Another reason why I love my school

Coio was on the phone with her friend (R) - it was her first phone conversation, beyond a few prompted words to Abuelita Lelia, ever, and it was cute. She asked R , "The person in charge of your school - is she nice?" and then said "The person in charge of our school is Miss Diana, and she's really nice."

She went on to ask, "Do you remember when we used to go to school together? That lady who was in charge of that school? She was mean to me."

Who says three and four year olds don't remember? One of my main regrets from the time I worked at that place is that I allowed MY OWN CHILD to be mistreated - in my presence - because I was too cowed by the boss lady to speak up. I vowed that day I would never let it happen again, and I count my lucky stars that my eyes were opened before the boy was banished to the atrocity she calls "The Toddler Program."

She's big

I got a phone call today from Coio. She was playing at a friend's house, and she decided she wanted to come home, so she called me. She remembered her phone number and everything.

This may not seem all that remarkable, but it was the very first time she has ever used the phone on her own. She's never been very interested in gadgetry. She doesn't talk on the phone, she doesn't play games on the computer (much), and she has no idea how to work the remote control.

Yeah, she's six and a half.

I assume she'll get it eventually, and then I'll be all bothered with her grabbiness of my gadgets, but for now it was a sweet moment. The first time my child picked up a phone to make a call, and it was *me* she calls.

Six-year-old girls and body image issues

Coio has always been a very petite child. She was born little (5lbs 11oz), and due to some sensory defensiveness issues, she has never gained weight very well. At her birthday checkup this year she weighed in at just over 30 lbs.

We have gotten comments on how skinny/thin/tiny/etc. she is since she was about 18 months, and I've always tried to be positive. Yes she's petite, but that doesn't mean she's not a healthy child.

Well, all of the talk about how small she is, how little she weighs, etc. and the fact that she is a kindergartner in a K-1 classroom, has born some fruit: today, after asking me if there are any "skinny" girls in my class (I teach grades 3-4), she told me that she is skinny, and that I'm sort of fat.

Augh.

I responded calmly, saying that no I'm not fat. My body is just the right size for me, but inside I was freaking out. She's ONLY SIX! She's got years ahead of her to obsess about size and weight. Can't she be a little girl for a bit longer, please?

WFMW - Be A DIVA!

My humble submission for this week's Works for Me Wednesday, hosted over at Rocks in My Dryer is the Diva Cup, hands down the most life-altering product I've ever used. In high school - as I dashed from class to the crowded girls' bathroom during my five minute pass period in a vain attempt to deal with my leaking tampon without being tardy for 3rd period English - I used to dream about a product I could put in place at the beginning of the day and not worry about until bedtime. Back then I thought my dream was hopeless, but then I discovered the Diva. The Diva Cup is a soft silicone cup that is worn inside the body like a tampon, but instead of absorbing blood, it simply catches and holds it until you are ready to deal with it. The only catch is that you have to be comfortable dealing with your own body fluids. You will get blood on your fingers, but - as I tell my six-year-old when she begins to freak out over dirty hands - they will wash. It is a small price to pay for TRUE freedom during your period.

I wish I had had this product as a teen, and I fully intend to induct my daughter into the Diva club when she comes of age. It Works For Me!

Stomach Flu Bites - WARNING: This Post is NOT for the Faint of Heart!

My entire family came down with a nasty bug this week. It started on Monday night when C-Rex vomited all over me at 4:30 AM. Things went downhill from there. He developed diarrhea, but then - bizarrely - he seemed to be better on Wednesday, and we went to school without incident. After his nap that afternoon, though, he started vomiting again landing a spectacular shot right down the front of my shirt. Picture me attempting to calm a crying baby while trying NOT to toss my own cookies due to the fact that I've got a lake of vomit formed inside my bra.

It was nasty.

That night was Coio's birthday. We had cake, and she got the Barbie Mariposa (she's got wings, so she gets a green light in our no-Barbie home). She was thrilled. That night Tilo slept in the living room so his sleep wouldn't be interrupted by a sick and fussy baby (gosh, how would it be?). Coio took advantage of his absence by climbing into bed with me at some point in the middle of the night. Then at 3:30, SHE vomited all over me and the bed and everything.

