Tag Archives: kids

First Day of School

Today was the big day- Ivy’s first day of Kindergarten!

After months of tears and worries Ivy woke up bubbling with excitement and practically skipped her way onto the bus.

Clara on the other hand had been woken up extra early by Ivy (not a parent sanctioned event) was tired and sad that her big sister was leaving her.  While I wouldn’t go so far as to accuse Ivy of being so prone to teasing and torturing her sister that I would say Clara’s tears at the end of the driveway caused Ivy to so happily depart on the bus I’m thinking that they didn’t hurt her mood either.

John,  a tearful Clara and I waved goodbye to Ivy and headed back inside where Clara discovered something.

Ivy was at school.

Ivy was not at home.

Released from the control of her older sister who rules like an evil but well loved dictator Clara had a new phrase:

“Ivy at school so I…

…sit in her chair.”

…use her paint.”

…pick out Dad’s shirt.”

…let out the chickens.”

…get the eggs.”

Clara’s sadness at being left at home lasted about an hour and then she had a great day being the biggest sister in the house!

Ivy came home full of stories about her first day and manically overtired.

They are both looking forward to tomorrow. Sounds like a successful first day to me!

I Am Too Absolutely Small For School by Lauren Child

Ivy has made a very slow transition to crying at the thought of going to school to hesitant excitement about her first day next week. I can’t give this book all the credit for the turn around but it certainly didn’t hurt.

The voice of Lola the little sister who is too small to go to school is so absolutely perfect nothing I say will do her justice. Unfortunately that means that Charlie, her older brother who is the brains of the outfit, gets second billing which is quite unfair, as he’s pretty fantastic too.

Lola has also helped start a few good conversations between Ivy and I about school. For instance tonight after we read about Lola’s invisible friend Soren Lorensen I found out that Ivy’s invisible friend Belle is also going to school next week.  Apparently Belle has been there lots before and knows lots of things already like reading and chemistry. Ivy thinks Belle will be good company on the bus on the way to school but when I asked if Belle could help her remember where her classroom was since she’s been in school before I got the look. The look that says “Uh Mom. Belle is pretend, why would I ask her things?” Which I find to be quite convenient because Belle has a tenancy to encourage Ivy to do all sorts of naughty things.  Ivy’s defense of “But Belle TOLD me to.” never crumbles to the “Uh Ivy. Belle is pretend why are you listening to her” look I give Ivy. Apparently I’ve got to work on my “looks.”

Would I recommend this? Absolutely! It makes it into the catagory of books I make my adult friends read even if there are no kids around because I think it is so great!

A Moment To Remember

I was sitting with a group of people all of whom were having a beer to drink when Ivy popped up at my shoulder with a glass of water.

She whispered in my ear that she went and got it for me because she didn’t think it was very nice that everyone had a beer when I couldn’t have one. She thought that I should have something to drink too, so she got me a glass of water.

It’s a moment to file away and remember so that next time I hear, ” I DON’T LIKE YOU AND I DON’T LOVE YOU!” I can pull it out and realize that I must be doing something right.

Look Before You Sit!

John, having been raised in a home where he was the only male, is fantastic about always putting the toilet seat down. This is a habit I have always appreciated and admired in my husband and for years I have not had to worry about what sort of condition I might find the toilet in.  But this morning my complacency almost lead to catastrophe. I need to remember that now I am in a home that is raising three girls and I must look before I sit.

You just never know who might have used it last!

Not Quite a Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth

Today I was all set to take a picture for the weekly photo challenge. The word was “growth” and I had packed up the three girls and the two dogs and schlepped out to some public land to go for a walk in the drizzle and take photos. I had ideas, I had plans, I did not have my camera.

So instead I’d like to share a few quotable Clara moments from the day:

Clara’s response to a new pair of jeans: “These impressive!”

Clara’s response to me asking what she was dumping out of a small purple bowl and into my wire garbage can in my bedroom: “My pee!”

Clara’s response to me asking why she peed in a small purple bowl in her playing room and then carried it into my bedroom to dump into a wire basket: “I just wanted to.”

Clara’s response to me suggesting that sitting down on the wet trail to take off her wet pants (and shoes) was not a good idea as it would get her underwear wet: “That OK I just be naked.”

The only other person we saw on the trails response to seeing us walking toward him and his dog: Taking a long detour around the trail into the tall wet grass.

If she’s not a growing challenge I don’t know what is!

If you’d like to browse a selection of blogs written by people who actually bring their cameras with them when taking pictures head over to weekly photo challenge: growth on The Daily Post.