West Side Story

This morning Vivian came to cuddle in bed with me when she woke up. Only a few minutes after she got there, Stella followed. As the three of us lay in bed (David is in San Francisco), Vivian told me that at school, she always told her teachers the story of WEST SIDE STORY. I asked her to tell it to me and then Stella started to tell it. I asked Stella to let Vivian do it but then Vivian said she couldn't remember. So I asked Stella to tell it and she confidently began, "Well there are two groups, the Jets who are white and the Sharks who are Filipino." Then she told the rest of the story including that when they saw the ballet with Grandma and Grandpa, Vivian missed the rumble because she had to go to the bathroom. I assured Vivian that she could see it again next year and she asked if the rumble would be the same. She was very happy when I said it would be.

Some Things I Hope I Never Forget (But Some That I Already Miss)

Before Vivian moved into the bunkbed, when she woke up she would call from the little room (where she then slept in her crib converted into a toddler bed), "Is it the morning yet?" This kind of reminds me of how she used to say, "What I doing today?" before she started going to school. Or how every day was, I think, Monday when she read THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLER as in "On Monday he ate one apple. On Monday he ate two pears. On Monday he ate three strawberries..." She was a child who never so much as stood up in her crib. She would just call to us until we came to get her and we always found her still lying down. Unlike her sister who was catapulting herself over the side from an exceedingly early age, the idea of actually climbing out of her crib never ever ever occurred to Vivian. However, the other night she came to me in the middle of the night (after refusing to allow me to take her to pee) to tell me that she went to the bathroom all by herself. I then listened to the squeaky floorboards as she walked herself back to her room and got back into bed. Unlike her sister who never wanted anyone in her bed (and actually used to make us sit on the floor as we told her stories and sang songs), Vivian begs me to get into bed with her every night and never fails to ask me to "stay there the whole time". Unlike her sister, Vivian LOVES face painting. Vivian loves hairstyles where each side is different. For example, I believe she invented bunches with one ponytail and one braid. She also enjoys wearing her babylegs as leg warmers. She has an acute sense of style and is very particular about what she wears all the way down to her underwear. She loves to cuddle. Vivian likes to co-opt things that Stella has done and insists that they are hers. So like an awesome drawing or art project that Stella brings home, Vivian will unabashedly show it and say, "Look what I did?" or "I did that". Similarly, she has decided that she is actually the baby in pictures of me, David and Stella from when Stella was a baby. If I remind Stella that she has to practice piano, Vivian will tattle on herself as in, "I didn't practice gumpiano today." She then gets a big grin on her face if I say in a faux mean voice, "Vivian! Anna is going to be really mad at you! You need to practice piano RIGHT NOW!" Then she will line up all of Stella's music on the piano and play her little heart out.

To Vivian, Sun Room Graduate

Dear Vivian,

Today was your last day as a Sun Roomer. The year really flew by, I can't believe it. But I am so proud of you and how much you have grown this school year. But even better is how proud of you YOU are. Today I watched through the two way glass as you sat at circle time with your friends and jumped up and down singing songs and dancing and you just looked so full of joy and so happy. The truth is you are pretty much always like that so it's not a surprise but it is so nice to be able to watch you when you don't know you are being watched and see how genuinely happy and enthusiastic you are at school.

(this is you on the first day of school)

It is hard to believe how much you've grown when I think back to the first days of the year. Back then, when you didn't want to separate, your teachers would use the Sun Room timer and tell you that if you played for three minutes you could come give me a hug. When the time was up, you would run to the door, your face and eyes red from crying and you would give me a big hug and lots of kisses and say, "I love you so much" and make me reassure you that I would stay RIGHT THERE. But this week, there was a day when you weren't that excited about outside time at school which is the first thing you do (I think because it was raining and you don't like it on the North Terrace as much as the Heitner because, as you told me, it's "too dark"). That day we agreed that I would watch you from the window for a few minutes. And then when I told you (through the glass) that I had to go you simply said, "I love you so much. I'm going to think about you." But there was no sadness, only confidence and independence. School went from feeling like it was too long for you to feeling like it was too short.

Daddy and I had a great time yesterday at the Sun Room party. You gave both of us lots of hugs and kisses and it was fun to watch you sing songs -- especially the Sun Room song and the Y song -- and dance and just enjoy your ownership over the classroom. Mostly you sat at the table and ate your bagel and butterfly cookie. In fact, when it was time to go to the circle, you really did not want to give up your plate and we had to hide it and reassure you that you could have it back after school.

