September 10, 2010: Second Grade
Veronika started second grade in her new school in Vienna on Monday. Despite being given only a couple of weeks notice that we'd be moving to Vienna and only finding out which school she'd be going to a couple of days before it started, she was very excited and positive about it. That lasted all the way until it was time for us to leave her in the classroom and then it was too much. I can't blame her at all. This summer has been a whirlwind of change: leaving her old home and room behind, moving to a new country, staying in a place that wasn't "ours," having to regularly speaking a different language, moving again to a new apartment, this time in a big city (also a new experience), and then to top it all off, having to start in a new school in a class where you don't know anyone and in a language that's not your first. I'll be lucky if I do as well as she did on my first day of work for an Austrian company, I may be crying as well. However, by the time she got home, she was again bubbling with excitement and by the end of the week, she was making plans to invite her new friends over. What a kid.
When we were first going to tell the kids that we were moving, Dinka and I came into Veronika and Ivan's room. Before we could say anything, Veronika sensed that something was up and said, "What?" To our relief, they were excited but Veronika also immediately sensed that the move would be bittersweet. "I think I'm just a little happy and a little sad," she said. I said, "Me too." That night she claimed she wouldn't be able to sleep because she was so excited about moving, then fell asleep a few minutes later, as always. The next morning, she woke up early and started doing exercises in one of her German books, getting an early jump on the preparation for the move.
Veronika is generally very eager to learn new things. She has become a voracious reader and often steals away to read in her free time (!). She enjoys school but is still getting used to the Austrian second grade amount of homework that's expected of her. She enjoyed her CCD class last year and seems to be looking forward to the religion section of second grade (it's taught in public schools in Austria and not separately). She's also eager to take up as many extracurricular activities as she can but we're reaching the point where she's going to have to make some decisions. Dancing or gymnastics? Piano or trumpet? And that's on top of the sewing that she already does with Mama and Aunt Tessa whenever she can. It's a big world and she wants to do it all.
At home, Veronika is a tremendous helper and big sister. Sure, she and Ivan have their fights but she takes care of him and Nikola in ways that I can't imagine I ever did with my little brother (sorry, Uncle Phil). She is usually very willing to share her things and sometimes even gives them up willingly to keep the peace, even if it's not "fair." She loves to help me with projects whenever possible and was my special helper when I played piano at Masses at our parish in Connecticut. She sat dutifully by the piano, picking up loose pages as I tossed them from the piano, unfolding whatever piece was next for me, and following along in her hymnal and singing. Whenever I looked over and saw her in her Sunday best, her hair backlit by the sunlight coming through the stained glass windows, I was overwhelmed by pride and wonder.
On top of being a big sister to two troublesome brothers, Veronika has also been a mother to several dolls, the latest of which is the American Girl doll Julie. She brings her shopping, changes her into pajamas at night, sleeps with her and loves to read the books about her. This wasn't a surprise, since she's been mothering her dolls and brothers for years already, but it's still sweet to see.
In short, Veronika is growing up fast. I only rarely notice it because work and Nikola and life keep me so busy but every once in a while, particularly after I haven't see her for a while, I will look at her, as if from a distance, and wonder how she got so big and where she learned all those grown-up words and gestures. Time is flying but Veronika is a wonderful person to spend it with.
Posted by papa at 11:20 AM
November 13, 2009: Writing Workshop
At the beginning of the school year the teacher asked the students to pick a topic they would write about through the year as part of the Writer's Workshop program. I am not sure what it is supposed to look like at the end, but Veronika assured me that the drawing and writing below was just the first time they drew up the idea, but was not the final product. I wanted to post it nevertheless, because it's well, sweet but also because it's such a nice combination of words and drawings expressing her thoughts and feelings of an event.
Posted by mama at 11:34 AM
November 4, 2009: First Grade Friends
Veronika recently got a card from her friend Audrey. Audrey sits at the same desk at school and it seems the two have connected really well. I love that the card starts out with "WOW" - as if there is just nothing else that comes to mind when you think of Veronika. I was told the "stick to me" part refers to the fact that they sit together and therefore "stick". Maybe. I'm thinking the girl probably also tried to say something like "You stand by me". Not sure, but it's still very sweet. It doesn't get any more personal than that.
Posted by mama at 02:21 PM
October 16, 2009: At the Movies
Veronika and Ivan went to see their first movie at the theater in April—Disney's Earth (I know it was a long time ago, but I need to put it down for the record anyway). They had been watching various nature DVDs that we got from Netflix in the few months before it came out so when I saw the preview online, I thought it might be a good way to ease them into the theater-going experience. They also watched the preview with me several times and were mostly excited and only a little scared.
