eventful

Mei demanded to go to school today, so much for my homeschooling advocacy! here's how it happened:

We passed by this super cool Waldorf school around lunch time-- their Kindergarten class was out in their playground--which was equipped with massive chopped tree logs, climbing steel bars and a massive wooden skeleton of a farm. The active kids were picking at dirt with long sticks and plastic shovels and some girls were trying to climb the fence-- the only teacher present at the time, managed to divert them calmly. A boy was sitting quietly at one of the corners, noticing some sort of a bug, and their teenagers were sitting by the footsteps of the entry way to the school.
  A random car blasted loud tunes, and everyone started-- as if subconsciously-- to sway with the light midday breeze and grin at the sun. And this is when Mei single-handedly managed to sabotage the euphoric scene, I just described.

"LET ME IN" yelled Mei. "I NEED TO GO IN HERE AND PLAY WITH THE KIDS"

"Mei, this is not a public park sweetie, it's a fenced school, you can't go in." I tried to reason with her.

"NOOOOOOOOO" she screamed "BABYSITTERS ARE FOR BABIES, I AM A BIG GIRL, I CAN GO TO SCHOOL" she cried and screamed.

Mei, your school starts in a couple more months sweet pea, lets find a park to play at"

"NOOOOOOO, I NEED TO GO TO SCHOOL"

I think she's ready, don't you think?

So Mei starts a part time preschool this September inshaAllah, and I do think she's ready and that she will blossom with more structure and around regular friends. Grabby will probably miss her, they've been playing together so beautifully recently, it make my heart all mushy, ack!

 iPhone capture (not the best quality)

So after this eventful midday spectacle, we made a couple more stops and then finally went to the park. I couldn't help but notice all the roadside violets, we even had some lining the side of our outdoor parking spot. I was so pleased to have read this blog post right before I stepped out. I already have a pretty vivid picture in my mind that entails two little people alongside one bigger person, a basket and violet blossoms.

again iPhone capture, my apologies.

This is what greeted us on our doorstep. The little fella was so scared, he forgot his early flying lessons. We were so lucky we got to see mama robin and papa robin feed  "young-spotty-belly" before they all flew off.


Unrelated: I've been experimenting with some free apps, and I'm glad to report that the whole foods cooking app is superb. You can search a recipe according to your dietary preference (gluten free, low fat, high fiber, diary free, vegan/vegetarian... etc) I  tried these for dinner tonight from their recipe search and I'm glad to report that they were welcomed by the grown ups, not so much by the little ones, eh.

Peace.