You've made some really wonderful friends -- especially Chloe. You guys have a strong and special friendship. It is complicated -- you definitely know how to push each others' buttons -- but it is also really incredible for your age. Your teachers told us that you are magnetic and many kids are drawn to you. We already knew that because it is true on the street and in the park, wherever we take you. You attract people, I think, because your personality is so dynamic. You have SO MUCH to say and it is interesting and smart and you talk with so much expression.

When I picked you up today you looked at me and said, "Mommy, guess what we had for snack today?" in a way that made me know it was something really really special. Although the Sun Room door told me what you had, I pretended not to know and guessed a few wrong things. Then you told me, "Ice cream! And I got chocolate because it's my favorite" with so much pleasure and excitement. Throughout the year, whenever you reported on the days events, it was with that kind of enthusiasm.

You loved going to gymnastics with your class. You did not, however, seem to be that happy about Wonder Dance. You always said, "Wonder Dance is too sad" and talked about either the music they played there or the goodbye song. One of those made you feel sad so you didn't like it that much. You also recently told me that when you look at my little old Raggedy Ann doll it makes you sad. I think maybe that is because it was the little doll you kept with you at the beginning of the school year so you could remember me. You used to bring her in the classroom and we decided it was like a little part of me since she was mine when I was a little girl. (And you know and love the story of when I was scared of Raggedy Ann at my birthday party.) Once I looked in the Sun Room window and saw that you had sat little Raggedy Ann up right next to you during circle time. But that feels like ages ago now.

You loved loved loved all your teachers and you made them really beautiful cards to thank them for the great year you had. You learned lots of songs. You enjoyed the Purim play and while many of your Sun Rooms friends were scared of Haman and left the play in tears, you told us that he was your favorite actor. You do always like the really dramatic parts! You also enjoyed seeing the Rainbow Fish play in the Red Room. When I asked you which part you wanted to play when you are a Red Roomer, you told me the one who gives all his scales away. I know Stella is kind of hoping you'll decide to be the Pink Fish like she was. You loved celebrating shabbat and would ask everyday, "Is it shabbat today?" Mostly I think you just wanted to have challah. But your shabbat day was especially meaningful to you. You were so sad when it was time for us to go and told me that it was too short. And since that day, you have asked many times if you could have another shabbat day. You know you will have one when you are four and you are already looking forward to it. We read "Knuffle Bunny Free" this year and you had a part saying "Aggle flaggle blaggle."

After school you always wanted to have a play date and were disappointed when we didn't have one scheduled. You loved having lunch with Chloe and Noa before ballet. You loved seeing Lori in the hallway. You loved seeing Beverly and remembering "when she was my teacher" which she was in the very beginning of the year when Jennifer was out and they needed extra help in the Sun Room. Robert told me that you were always really friendly to him when you saw him in the hallway too. Interestingly, you often told me that you wanted to count the kids at the end of outside time before you went in. You can easily count to 16 and you would do it at home all the time. I learned this morning that you never actually did count, that they offered the job to you many times but you always changed your mind and refused to do it.

I always loved picking you up from school although midway through the year Andrea decided that she would dismiss you last because you never seemed to want to leave. You would go back into the classroom many times and I eventually had to drag you away. But when we finally did go, you always had an idea in your mind of what you wanted to do. Most often these days it is the playground. But once you told me you wanted to go to the place you go with Grandma for pancakes. Or best grilled cheese place. Or the Children's Museum. You certainly do know your own mind.

After school yesterday we went to the playground at 72nd and 5th after having lunch with Chloe and Willow. While we were there, you went around asking other girls if they wanted to play with you. The first girl said that what she was playing was only for five year olds and you were so disappointed. I told you to find someone else but you said she was the only girl you could find. I pointed out a few others and you confidently marched off and were so happy when the next girl said yes. You are SO FRIENDLY AND SOCIAL. You always seem to make a new friend in the park or wherever we go. Last night at the Turf Party, you were thrilled to play with Stella's friends and their siblings -- you barely even looked at me and Daddy. And today at the Sun Room picnic you again had a wonderful time with your friends and after playing for a long time in the grass, you wanted to go with them to the playground. You are just so happy to be with and play with other kids.

Congratulations on a great first school year. You were a dynamite Sun Roomer and Daddy and I loved watching you grow. We hope that the classrooms that you are in in the coming years are just as positive and creative and stimulating and that you continue to love school.

We love you so much.

Love,

Mama