Parent Teacher Conferences

I lived up to my promise. I said aloud to myself this morning that I would not get my undies in a bundle. Parent-teacher conferences can do that to a girl.
This past fall, Ella's progress note had gently suggested goals such as "problem solving", "sharing thoughts with her friends" to which I immediately responded with a probing email to her instructors...one that would make a colonoscopy seem like a less intrusive endeavor. Happily, for her teachers and I, Ella's current school performance is nothing but smiles-I hope I have not scared them into silence. The teachers showed us pictures of her progress over the last several months. She gardens, has cared for tree frogs and hermit crabs. She dresses up and has forged new friendships. She dances and goes sledding. Basically everything a four year old needs to be doing. She is also learning to assert herself in more mature ways. We've talked about how to ignore the other kids when they call her "baby" (she is the smallest in the class). I've also witnessed her sticking up for her sister. The other day Viv started crying after an encounter with one of Ella's classmates. Ella immediately stopped packing up her backpack and confronted him, fists balled up at her sides. "Viv is my baby sister. Did you hurt her?". He assured her that he didn't. Ella comforted Viv and I was so proud.
Viv is rocking the toddler room. She finger paints and wears hats. She loves being read to and will sing like a bird. She is reportedly the class jokester but I'm not sure how that plays out at eighteen months of age. Our little Chelsea Handler apparently has the entire lunch table in stitches.
My girls are happy, I'm happy and for now her teachers inboxes are empty. We went out for burgers and milkshakes to celebrate. May it always be this easy.