Five Rainbows

This morning in Northern California, rain clouds are playing hide-and-seek with the sun. One moment, the light is glorious, the next skies are overcast are a bit menacing.

For two kids on their way to school, the shifting skies promised only one thing: rainbows. Indeed, we spotted not one or two but three rainbows in the five minute drive this morning.

Having had both hands on the wheel and being driven by the tyranny of the clock, I did not have the gear or time for photographs. I'll regret that, I know.

The kids personalities showed through loud and clear in the rainbow spotting. G, my Zen-ish second grader, took each sighting as a singular moment of delight. L, my left-brain Kindergartener, was keeping accounts. "I've seen FIVE rainbows since my birthday [on February 17th]. This is going to be a lucky year for me. FIVE rainbows."

Gearing Up for a Week

Thanksgiving week begins. The kids are home from school. All week. We've already had highs . . . the kids reading together, snuggled into a single chair. . . and lows . . . tears and near blows over a game of Sorry!. My son was rescued by a play date this afternoon.

As an antidote (or maybe prophylactic) to the week ahead, we trooped to the library this afternoon. Audio books, DVDs, and yes, good old fashioned printed books all accompanied us home. Here's hoping for a week of engagement and entertainment for the kiddos.

How did we survive before this multimedia world?

Day of Firsts . . . Reprise

On Saturday, I referenced two firsts for my son: the violin recital and his first necktie.

The violin recital went very well. Graham did not seem nervous prior to performance, although he did refuse to take his violin out of the case for a picture once he had finished practicing earlier in the afternoon. The picture above shows a hint of the black violin case. When his time in the program came, he strode confidently to the music stand, took his bow and waited for the pianists' cue. He played flawlessly. After another bow and cue from the pianist, he completed his second piece, again with excellence. Another bow, a big grin, and he was back to his seat.

One of the most delightful parts of the evening occured during the reception when Graham and a friend slipped away, took out their violins and began to play one of his pieces. Everyone seemed delighted at the spontaneity of the moment. The little guy seems to have a true love of music. He is also quite comfortable and poised in front of a crowd. It's a wonderful thing to see and experience his confidence and joy.

The necktie was a big hit. After a surprising number of calls, Nordstrom's delivered and with a wide selection. He loved the tie and remarked it was very much like one of Dad's. Appropriately, after the recital, he loosened it for a bit of informal play.

Parent Teacher Conferences: Mission Accomplished and New Practices

It's that time of year. The leaves are turning, skies are cloudy and grey and parent teacher conferences ensue. With two kids in elementary school, we've now completed both sets of conferences.

I need to say how much I respect teachers. They do an amazing job of moving kids forward. My husband and I are always ready and willing to help on the journey but they drive the process and do so with great effectiveness.

We're blessed with capable students (at least at this level) but there are a few things we're going to try to move from good to great. First, we're instituting family reading time. My husband and I are avid readers. My son, who is reading well, doesn't turn to a book as his first source of entertainment. My daughter is an emerging reader who could always use the practice. Thus, family reading time is born: 15 - 20 minutes of dedicated reading time, family discussion to follow. We may not do it every night but we will do it the majority of the week. Second, we need to incorporate a greater sense of gratitude and community in our lives. Kindergartners are about themselves. Second graders have a slightly wider sphere. Our kids demonstrate the foundational elements of empathy but we're choosing to push for more. Dinner time conversation (and maybe journal time) will focus on that for which we are grateful and how we can help others. We want to push the edges of that sphere of self outward, a bit at a time.

Feedback is a wonderful thing. As much as we enjoy the praise, it's always good to ask how we can get better. Those magicians of the classroom always have ideas, the one additional thing that can make the difference. I find these conferences energizing. And I want to hug their magnificent teachers.

Music in the House

On this rainy, grey California afternoon, I'm listening to my son play his violin. He's been taking lessons for six months and loving it.

We are a week from his first recital and he seems very ready. In fact, tonight we have rehearsal with his accompanist in preparation for the big event. It boggles my mind that a seven year old requires a pianist for "Bessie the Cow" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" but it really does add a different dimension to the work.

I am staggered by how challenging the violin can be. I never understood how physical it is to play the violin. Indeed, his first month of lessons seemed primarily focused on just getting the violin to meet his body in an acceptable and comfortable way.

