growth spurt

THIS IS BIRDIE.

She is 5 1/2.

In August, I posted about her first day of kindergarten. She loved it! For a little while. She's ready to learn "big girl stuff" now.

Toward the end of our co-op session, Birdie rather abruptly decided that she is done with the preschool group, thank you very much. The youngest group is a preschool/kindergarten level, and she'd be in kindergarten right now ... she's 5 1/2. But man alive, she is DONE hanging out with 3-year-olds! She refused to go to her classes, and even tagged along with Posy the last couple of weeks. She was so excited to participate with bigger kids!

At home, she's doing the same thing - when I print the history pages for Sunny and Posy, Birdie is very upset if she doesn't have them too. She wants her math and handwriting and to read chapter books. She wants to help in the kitchen - she's becoming the resident egg cracker.

From our perspective as her parents, this has been very abrupt. Sunny and Posy have been cruising along, shifting from one phase to the next with no bumps, and progressing seamlessly in their academic work. Birdie, on the other hand - has taken a very firm and decisive step. One minute she's here, the next she's all the way over there. Done. First grade. Now. I was going to start her on first grade work in January, basically a semester ahead of public school. I was also going to leave her in the preschool group for one more session, but she'll be put with the 6-year-olds for spring classes (her birthday is in the middle of the session). Onward and upward!

It just seemed like a milestone that needed to be noted.

Photos top to bottom: Bronx Zoo, Smithsonian Zoo, fall session of co-op on face painting day