Just a quickie. The girls started "camp" this week, which is really just a more summery version of nursery school, with more outside time, less structure. They've never been to school before. They have an awkward birthday for that. December 30. I know lots of people start their kids to school at 2, but I think 3 is soon enough, so last September they were only 2.5, and I felt it was a bit soon. So yesterday was almost like their first day of school.
They loved it so much. They were a bit nervous on their way to school. I told them they would meet new friends, and have lots of fun. Clare told me that she was happy with her old friends, Molly and Emma, and didn't need new friends. Fiona chastised her and said "Clare, we have friends at school, we just don't know their names yet." They both clung to my legs a bit when we first arrived, but as soon as I showed them around the classroom they were off and running. They found the play kitchen, and the dress-up boxes, and Clare started setting the table with plastic plates, and Fiona started trying on dresses. Clare looked up at me and waved, and said "bye, mommy!"
On Conor's first day of pre-school, I got all teary, and Colin and I both brought him and took pictures. There was no such fanfare for the girls. Partly because it is "camp," and not officially "school." And partly because they are not the first child, so they get gypped. And partly because I am just so damn busy, I was ready to run out the door to go to work. In keeping with my negligent, overworked working mom persona I of course thought they were only there until 11:30, and didn't bring lunch. We also signed them up so late that we never got any kind of information packet in the mail, so I didn't know that they were supposed to be wearing their bathing suit under their clothes. So of course, my au pair had to run back to the school with lunch and a bathing suit. But it wouldn't be me if it didn't get all screwed up.
This morning, they came bounding into my room at 8, dressed and ready to go to camp. They were manic they were so excited to go back. I told them they had to wait until 9:30 when camp started, but they could barely contain their excitement. One of the teachers told me today that she couldn't believe they'd never been to school before, they just fit right in, never cried, had a great time. Fiona made a big point of telling me how some of the kids cried, with great disdain. The teacher also told me that Fiona went on and on to her about her glasses, and Dr. Steel (the love of her life) and her eyes, and how she has to take care of her glasses, etc. The teacher said that it was as if they'd known each other all their lives. Last summer, Fiona cried and refused to participate in a drop-off dance class, and was very shy. I'm glad we waited the extra year.
They are growing up so darn fast. It is just flying by.
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