Sophie has her school play. She will be part of the chorus, playing a tree frog. I don’t know much about the play, except it’s based on a kids’ book and it’s about the environment and being green. She’s nervous about forgetting her dance moves. I told her not to worry about it. That response did nothing to satisfy her. “But what if I forget, Mom? What do I do?” I then told her to do what all good performers do. “What’s that, Mom?” “You just need to continue and forge ahead. Don’t think about the mistake.” Sophie smiled, reassured. She remained content for all of about five minutes, until she scampered downstairs because she couldn’t fall asleep.
I’m still recovering from the party. And seeing so many people I hadn’t seen since I was a kid. But the reunion was a blast. The weather was gorgeous, the libations were plentiful and the conversation was animated, humorous and nostalgic.
Just as Chloe is getting ready to “graduate” from 5th grade (I won’t start to rant about how ridiculous a 5th grade graduation ceremony is, but boy it is really ridiculous. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, our generation coddles our kids way too much), I’m getting ready to celebrate the 25th anniversary of my high school graduation.
Sophie has potential. Some moves that could one day find themselves on “So You Think You Can Dance.” She’s sometimes a bit unclear as to right or left, but she’ll get there. She is only six, after all.
The other day, I wrote a cryptic post about a defining moment that I was hoping to have last Wednesday and that, if all went well, would be the first step in helping me to figure out which way my internal tug-of-war would go.
Chloe slept at her best friend’s house on Thursday night (the lucky dogs didn’t have school yesterday). She confessed to me today (actually, she mentioned it in passing and then I called her out on it) that her friend’s mom (who’s also a close friend of mine) took them our for an ice cream at 11 pm! I don’t think I ever had a sleepover where the parents took us out for a late night ice cream run. I was duly impressed.
I suspect, and I hope, that I may have one such moment tomorrow. And although it may turn out to be just a piece of a defining moment (with the rest to follow), I’ll settle for a piece right about now.
We’re piling on the milestones as the girls get older. Today’s notable achievement: Chloe and a friend shopping on their own at the mall.
Chloe was so jazzed about this newfound independence that when we arrived at the shopping center, she ran towards Old Navy flapping her arms about like a bird bordering on extinction.
Sophie has been riding her big girl bicycle for almost two weeks now. As soon as we get home from work, she assaults us at the front door asking us to go outside so she can ride her bike. Sometimes, she forgets it’s raining outside.
My Mother’s Day actually started yesterday. With breakfast in bed. Pancakes, bacon, milk and orange juice, on a lucite tray I forgot we had, but which was perfect for this purpose. Chloe, Sophie and Papa accompanied the tray upstairs, and announced its arrival with a clash of cymbals. The girls made me terrific cards this year. Colorful and creative. The presents (outdoor dishes from Crate & Barrel and a new bluetooth headset) didn’t hold a candle to the cards. It was a pretty cool way to begin a weekend devoted to me.
