so go back to sleep and don't tell daddy I told you."  

Just as I was drifting off, she came in again to inform me that next to my pillow she was laying out the Mother’s Day cards that she made at school. Again, she stated that I was not to look at them until she returned home.  I assured her that I wouldn't.  However, it's always tempting.  At this point I'm wide awake and falling back to sleep was not going to happen.  Plus, I knew I was going to have to eat Dunkin Donuts and pretend to like it.  Why couldn't we live around the corner from a Krispy Kream? 

Forty-five minutes later I heard them downstairs and texted my husband to see if I was to come downstairs or if they were coming up.  Couple seconds later I heard my favorite sound...tiny footsteps coming upstairs and down the hall, "Mommy, you can wake up now.  Happy Mother's Day.  Today is your day.  You can come downstairs now".  

After breakfast we went on a family bike ride.  After lunch O and her daddy surprised me with box seat tickets to an incredible ballet called "Noche Latina" at the Kennedy Center put on by the Washington Ballet.  Halfway through the production O leaned over to me and whispered, "Mommy, I love you."  Smile.

The day ended with an evening of good wine and good girlfriends enjoying a lovely dinner at a favorite Italian restaurant.  It was truly spectacular.

I woke up this morning and thanked my family again for making it all so meaningful.   Then I realized Father's Day is 34 days away.  How will I ever top this?  Kindergarten SUCKS!

Kindergarten SUCKS!: Project Runway

Kindergarten SUCKS!: Project Runway: A half hour before soccer practice today O came downstairs expressing her "immediate need" for soccer shorts.  I sent her back upstairs to p...

Project Runway

A half hour before soccer practice today O came downstairs expressing her "immediate need" for soccer shorts.  I sent her back upstairs to put on her practice gear and explained that we didn't have time to go buy soccer shorts, but that maybe we could go this weekend.  

Five minutes later she came downstairs again with her tennis skort (a skirt with shorts underneath) and said, "Mommy, I have a great idea.  We can cut this skirt off and then we will have soccer shorts."  

At first I resisted, but then I imagined time flashing forward twenty years to an image of O on a show like Project Runway.  Who am I to squash her dreams?  

Tonight at soccer her friend, Mona, complimented her shorts.  O confidently replied, "Thank you.  My mom let me cut off the my tennis skirt and these were underneath. I'm going to do this to all my skorts!"  Kindergarten SUCKS!