Monday, November 19, 2007

Rotten Egg Blue??


We all know Caitlyn is learning to read. And I have seen her really attempt to implement several strategies in order to decipher a word. Typically, "sounding out" really works for her. The other day she tried the strategy of looking at the first and last letter and guessing what the word is. (not really a strategy, but I think that is exactly what did)

Scene: Caitlyn on the living room floor coloring a picture for Mrs. Carson.

Caitlyn: I'm going to color this blue Mom.

Mom: I think that will look very pretty. What blue are you going to use?

Caitlyn: (with crayon in her hand, looking at the paper wrap on the crayon) "Rotten egg blue."

Mom: I think it says "Robin Egg Blue."

Caitlyn: Yeah, I guess a color with rotten in it wouldn't be too pretty.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Her first wake

Caitlyn has had her first experience with death this past weekend. I guess I can't really say it was her first as she was so close to death on a couple occasions when in the NICU. But this is the first one that she will remember.

We got a call early Wednesday morning to tell us that Matt's aunt Mary Pat had died. This was very sudden and the wake would be held on Sunday and the funeral on Monday.

I thought long and hard all day Wednesday about how to break this to Cate. While this is not the aunt that she is closest to, she does enjoy spending time with Mary Pat when we see her at family functions. For example, Mary Pat is the aunt that always plays Yhatzee with Caitlyn. When I go to Country Thunder in the summer, Matt takes Caitlyn to Wisconsin for Daddy/Daughter weekend. On this weekend, Grandma Rita and Mary Pat join them. Caitlyn loves hanging out at the beach with Mary Pat.

For a long time, Caitlyn would not go up and hug or kiss Mary Pat when we would see her. In the last year or so, Caitlyn actually looks forward to seeing her now. And when we do see her, she would give Mary Pat all the hugs and kisses that Mary Pat requested. It's sad to me to think that Caitlyn missed out on those first few years of hugs and kisses, but I think she certainly made up for it in the last year.

On Thursday, I told Matt that we needed to tell Cate about what happened. I knew that Caitlyn would certainly miss her presence at functions and would begin to ask where she was. Matt sat her down and told her that Mary Pat got very sick Wednesday morning and that she went to heaven to be with Matt's Daddy. What happened next, I was completely stunned by. Caitlyn reacted in a way that I didn't expect in the least.

I saw the corner of her mouth turn down and she let out a sob. She cried and cried and cried. It was at that very moment that I wanted to hurl myself under a rock and not come out. All I could think was that I caused this child this much pain! That if I hadn't told her, she wouldn't know what it feels like to have that complete sense of loss and uncontrolability. I couldn't stand myself for breaking her heart.

Later that night when I put her in bed, she got a litle weepy again. Though it wasn't near the emotion that it was earlier. But she said to me,

"I just wish Mary Pat could go to the cottage with us one more time."

And when she said that, it hit me. Caitlyn has a pretty good understanding of death and the finality of it. She understands that she won't be seeing Mary Pat at family parties anymore. She understands that they won't play Yhatzee at the lake anymore. And it breaks my heart that she had to learn that at only 6 years old.

I talked to her all weekend about whether or not she wanted to attend the wake and the funeral. And she was set on going. I spent hours talking to her about what she was going to see and what would be happening while we were there. When I had her explain it back to me, she had most of the details correct. With the exception of thinking that she would be seeing a skeleton in the casket! Once we got that all cleared up, she was comfortable with what was going to happen over the next couple of days.

Upon our arrival at the funeral home, she began to have second thoughts. We took one step into the viewing area, and she began to shake her head back and forth and walk backwards. She couldn't get out of there fast enough. We sat in the lobby for quite a while and she eventually made her way in to pay her last respects and say her good byes to Mary Pat.

She ended up not wanting to go to the funeral. Which is probably better anyway as there always seems to be so much sadness at that part since it really is the finale.

Last night she got a little weepy again, telling me that she wishes Mary Pat didn't die. But I have assured her that Mary Pat and her Grandfather are up there in heaven having a drag out game of Yhatzee and enjoying it to the fullest.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

The Report Card

This school year has started out so much better than last year. Last year we (read I) had so many issues with the teacher, that I think it effected Caitlyn's performance. That aside, the teacher was a complete imbecile when it came to consistency with behavior plans and completely sucked at communication. Her skills in that arena were awful!! That aside, she was a phenommenal reading teacher. That was her only saving grace in my eyes. Caitlyn has developed a foundation that I know will make her an excellent reader because of the skills that she was taught by that teacher.

You may remember that last year I posted about Caitlyn's report cards and how the teacher gave her checks for talking and paying attention. Every quarter. In kindergarten. To say I was pissed off was an understatement. Especially when I had a conference with the teacher and her only explanation for the difference in what the report card stated versus what the behavior charts sent home daily stated was "They are two separate things." Um. No. They really aren't.

However, this year is so much different. Caitlyn received no checks at all. As a matter of fact, she received a ribbon for receiving excellent marks in conduct. Now, I know kids mature in this arena and they develop an understanding of what is expected of them as far as behavior is concerned. But how is it possible that she went from getting no less than 2 checks per reporting period to zero? Forgive me, but I doubt that she matured that much over one summer. It only confirms the idea that the teacher last year was a complete and utter moron.

On to the grades.....
Reading: B
Listening Standards: A
Speaking Standards: A
Mathematics Standards: B
Science Standards: A
Social Science Standards: A
Art Standards: A
Music Standards: A
PE: A
Learning Technology (computer): A
Handwriting: B

The teacher had nothing negative to say about Caitlyn.

I couldn't be more proud of my little lady. And she is so very proud of herself.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

This is Hysterical!


Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!
My mother in law sent me one of these with her in it last night. So I decided to make one up with Caitlyn. She had a ball doing it with me and laughed so so hard when we watched it. We ended up watching it several times. Not that I minded, there is nothing better than a good belly laugh from my girlie ;)