I like to give Mike all the credit for some of Elena's quirkiest (read: annoying) behaviors. Bouncing off the walls? Doesn't get that from me. Decibel levels beyond appropriate? Not I, said the mama (although I'll admit there is a recessive gene for loudness in my family). Propensity for drama? Puh-leeze.
This morning we found ourselves sitting in teeny-tiny chairs around a teeny-tiny table having a conference with Elena's teacher. We always steel ourselves for these things, after the days of nearly being kicked out of Montessori Academy in Nashville at the tender age of 3. I was especially nervous as this is a new teacher who might not necessarily know and love Elena's quirks as Mrs. Bowe did. It went very well, to our relief. The biggest concern? Elena not staying on task and getting all her jobs done every day. You see, in Montessori the child is given the freedom to choose their work for the most part. It's guided in the way that the teachers expect the child to complete tasks in most areas of the room each day (i.e. math, science, language, etc). It seems Elena likes to sneak off into a corner before she's completed all her jobs and tuck in with a good book. Kind of like I have been known to shirk my daily duties to feed my magazine addiction or finish just one more chapter of whatever book I'm into at the time. Mike shot me a look I recognize very well: the one I give him right before I say, "Guess what your daughter did?" Serve me up some humble pie.
I am happy to report that at least Elena is reading some very important literature while she's avoiding her work: her current read is a biography of Peyton Manning. People, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.
recessive loud gene? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? hee hee
I know all about shirking household responsibilities to read instead. What I don’t remember is Maria doing this? Where did we get this from?
Your sister who should be painting the finishing touches on her salon, Aunt Suzie