Spielgroup für Joey

Our friend Susannah invited us along this morning to an English-speaking playgroup at her neighborhood's community center. It was timed perfectly during the kids' morning session of school. Curious to see what he'd say, after Ella and Alex left for school, I asked Joey, "Would you like to go play with cars and blocks? Would you like to go play with other kids? Would you like to see Caroline?" (Susannah's daughter).

I was a little surprised by his answer: "No! I want Ella-Alex! No other kids! Ella-Alex..." and then he trailed off, as the gears started turning...

"Caroline? Yeah, Caroline! Yay yay! Caroline!"  And he ran off for his shoes. Well, his loyalty knows some bounds, after all.  So, after chasing Joey and his little cart around the grocery store for a quick shopping trip, we headed out for something new.

The play group, in the basement of the community center, was so peacefully casual, clearly created as much for the English-starved parents as for the kids.  They had a few bins of toys spread around the room and some large ride-on toys that Joey scarcely left for the whole two hours. And, since he was blissfully occupied, I spent the morning meeting some very sweet parents.  Everyone in a group of expats was new at one point, and so everyone is so eager and happy to pass along their best advice to the newcomers.  So I was given opinions on everything, from the best restaurants to the best place to buy diapers to some fun outings with the kids.  And, well, you know me.  I lapped it up and asked for more.

And I guiltily, happily, drank my travel mug of coffee that I'd packed, hopefully, while other parents brewed mugs of fresh, steaming hot tea. Tea!  My other co-op preschool mom friends will understand my pleasure. Hot drinks are strictly forbidden around the little ones at our Kirkland preschool, which can be a real hardship and sacrifice for a Seattle mom. At times like these, I really, really enjoy the Swiss's slightly lax attitude toward safety.

Back home, Alex arrived and told me the day he'd been dreading had come: someone had celebrated a birthday today. But today was the workday for Frau Langen, his kinder, gentler teacher, and she'd helped him get through his birthday greeting, so it wasn't so bad after all.  And there was cake!

Ella showed up at the door soon after, looking shame-faced.  "Mom, I have to do a Joker assignment." she told me. But why? What did you do?

The story tumbled out. Erzhan, who I told you about yesterday, had teased her once again, and she'd responded by sticking out her tongue.  As started puffing with indignation over the fact that the teacher hadn't seen Erzhan, she'd only noticed Ella, and so only Ella had gotten in trouble, and how was that fair, I asked her, "Oh, Ella, what have I told you?"

And then she deflated: "I know, I know. Be impeccable."

Huh.  I don't remember using that particular word.

But I have told her that sticking out her tongue just isn't okay, so I didn't feel too sorry for her as she shuffled off to her room to do her little penance.  It took her all of five minutes, in the end (she's becoming so much more at ease with German), and she spent the rest of her lunch hour calming down, happily listening to stories about Bunnicula.

Perhaps my favorite part of Spielgroup was that Joey actually took a nap this afternoon, leaving me with a cozy afternoon with Alex. His little gray kitty friend came by to say hello, and so Alex spent a happy couple of hours making toys for the cat to chase and play with.

That cat clearly trusts quiet, gentle Alex: he'll will screech to a stop on his scooter in front of the cat if he spots him, and the cat won't even wince.

Ella's afternoon went considerably better: she had fun with her friends and she did well on her spelling test, which made her very proud.  And she'd finished all of her homework in class, so she was free, free!

And bursting with ideas on what to do with that freedom.  I told her about how much fun Joey'd had this morning, and Ella decided he needed a little toy car for our house, too.  So she ran down to our storage room and emerged with several boxes, and spent the rest of the afternoon making a present for Joey.

Joey's new car. t's a little boxy for my tastes,
but Joey seems to like it.

And, since his class had been so much fun for Joey this morning, she decided Joey needed more time at school, too. So the stage is set for Ella to begin teaching her brothers tomorrow.  I've heard her whispering to Alex that the extra-good pupils will get gummy worm treats.

Still life: Constructs of a bossy older sister.

Top it off with pizza and old Garfield cartoons, and I'd call it a good day.