Saturday, January 21, 2006

Thursday afternoon/Saturday afternoon

On Thursday, I took Sarah to her first Young Rembrandts art class at her kindergarten/elementary school building. There were around fifty boys and girls waiting to start the class and they all gathered in the school's gymnasium, where they would be sorted into two groups (K through 2nd and 3rd through 5th grades). Meanwhile the rest of the school's kids were going in and out of hallways, lining up to get on their buses for home, general chaos--the kind of chaos that I haven't felt in many years, not hanging around schools much lately.

Finally, the kids were sorted and the two groups went into their separate classrooms. But what was I to do for the next hour? I could have left, but knew I would not get very far before I would have to come back again. It was a bright, sunny day, so I could have sat outside the school (I had brought reading material and my iPod), but I admit that I didn't want anyone thinking I was stalking the kids and casing the school like some sort of pervert.

So, I asked the school's principal, who was nearby, where I could go and wait. Dr. E suggested I try the library, which sounded fine to me. So, I signed in at the office, got a visitor's sticker on my sweater vest and was directed to the library. Dr. E offered that if I had nothing else planned, I could volunteer to resolve books while I waited. I declined on that day but have mentally filed away the notion of doing it next week. It seems like the community-spirited thing to do.

When Sarah was done with her class, we drove back to the daycare to pick up Grace. As we were buckling into the car I made a snap decision. Since the weather was so bright and sunny (if chilly) why not take advantage and play for a while at the small park beside the daycare?

The girls greeted my idea enthusiastically and we spent the next thirty minutes playing on the slides and park equipment as the sun began sinking behind the trees of our nearby neighborhood. The park quickly filled up as several other daycare parents had the same idea as I. Grace had fun with several of her classmates, running up and down, sliding again and again on one of the slides. Sarah helmet the bridge of her own ship, with me serving as her engineer while I kept an eye on Grace.

Once the sun disappeared, I called Lynda and set a family dinner rendezvous at Wendys. (We haven't gotten to eat together as a family much lately.) While eating, an older man walked by our table and gently tapped Grace on her head while heading to his seat. She smiled at him. I began thinking that almost everyone responds kindly to children her age.

It is undeniable that Grace is cute and when in a good mood has a magnetic smile that people really like, but there is something about her age (2 t o 3) that draws people. Sarah is just as cute as a five-year-old, but she is more "aware" of the world and people around her. I think she has grown more reserved as she has aged. Grace remains blissfully self-centered (as all good psychology students will tell you she should be) and therefore responds happily to everyone. Maybe that is why people love good-natured kids of that age. They reflect the way we wish the world to be.

*****

Now I am sitting in the local library, blogging in public. It's a nice feeling to be out of the house on my own for a bit.

Lynda brought no work home with her this weekend and didn't need to go to the office today. So, out of a complex mixture of love, gratitude, and guilt, she allowed me to go off and do something on my own.

I chose to spend a few quiet hours at the library, reading a book (after blogging a bit). And, I rode my bike here, so good vibes surround me and I am contended and happy.

I hope your Saturday is/was as nice as mine is now.

1 comment:

Sven Golly said...

Cool beans! Just a couple of questions:

1. Is Young Rembrandts just a cover for the junior division of Young Republicans? Be ever-watchful for indoctrination.

2. When Dr. E(vil) asked you to shelve books, did he have a sinister gleam in his eye? A diminutive sidekick?

3. The elderly angel who patted your young angel on the head may have spotted a kindred spirit and wanted to make contact with...grace!

4. Good decisions all around by Chief Engineer Burb.