I am also in awe that my son has learned to do something of his own motivation and wholly apart from me. He speaks of open strings and various fingerings with a fluency that sends me dashing for his music books. He practices (mostly) of his own volition, working through lessons and memorizing pieces. I watch him play, from a respectful distance, as often as possible. The concentration that furrows his brow, the tiny foot tapping out rhythm, and those mutterings of "rest, rest" under his breath speak to his complete engagement.

Keep up the good work, kiddo. Bravo!

Major Milestone: First Tooth Lost

Today Graham lost his first tooth. He said his tooth felt loose. It was indeed. The little beast (the tooth) was rimmed with blood. A wee bit of wiggling later, Graham announced "I've got it." Indeed, he had. His first baby tooth, lower front right, came away in his hand.

We're scrambling to figure out Tooth Fairy protocol. The situation is more complex since his younger sister helped wiggle said tooth free. Do tooth fairies acknowledge helpers? Methinks so.

In any case, this is a major milestone. We will celebrate Graham's first baby tooth out to the best of our abilities. Huzzah, little guy. This is the first step on the road to growing up.

(Photos of the perfect little tooth gap to follow.)

A Good Day Swimming

The kiddos swim. Every Saturday they're in the pool, learning how to move from point A to point B. Today marked a couple of milestones.

Lauren, at 4 1/2, informed her teacher that she wanted to swim without the float belt. And she did it. Forward crawl, floating, jumping in . . . all without the float belt. Go Lauren!

Graham, at 6, is a Minnow in the YMCA pantheon. The smallest little fish in the class. Today was a very different swim lesson. Lessons are in the lap pool, seven feet deep and about ten degrees colder than the instructional pool. The teacher does not actually get in the water but coaches the kids from the (dry, warm) side. I watched Graham navigate across 25 yards of water at a stretch, treading water to catch his breath. I hoped beyond hope he wouldn't disappear in all that blue water. At the end of class, his teacher said he was a strong swimmer. We just need to work on that breaststroke kick. Huzzah! Go Graham!

It's important to me and to the kids (although they don't really know it yet) to have a go-to physical activity. Today, the Delman kids confirmed that they are swimmers, tired but happy water sprites.

One of those Moments . . .

Or why I love the web. Let me explain.

Tonight my son is obsessed with leeches. I cannot say why this occured or what triggered this particular interest. I do know that the boy has questions. In the old days, we would pull out an encyclopedia . . . . if there happened to be one in the house. Now we check it out on the web. There are pictures of leeches, stories of leeches, more leech information than we could ever use. Say what you will, I am grateful for and somewhat addicted to the immediacy of information we have. I wonder how information on demand will continue to change as my little guy grows up . . . .

Haiku on Belonging

Another One Deep Breath prompt: Belonging

And the haiku based on it:

His rough hand and mine
Grasp their smooth, slender fingers
We are family

How Have I Missed This?

Today I volunteered in my son's kindergarten/first grade classroom. His excellent teacher was reading to the class from James and the Giant Peach by Road Dahl. How did I miss this book? I got myself to a bookstore, pronto, and picked up a copy. Now, we'll be reading at home in parallel. Road Dahl can be a bit dark but definitely appeals to the kiddos.

Lessons From My LIttle Ones

Hanging out with Graham and Lauren this weekend, I see two key behaviors that I could benefit from applying to my adult life. Following the little ones' lead could result in a pretty joyous time.

First, the kids create like crazy. They are constantly building, drawing, painting, collaging, making me bookmarks, asking to write poems and stories. Yes, they can be couch potatoes too, but their first and primary orientation is to make stuff and express themselves. They do this with whatever is on hand and are not bound by materials or any other constraint.

(The question that follows from the above activity is "what do you do with all that stuff once it's "made."" However, I won't trouble myself about that right now.)

Secondly, the kids are always learning. It's Graham practicing his lower case letters, Lauren doggedly trying to write her name, both of them seeing what new colors come from mixing paint. When we read, they're always asking "why" and "what does that word mean." The kids are continually taking it all in, processing it, and trying their best to use it. None of this is a chore but rather a simple joy. They reach for learning as easily as they reach for a pencil.

My resolutions: a) focus on creating more . . . more stuff, more freely, with a greater sense of play b) pay attention to what I can be learning at any time, embrace it, and use it!