When the elder spawn was 5, I changed her LJ name.  She started out here as Self-Possessed Tot, but by kindergarten, she was really too big for "tot" to suit her.  Little one is reaching that stage as well.  She doesn't turn 5 for two months, but I'm already feeling surprised that she's still technically 4.  She doesn't eat like a Maw anymore, nor does she emit the same roars she did when pre-verbal.  I'm thinking her new LJ name will be the Director.  She certainly thinks like a film director.  She always has grand narratives going on, she knows who should play which part, what everyone should wear, how the set design should look, what the color scheme should be, and what will make a story exciting or boring. 

We parked underneath a willow tree yesterday and she said softly, "I love willow trees.  They're my favorite."  I love willow trees, too, so I asked her why.

"They're so big.  In the summer, when it's hot and I'm sweating and sweating and sweating, they make shade to cool me off.  And when the wind blows, I see their long, thin branches swaying, and it makes me think of the big, blue ocean."

Here's something she drew on January 31.  It's a pirate on his ship.  I asked about the sad face and she explained, "It's not a sad face.  He's angry, like any other pirate.  He's angry because they can't find another ship that has any treasure."



Meanwhile, in Geeklet land, we've hit the point in the school year where she once again observes, "School would be more interesting if it were challenging."  She is a bit despondent because the other top student in her year, N., is going to be home-schooled next year.  His mother said they visited the public school for gifted kids and it wasn't any better than this one.  I am grateful she made the trip and I am spared.  I wasn't going to transfer Geeklet anyway (it starts at 5th grade) because she is attached to this school and all her friends who are neighbors, but I felt I ought to check it out.  Anyway, I told Geeklet that N. finds school more difficult than she does.  N.'s mom said that it's a drama every single morning to force him to go to school.  Geeklet likes other children and she enjoys things other than pure academics, so she can (usually) tolerate the frustration of having to sit through classroom learning she already knows.  N. is more single-minded and he cannot bear it.  Fortunately, after the week in January when we were all sick, Geeklet remembers how boring it was to see nobody but her own family for days on end and she has no desire to request home-schooling.

Then last night, she came to announce, dancing, that Ms. J. switched her to a more advanced workbook and "it's actually challenging!  I have to actually use my mind!  I don't know the answers!  It's actually hard!  It's really hard!"  I said this must be so relaxing for her brain.  Oh, what a relief.  Then she chattered about her strategy for Trivia Time.  She said you never get called on if you look like you want to answer.  You have to look dreamy and distracted, like you're looking out the window in your own world.  Then you get called on.  So she does that.  Then you have to answer in that same dreamy manner so your friends think you don't have the right answer...until they realize that you do.  So she does that, too, she said, cackling.  "I have ways," she giggled.  Oh my god.  This child is so awesome.

I have more Geeklet sagas, but I'm being called, so happy Saturday to all!  Pottery studio today!  I hope my cheese tray and lemon platter are out of the kiln!