GRADUATION: Alyssa has officially graduated from kindergarten. We were on board for some cute ceremony and a piece of paper to be handed out, but that’s not the Italian way. We weren’t quite as prepared to pay $60 for cap and gown rental, flowers, and food for the reception! But Alyssa did have a little solo in singing “It’s a Small World”, and after all, when in Rome…… I think the Italians love an excuse for a celebration. Families cheered as each graduate crossed the platform, lots of photos everywhere….too funny! She’s also just about to lose her first top front tooth, just in time to not eat corn on the cob back in Colorado. I’ll actually be a little sad to see her lose those front teeth- the sweet much more childlike smile forever changes at that point.
Although there are aspects of the Montessori school that I’m less than wild about, we had finally adjusted and seemed to settle into the various routines. We valued the international exposure to kids from all over, and loved the small, family style of the school (a total of 40 or so kids in kg). I was finally meeting some of the other French mom’s to have an opportunity to use my French, meeting a few others mom’s, etc. Unfortunately, Europeans start their kids in kg, much earlier, so between the age differences and Alyssa being pretty advanced in many of her skills, especially reading and math, her teacher felt like the only option was for her to skip 1st grade and go directly into second. We’re so pleased with her skills-(since our arrival here, she’s read all of the “Little House” series by L.E. Wilder and all of the Boxcar Children books she could get, among others!). However, I don’t think it’s just my being selfish and not wanting to “lose” her a year early, but I truly feel that in the long run, the gift of time to grow up is truly a gift not to be squandered or lost in search of academics. So, begins what I’m sure will be the first of many challenges to provide something educationally appropriate. So, after a little wangling and dealing, Alyssa is now enrolled to start 1st grade next fall at the Dept of Defense School on the American support site base and most of her packet to give to the Gifted and Talented committee is handed in. Hopefully we’ll end up with something fun where she can be learning new things and challenged a bit. So, another new school, new routine, etc to get used to. It will make contacts and ties with the int’l community much harder to make, but for the girls, hopefully in the long run it will be easier to make friends, and feel like a good fit. It seems that in terms of actual playing and relationships, they were both drawn to native English speakers and spent little time with most of the foreign kids. Both girls are driven to communicate and are easily frustrated when that is challenging. Different pluses and minuses to adjust to next fall….. If not, there’s always homeschooling!
We also lucked into a fabulous music/piano teacher with a group called Musikgarten for Alyssa this spring. Unfortunately, the teacher will be moving back to the States this summer. But her playing skills have improved leaps and bounds over the past 3 months and she’s started to learn basic music theory concepts, can play each of her little songs in 3-5 keys, etc. I often wonder how I got so lucky to have such an amazing kid! Hopefully my skills as her mother have helped provide the foundation for some of the success’ she’s mastering. It would be nice to take a little credit anyway!
Rachel will be attending (hopefully) a preschool program on base three mornings a week. Their program doesn’t focus much on academics, but they get lots of fun art time, time on the playground, and hopefully an emphasis on learning to share and be with other kids. She and I can do lots of “learning” at home, but the other aspects are harder for me to provide. Rachel also has matured a great deal in the past months, but unlike Alyssa who has always loved school, Rachel would infinitely rather be at home playing and having free reign ( or is that reins- since she’s usually galloping around pretending to be a horse!). At the moment, Rachel makes me think often of Amelia Bedelia, the maid from a series of children’s books. Anytime we say anything with any figurative meaning, Rachel demands “What do you mean?” and in efforts to explain, she continues to ask about five more times! Very literal about EVERYTHING at the moment. Rachel helps to keep us all more light hearted with her antics.
I’m hoping to continue taking Italian class in the fall while Rachel’s in class. It would be nice to advance my communication skills from that of a 2 year old or so, to possibly a 3 yr old! It will also still be Mama’s taxi service, this time making a longer commute – about 25- 30 minutes- to the other base, but much less traffic. Most likely, Alyssa will take the bus home, but we’ll have to see which is less stressful in the end, getting Alyssa on the bus at 6:50AM or just driving in and getting 40 extra minutes in the morning in bed!
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