8 1/2 Days

It's almost the end of the school year.  I was in the playground at school last night after a concert, and I was talking to another parent about this school year.  We were both gushing about how truly amazing school was for our kids.  It's true, each of my boys had an amazing year.  WHY?  First of all, FANTASTIC teachers.  It starts there.   Both of my children's teachers are remarkable.  They also just happen to be first year teachers; they are enthusiastic, hard working, brilliant, fun, and excellent at planning lessons, integrating the arts, and managing the classroom.  The boys have loved coming to school each day, and honestly quite often wake up with something they are looking forward to about the day.  As a mom, I could not be happier.  I think about the education they are getting, the level of active learning they have received, the arts experiences and arts learning they have had, their school spirit in general and I could not ask for more.   I am so very, very grateful to their teachers for really understanding what good, truly good, education is all about.  I know just how lucky my boys are! 

Kuba and Ms. Emily

Kuba's kindergarten year was simply the best anyone could ever imagine a kindergarten year could be.  Full of love, joy, action, art, and of course the best teacher in the whole wide world.  Here Kuba is with his teacher, Ms. Emily.   They are standing in front of an exhibit of clay relief tiles the k kids made.   They were on display at our local and awesome art gallery right down town.   There was an opening reception the other night and even though his teacher snapped something in her knee, she was happy to hobble to the gallery and beam with pride.  Ms. Emily, you're the best ever!

Mary Cassatt and Kuba

Kuba has been learning
about Mary Cassatt
in kindergarten. 
Her portraits of mothers and children,
loving gestures in gentle and intimate poses. 
He then drew himself with Anna....
a beautiful portrait of the two of them
for mother's day. 
It was a very beautiful,
very sweet gift. 

Did I Tell You I Love You Today?

My mom and the boys have a game they play.  My mom invented it, but the boys have taken to it like a moth to a flame.  She always says to the boys, "Did I tell you I love you today?"  and she says it every time.  In fact, she's so predictable and so regular, that the boys have started racing her to it....dashing in to greet her with this question zooming out of their mouths, eager to beat her.  It's fun.   It's loving.  It's absolutely my mother.   It's absolutely their grandmother.   And now it's my boys too.  I  hope they always remember this loving exchange.