When the day finally came, we left Nikola with Baka for the afternoon and headed out. At the theater, we hit the concession stand and picked up some popcorn, candy and a drink, which ended up being important later on. Inside, we decided to split up the kids, Ivan with Mama and Veronika with me. Veronika was very excited and nervous and dealt with it by chattering and eating throughout the movie. I shushed and whispered answers to her questions and she plowed through the bag of popcorn. Ivan spent most of the time cuddled in Mama's arms, hiding his eyes from the screen and occasionally whimpering. In his defense, it ended up being kind of a realistic/scary nature film for kids with its share of predators and death, although not explicitly shown.
Afterwards, all was well though. They were retroactively excited about having been to see a movie, and one that they had looked forward to for so long, and talked about it for several days. I was probably even more excited than them though, because the era of seeing movies with my kids had begun. I loved that experience so much as a kid (and still do, really), I'm looking forward to going through it again and again with them.
Posted by papa at 10:13 PM
June 18, 2009: Kindergarten Graduation: She's five going on 26.
There wasn't really a graduation, which is actually fine by my. I'm not a fan of making a huge deal of things that really aren't. From a purely personal perspective this whole year has been a milestone of sorts. For her as well as for me. With Veronika everything is a first for me and so every step she makes towards being an independent person is astonishing to me.
(She typed the text on the computer)
This year Veronika learned how to read and write and with that came a new level of self-expression and freedom. Several relatives have benefitted from her new acquired capability to write cards and letters, even I have received notes. She has labeled things and created things (tickets, menus...) and we have had the joy to see her personality revealed on a new level through a new medium. I have caught her numerous times absorbed by rereading a favorite book and walked away happy and confused. "She's reading by herself for fun! How wonderful!" and then; "She's reading a book? WHAT?! My own child?"
She has done wonderfully in her first school year. Her first teacher left in February to have a baby and her second teacher finished the school year. Both of them had only praise for Veronika and I heard these phrases repeatedly "A joy to have in class!", "Never any trouble!" and "If every student was like her..." I don't care if this sounds like bragging, because it's not. It is very much needed feedback for me. I have to say one of my top fears is to raise a child who is not very likable and one of my top goals is to raise a child that is a joy to be around. However since I'll always find my children a joy to be around (generally speaking of course), it's hard to gauge if things are going well until they have to spend a significant time of the day with other people.
Her report cards have been very positive too. She seems to do particularly well in reading, math and music, which I know are things she also enjoys the most. I was surprised a child so young could get excited about addition and occasionally multiplication. I have to be very careful to not kill this curiosity. I was not a math genius myself but enjoyed it except for the times I was terrified of it. The fear was unwarranted but who knows it might show itself in one of those uglier parenting moments.
Veronika likes school, except when she needs to get up in the morning. I was surprised this feeling starts so early. Poor kid. She made friends and loved riding on the bus. I hope this continues.
(These lists were written by the children themselves, they could not ask for help with spelling)
This year she also started going to regular dance classes. She absolutely took to it and does well for her age. As far as I can tell. It was bittersweet dropping her off the first time. I love dance but have put it in hold in the last few years and here is my child off to her dance class before I even had the chance to pick it up again. I'm excited that she loves it. Maybe it will be something we can share in the future. Maybe not, which is ok with me. I hope I will be able to give her the right amount of support so that she never feels pressured nor let down. The first recital provided weeks of excitement. She practiced at home so much that even now Ivan will occasionally do some kind of thing with his leg and call it a "shuffle-step". She did great for her level. (There is a video of the recital on the links page - it's pretty big, so might take a while to download. I might have to take it down eventually.) There is a lot of gazing around trying to pick up the steps from the other kids and occasional confusion, which is typical for that age. But you can see she is never deterred or feeling lost. I was amazed at her complete lack of self-consciousness. It's good to be five sometimes. It also reminds me how ultimately so many things depend solely on our attitude.
Ivan is still her number one playmate and companion. I know she sometimes longs for a sister but if there has ever been a willing replacement to don a dress, a tiara and a magic wand, Ivan is it. She can annoy him mercilessly just as a big sister should, but when we find ourselves at a store picking out a piece of candy or a souvenir, at the Kindergarten Zoo trip for example, she immediately asks if she can pick something out for Ivan and then thoughtfully looks at things he might like. This makes me incredibly happy, especially when it is all her idea and motivation. The best thing after loving your children is watching them love each other.
I suppose what amazes me the most about Veronika is her maturity. Not that she's not acting like a five-year-old, she is, but the ability to follow through on things she's learned and fit herself in with others is a wonderful revelation to me. Maybe this is a normal thing that happens with kids this age, but I reserve the right as a mother to consider this a marvelous and unique development. I could not be more excited to see more of who she is in the future.
Posted by mama at 04:23 PM