On the body

Recent statements regarding the human anatomy:
(Pointing at her wrist) My blue vines need more batteries.
(Pointing at her neck, concerned) My heart is in my neck!
(After daddy talked to her and calmed her down) Everyone has lots of hearts in their necks, fingers and ankles.

Apparently daddy had explained that oxygen in the blood was like batteries and that blue blood meant it needed more oxygen. She simplified.

As for the heart, she discovered her pulse on her own. Daddy explained that it was a pulse and told her about the other pulse points. More simplification.

She rocks!

Fail...

After 2 days of how well she was doing, how it seems to be working, how they love her...they had an email complaint this morning that Ryanne had bitten someone during recess yesterday. Ryanne says she didn't, but I watched her almost bite another kid at pickup so I just don't know. She admits to trying to scratch someone because he pushed her. They say he bumped into her and she did scratch.

That reminded me that we had problems when she transitioned to the Y 2 years ago. She bit someone the first week and then stopped. I told them that. I didn't remember it before because it was so long ago and not a continuing problem. She bites at home all the time, but she doesn't do it at school.

After 10 minutes of what a doll, we've loved having her, what does she think, they explained that they didn't think it was working because of the outbreaks and the fact that she's fidgety at the end of circle time. She's right on target for her developmental age, but that age isn't 5. They invited us to try again in January, but I don't know that I will and Chrys absolutely doesn't want to, at least not there. We've already dealt with the Little Gym that labeled her as a problem at the outset and we don't want to risk that again. I took her with me, early, much to their surprise - which I don't get because I would think it would be harder for her to finish out the day with the rest of the class and *then* learn she's not coming back.

I, embarrassingly, cried. She's so, so disappointed. So much for working to fix a problem as it says in their materials. And they kept saying how they don't like surprising people with things, but this was a hell of a shock after the feedback for the rest of the week. Damn "trial week" getting her and my hopes up because, no matter how much I tell her it's a test, she doesn't get that they're testing her, too. This week has been so wonderful with her waking up, eager to go to school.

I don't know what to do. She needs something. *I* need something. The Y doesn't cut it for us anymore because I can't fight her to go everyday. I don't know if our pocketbook can take Montessori. I don't know if I want to send her every day. I guess I need to find some of the part time Montessori schools and see if any of them still have a spot.

Most of all, I'm totally pissed at a school's ability to make me question my knowledge of my daughter. I *know* she's ready for this, but in 15 minutes they made me think I was wrong. Damn them. Damn biting.

First day

Today, Ryanne started Kindergarten.

I had spent the summer wrapping my head around the fact that I couldn't find a good way to get her into K early. That would leave me with trying to entertain her in other ways this year while she stuck it out at MDO. It wasn't easy to do. I had tried many avenues and my best bet was a school that might take her after a mock day in the second week.

Last Thursday, I got a call from Austin Home Base (aforementioned school). They had her teacher evaluations. They thought she looked like a good candidate. They wanted her to start on the first day. She would have a trial week starting immediately and, based on that, a decision would be made about the rest of the year.

Her first day went well. She presented her endangered animal (manatee) to the class. She was on par with her peers.

It is only three days a week. They are longer days than she's used to, though. She was *tired* tonight. She'll have homework to do on the other two days. It's a nice, gradual entry, while we figure out what to do about next year.

I think I'm still shell shocked. I didn't have time to prepare for her to start. On the one hand, I didn't have time to get myself all riled up. On the other, I don't quite have my head wrapped around her being at such a major milestone. *sniff*

Spatial awareness

For Father's Day, Ryanne decided that Chrys wanted Legos. He hasn't played with any Legos in quite some time. She got him a fire boat that floats and has an engine that can be submerged in water. It's all about the cool and unique parts for him so she picked well. They spent Corin's naptime putting it together. Well, Chrys laid out pieces and helped and Ryanne assembled.

She did phenomenally. She needs very little guidance on the simple sets.

I got another one for her at Target on Sunday. It's a fire truck from the City series. I think it and the boat are part of the same set, but I haven't looked it up. We've been working on it for two sessions now (nap and bed time for Corin since he likes to eat pieces).

She's putting it together with only a suggestion or two from me. This is not an easy task. I still struggle with spatial issues to this day so the fact that she can conquer this at 4.5 is amazing to me. She doesn't get frustrated. She studies the picture until it makes sense. She's learning to do the piece closer to her and then match the other side if it's a mirror thing. I am in awe.

I guess I'll be keeping an eye out for more of the younger age Lego sets. She seems great with the 5 and up sets right now. I haven't tried 6 or 7 and probably won't rush it.

Lost in translation...

We got Ryanne the books Pinkalicious and Purplicious.

She likes Pinkalicious. We've talked about how important it is to vary your diet, how you can't eat just one thing, etc. She's got it.

Purplicious, on the other hand, seems to have missed its mark. It talks about how all the other "big" kids liked black and Pinkalicious tried to fit in, but then discovered that she could still like pink because it was special. We loved that it talked about maintaining self-identity. She talked about how much she loved pink.

Now her favorite color is black. Pink is apparently for babies.