Yesterday I had the girls' parent-teacher conferences. I never go into those worried, and I never come out upset. This time was no different. Both girls are above grade level in every area. Both teachers are blown away by their abilities in the language arts (apparently, both my kids are known as writers). They don't get actual grades at this point, but their "report cards" mostly indicate that they're both above grade level in all areas. Thing One is in 4th grade, and her reading and spelling were evaluated as 8th grade level. Thing Two is in 2nd grade, and she's considered at a reading/spelling level of almost 5th grade.

They're also both very happy socially right now. For Thing One, that is a really great improvement from her past years. Last year was a transition year for her, as her first year on this coast, and while we were in CA ... there was more nastiness at school. She felt left out and ostracized a lot. This year, I am informed, she is a leader in the classroom, very confident, and very secure in a large group of friends. woo hoo Thing One!

Thing Two has always been rather magnetic in the social arena. She's had some shake-ups with friends this year b/c her best friend from last year wanted to be Best Friends this year (i.e., labeled as such, with exclusive rights to one another) and Thing Two hates that and always has. Now, I thought I saw my Thing Two being ditched for a third party, but since she's so good at finding friends and having a good time, she was fine with it - and last year's friendship is far from over, there's just this ever-present third corner of a triangle. But her teacher told me today that I was wrong. that the friend from last year was so badly wanting to be in a Best Friend situation, that she was overwhelming and irritating my Thing Two, and then just turned to someone more willing to be so labeled.

Ahh, the joys of elementary school and the inner social workings. What's so odd is how different of "cultures" my 2 kids are involved with. Thing One is in a very co-ed group of friends. They talk about a lot of things, and find really core traits in common with each other. There is no stigma tied to girl/boy friendships. They have fun with academic pursuits and enjoy books and writing and poetry and other creative endeavor. Thing Two would rather die than call a boy her friend - her friends keep things much more surface, and don't "talk about their feelings." They are interested in sports and are more in tune with the current styles and lingo, etc.

I'm destined to have the Nerd and the Cheerleader. I'm gonna try hard for it to be the Nerd and the Jock -- i.e., NOT cheerleading, and considering the soccer culture in this area, I think I can pull it off.

It is interesting as they grow older, though. Very interesting.

And my poor babysitter is being run just as ragged by it all as I am. Tomorrow Thing Two is going to a friend's house, Thing One has her theater thing. So the sitter has to drop Thing One off, then an hour or so later, go pick Thing Two up, and then walk Thing Two to where I am picking up Thing One so we can all meet Beloved for dinner. I've been craving Chinese Food lately. We were supposed to go last week, but Beloved poisoned himself and couldn't eat. and i didn't want to go without him.

posted by Zuska @ 10:37 AM

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