Amazingly, C-Rex slept through the whole episode - the crying, "I vomited! My pants are wet! The cleaning up of the mess. The vomiting AGAIN - repeated three times. It took up much of the wee morning hours. In the meantime, Tilo told me HE was sick, and my frantic dash to the bathroom told me that I had not dodged this bullet either. We got up at 6:30.

We were all in a bad way. Coio impressed me by jumping up off the couch and darting to the bathroom twice to vomit in the toilet - making it both times. She never had diarrhea and recovered much more quickly than anyone else in the house.

Tilo and I stumbled through the day as best we could. C-Rex, who by then hadn't vomited in almost 24 hours, continued (and continues to this moment) to have unpleasantly pungent and watery diapers, but he has been remarkably cheery throughout the whole ordeal.

Everyone else is back to normal. Five by five.

Hair Help!

This week's Works For Me Wednesday works in reverse. That means I get to post a question for y'all to answer, and, boy, I've got a doozy.

My life is full of hair drama. Coio - who turns six TODAY (wow!) has long, fine hair. It can be quite pretty, but most of the time it's a tangly, snarly mess. We do braided ponytails most days because I can't handle the trauma of combing out hair that has been through the day of an energetic little girl.

But yesterday, out of the blue, she announced that she wants to cut her hair. I'm astounded, as every time I've even mentioned it she has responded with adamant protestations that she *loves* her hair and wants to keep it LONG.

I'm happy to turn over the task of hair care, but I want to make sure I don't leave her with a task that is too much. So my question to you is this: how much hair can a six-year-old manage, and what can I do to help her take responsibility for her own head?

Thanks!

OH! It's Wednesday!

Gosh, how did that happen?

OK - Works for Me Wednesday, round two: Peaceful bedtime.

Coio is a typical five-year old (for another week, anyway). Up until recently bedtime has been bath-jams-teeth-prayer-story-nightnight music . . . followed by an hour of trips to the bathroom (for obvious reasons) or the kitchen (I need a drink!!) or living room (I just have to tell you something . . . ).

But that has all stopped.

A few weeks ago I told her she could come out of her room three times - not counting bathroom trips - and that after that her bedroom door would be closed. Now, her door is usually left cracked, but she does have a nice night-light, so it wouldn't be totally dark. Since she wants her door open, she took to the routine very quickly. Now she carefully keeps track of the times she comes out of her room, and after two times out she stays in bed.

AAAHHHHH, peace.

It works for me!

Moving Angst

We had really hoped to move into the new building over the holiday break. It was *finally* happening, and we were going to be into our new beautiful home.

If only.

The city has denied us the occupancy permit for reasons that I missed, but the result is that we get to start school again on the 7th in the old upper-school building. The WHOLE school in the upper-school building. We're going to be running half-days for at least one week, and possibly two, with the lower elementary meeting in the morning from 8:30 to 12:30 and the upper elementary/junior high meeting from 12:00 to 4:00. The high school will meet next door in the city youth center.

It will be far less than ideal, and it is CERTAIN to freak Coio out. The consolation I get is that my class - while on the boarder between lower and upper elementary - will meet with the lower elementary, so I'll be on the premises at the same time as she will be.

Someday we will get to use the new building. Until then, we will make do.

Employment Outlook

I don't know if I'm going to keep up assisting in the kindergarten in the mornings. It's exhausting. I've got to drag C-Rex (formerly known as Taco) out of bed super early and sacrifice his morning nap so that Coio can follow me around at school going, "Mommy?"

I'm thinking I'm going to send out the fliers I made for Spanish classes. I'm going to go through the phone book and send a flier to every preschool listed. If I can get just four clients (at $50 per 30-minute session) a week, I'll be doing great.

Add to this befuddlement of mind and spirit the fact that my former employer has been telling people she's going to take me to court because I'm in violation of the non-compete agreement I signed with her. Forget the fact that I'm NOT COMPETING with her, but if she really wants to go there I'm sure I can convince her otherwise. Do you think she really wants her skeletons out of the closet? I'm inclined to Get Gephart.