Time Out for the Potato Heads

Mia is quite a disciplinarian. She lined up all of her Mr./Ms./Baby Potato Heads last week and gave them a talking-to. She informed us they were in Time Out. When asked why they were all in time out, she said, "They weren't listening." I asked, "What did you want them to do?", but that failed to extract a more specific description of their infractions. They've now been in the same position for an entire week. Periodically I repeat my question, "Why are the Potato Heads still in time out?" hoping for more details. Still waiting.

Vital Statistics

We saw Mia's pediatrician today for something minor. What interested me is her height and weight statistics - 39.5 inches and 36 lbs. That puts her at the 95th percentile for height and 93rd percentile for weight. She was previously in the 97th percentile, I think. She is significantly taller than most of the children her age at camp. I wonder how early you can predict how tall a child will be as an adult.

We're Open Again!

After several months of being "invitation only", I've decided to re-open the blog. We want to make it easier for you to stay in touch, so this eliminates the need for you to sign in. We still want to limit readership to our friends and family - people we know directly. Therefore, we ask:
Please don't share the blog address with anyone. If a mutual acquaintance asks you for the address, please have them send me an email and I'll give them the address.
Please do not link to our blog on your blog.
No comments that have last names, our home city, or other identifying information.

Sorry if I'm seeming too controlling. We received a comment from a total stranger a few months ago that made me uncomfortable and indicated where we live.

Fashion Statement

I woke up Sunday morning to find Jeff and Mia having breakfast. Jeff explained that Mia had dressed herself. Our gal is developing her own sense of style. Fortunately for her Mother, who didn't really want to take her out of the house in that getup, she spilled on her clothes and had to change.

Mystery Solved

On Saturday, I had written about Mia's preschool class assignment. In Spring, she'd been told she'd advance to Busy Bees in the Fall, but last week we got a postcard saying she would be a Lucky Duck again. I ran into another preschool Mom this morning and mentioned this. She said the Director was in this week, why not call her? The Director explained that they'd reshuffled the classes based on enrollment. Busy Bees ended up being younger 2-year-olds (not young 3's as previously planned) and Lucky Ducks is older 2-year-olds. The Director tells me all the children in Mia's class will be 3 by Christmas. Mia loved being in Miss Diane's class last year, so I'm sure she will have a great year again. They'll have a different assistant teacher, who previously taught 4-year-olds. Our girl is a Lucky Duck, indeed!

Academic Progress

Mia just received a post card from the woman who was her preschool teacher last year. It said that when preschool starts in 3 weeks, Mia will be in the same class she was in last year. There was no explanation for her parents' benefit - just a reminder about the orientation in 2 weeks. I don't quite know what to make of this. Here are the facts:

• Mia adores the teacher, Miss Diane.
• Mia's 3rd birthday is in November.
• Last year, she was the youngest in her class by a full 6 months. Some children were as much as 11 months older. She is as tall or taller than the other children and generally held her own, but in some situations -- like the singing and dancing performance at the May graduation program -- the difference in age really showed.
• This school isn't rigid about age-grading children. The classes have animal names (like Elegant Elephants and Zippy Zebras) rather than age names ("the 3-year-old class") Also, depending on enrollment, they adjust the number of classes for these loosely-defined age groups from one year to the next.

Here is what is nagging at me. Before school let out, Miss Diane told us Mia would be moving into another classroom in the Fall where she'd be the oldest child in the group. Apparently they were planning two classes for 3-year-olds, one for older and one for younger children. Diane said it would be good for Mia to be the oldest in her class for a change, so she would have opportunities to be a leader rather than always a follower. I thought that was wise. Why am I now questioning this change?
I can ask the question at orientation in 2 weeks. In the meantime, I have to admit I'm wondering whether Mia did something during summer camp (Miss Diane wasn't there, by the way) that led them to question her readiness for promotion. Is it because she wasn't (at that point) showing much interest in toilet training? She doesn't seem to talk much in school - do they realize what her verbal skills are?
And what will be the consequences of holding her back? (There. I said it. My baby is being "held back"!) Will it slow her progress toward reading?
Jeff and I agree that this is a good school and Miss Diane is fantastic, so my head tells me they can be trusted to make the right decision. My heart still wonders. So, I have 2 weeks to craft a tactful way to say: What's the deal here?

The World According to Mia - Act 3

Mia's habit of referring to her parents by their first names continues, despite our efforts to discourage it.

Scene 1:
Me: Mia, you have two ponytails today. Did Daddy put them in for you this morning?
Mia: Jeff did.
Me: That is Daddy to you.

Scene 2:
Mia is in the babysitter's car. They pull into our driveway.
Mia: This is Donna and Jeff's house. It's not my house.