Where I've Been...

*Celebrating the Fourth of July...

*Learning that Katherine is not ready for a five hour camp day...

*Realizing that when you switch your three year old from a 5 hour camp day that is three minutes from home to a three hour camp day that is twenty minutes from home, you don't have much time anymore...

*Celebrating Caroline's sixth birthday. The cliche, time flies, couldn't be more true...

*Celebrating my mom's 70th birthday...

*Hosting a tie dye and pizza party birthday party for Caroline and her friends....

*Finally enjoying summer days outside...

Loud

Yesterday Katherine and I were discussing our plans for the Fourth of July. I told her all about the parade not sure that she would remember much of it from last year. I often forget how smart our baby girl is getting. And I am often shocked by how much she picks up of what goes on around her. She gave me a big reminder during this conversation.

As we talked about all the different things we might see and hear in the parade, she looked thoughtful and then said, "Caroline might have to stay with a babysitter because she doesn't like loud."

It is funny when the baby starts to understand the personalities that surround her in the family but I would say, Katherine is starting to understand...

A Good Thing

Caroline began a new camp season at our beloved Nature Place yesterday. Her time spent there last year was among her happiest of times. When she learned that her two camp friends from last year were not returning, despite her love of camp itself, I had to work hard to convince her to return. I was able to find a friend to join her for the first two weeks of camp but our goal was for her to attend throughout the summer, for six weeks. Leading up to yesterday, Caroline had remained firm that she would stay only as long as her friend did.

Yesterday, she came bounding off the bus, happier than I have seen her months. She talked and talked about all the fun she had had. Drama John singing at Morning Share, a long swim in the pond, time on the playground, planting strawberries at the garden, the creation of a nature book to collect leaves and flowers at art. She talked on and on and on. I am sure I received more information about yesterday's time at camp than I did about her entire school year.

At dinner she told us that not only did she want to stay at camp for the entire six weeks regardless of what her friend did but that she wanted to spend her summers at the Nature Place "for as long as she was allowed to."

There is nothing better than finding a place that makes your child happy and we have found it...

Joy

Joy is the beach being an hour away.

Joy is the fact that we decided to go for a day trip on Sunday and had a fabulous time. Rob even commented that he thinks it was the happiest three hours our family has ever had- maybe an exaggeration, maybe not.

Joy is the fact that both girls love the beach as much as their mom and dad do.

Joy is the looks on the girl's faces as they jumped and splashed and swam.

Science

Caroline loves learning. New information just fascinates her. The other day, Rob was changing the dehumidifier in the basement-which is filling almost twice a day in this crazy rain! Caroline stood watching and listening to every word as Rob explained what this mysterious machine was doing.

I have often wondered why I buy Caroline toys as almost any toy becomes a prop in en elaborate imaginary world, not the toy it is intended to be. Now I really wonder as her first comment to Rob after his 'dehumidifier lecture' was, "Wow! Can I have my own!"

Caroline's birthday is coming up. Maybe she should be careful what she wishes for...

Caroline's Kindergarten Memories

Today Caroline went to meet her new teacher and classmates at our neighborhood school. In September, she will be leaving the comfortable and familiar nest of the Montessori world. As proven by the memory book she completed with her kindergarten teacher, she is ready.

In it she writes..

My favorite thing that happened this year is... reading.
My favorite subject in school is.... math and reading.
My favorite special class is... art.
I like it because.... we make fun things.
I like to play on the playground because... we get to run.

TV

Over a month ago we decided to give up TV during the week. I was pretty convinced that it was causing more stress than relaxation. Caroline was constantly asking when they could watch what program.

Driving home, I would often hear "Will Toot and Puddle be on? Are we going to miss Toot and Puddle!?" Or earlier in the day, "If we watch Franklin now, will be able to watch Miss Spider later? Will we, will we?!" The stress in Caroline's voice suggested crisis, not tv.

All the scheduling and questions combined with the research that suggests that tv is not the ideal thing for the developing brain, led to a decision- no tv during the week. After a few weeks, I felt great about my decision. Our weekdays were calmer and I was sure that Caroline's behavior was better on tv free days.

At one point, without realizing her wisdom, Caroline asked "Is it like there is caffeine in tv?"

I have decided that for her, yes, it is like there is caffeine (or something stronger!)in tv.

Last week with school out and non-stop rain, I decided that watching tv during the week might be ok- at least until camp started. Mid week Caroline's behavior began to deteriorate. You could argue that most of the problem was a different schedule but if you were living it, it truly felt like more. By Friday, we decided to turn the tv off. And amazingly, Caroline's behavior had improved dramatically by Sunday.

There is something to this. I hate to think what Caroline's brain is going to do on real caffeine...