Martannasmimi’s Weblog

Marta’s extended visit with us this summer has had some wonderful moments but August is waining and as September nears the first day of school (September 3rd)  is coming up like a fast moving train. Her father registered her when he was here.  Now I  wonder each day, is she ready?  She is a very social child but I see that she puts out all this energy for only one purpose…to be noticed and complimented for what she is doing, be it dancing for all who will look on the grocery line or just asking someone  what their name is and how old they are.  I am explaining daily that there are times when we don’t dance and people who don’t need to be our friends but as long as it bring attention her way there seems to be no stopping her.

Many  of the children she will encounter in this first formal year of education will have been in pre K programs for several years.  She has been in a rather unstructured play program (my choice as well). My concern is will her socialability trump all the years of “education” that some of these little ones have had.

The woman who owns the organic farm stand where we shop seems to think Marta will “own her class”.      I hope she is right.  The good news is that she will be tested for any learning issues and they will be identified.  This way when she returns to Estonia she can have these problems addressed. Most of all I want her to have a fun time and this program is filled with fun times,  playground,  art,  music and yes some writing & reading.  At the moment she needs to be able to write her name and not ask me is this going the right way Mimi?  : )  We are working on that.

The good news is that I am a Mimi, someone who put my first child on a Yellow School  bus 32 years ago. He had some big sitting still and focusing issues but is now a VP for a NYC company and has done very well for himself. So I will not panic if she has any issues like the parent of a first child…well perhaps just a little.  Her father was in pre K for years so he did have a huge advantage and like Marta he loved to read,  but unlike Marta he could read by this age. He went on to be a fabulous student  and continues to be that in grad school. I think one of the most possitive things that has happened over this summer is that now Marta will now say “come-on Mimi if we don’t get ready for bed soon I will fall asleep before you finish reading my book. 

This is what makes this Mimi’s heart smile…