Fast times and wild living with (the former) Baby Whozit…
Posted in Jessica, Kindergartener, Simon says... on Apr 22nd, 2013
You know that dream you have where you are outside on familiar streets or inside a familiar building, but somehow can’t find your way? The streets or halls all seem to go on forever and don’t lead where they are supposed to, presenting a surreal and very frustrating version of streets and buildings you navigate […]
Posted in Friends, Jessica, Kindergartener on Apr 14th, 2013
When I first heard that kindergarteners are taught to write—not their ABCs, but actual thoughts and original ideas—I was skeptical of the entire enterprise. Kindergarteners writing? Was that really possible? I am no longer skeptical. In fact, I’m pretty blown away at how five- and six-year-olds can not only be so adept at penning their […]
Posted in Family, Jessica, Kindergartener on Apr 8th, 2013
When Matt and I went to name Simon, we ended up with the name we did after several failed attempts to name after our grandparents. Finding no consensus in that direction, we landed on “Simon” for the simple reason that we liked it and thought it sounded good with “Whitworth”. In doing so, we inadvertently […]
Posted in Jessica, Kindergartener, Simon says... on Apr 4th, 2013
We’ve been waiting for a reading explosion for some time now. Off and on for nearly two years, Simon would sound out a word or two, maybe even string together an entire sentence or simple book, and Matt and I would say to each other, “It’s coming. He’s about to take off with his reading.” […]
Posted in Jessica, Kindergartener, Simon says... on Mar 28th, 2013
Behold a crude mapping of what I have sussed out as the brain organization of one Simon W. Whitworth. So far as I can tell, his brain features four major lobes: The Baby Kitten Lobe: This part of the brain is responsible for Simon’s alter ego since I can’t remember how long ago, Baby Kitten. […]
Posted in Jessica, Kindergartener on Mar 25th, 2013
Good grief was Saturday’s soccer game ugly. Our outdoor season with Highland Youth Recreation League got off to a smashing start the Saturday before last. Our team had five really solid players, one player who is new to the formal game but has some definite moves, one player who is afraid of the ball and […]
Posted in Jessica on Mar 21st, 2013
On Passover, we ask how this night is different from all other nights. The answer, of course, is that on this night we eat only unleavened bread, on this night we eat only bitter herbs, on this night we dip our herbs twice, and on this night we recline. At least, that’s what the song […]
Posted in Jessica, Kindergartener on Mar 17th, 2013
A week or so ago, Simon really surprised me by displaying a rock-solid sense of self I didn’t know he had. It all started with a friendship heading south. Early in the year, Simon befriended two boys, X and Y. X and Y were quick to become friends with each other, and Simon had to […]
Posted in Jessica on Mar 15th, 2013
I’ll be back–I hope–this weekend. This past week or two has just been nuts. I’ve had meetings; I’ve been rearranging things in my attic first to paint and then to carpet; I’ve had to shop for paint and carpet; I’ve had a model seder to think about; a real seder to start thinking about; classes […]
Posted in Jessica, Kindergartener on Mar 9th, 2013
Obviously, the answer is because his parents are mean. Or crazy. Or both. At least, I suspect it looks a bit like this. The real reason is that we think Simon wants to quit for the wrong reasons, and we’re not going to let him until or unless we’re all miserable for another month or […]