Parent - Teacher Conferences

This morning D and I found ourselves across the table from a very pleasant, smiley woman. She wasn't a stranger, mind you, we've known her for the past year. She was K's preschool teacher ... and we were at our first parent-teacher conferences. (Okay, full disclosure, K had "conferences" when he was at a child care center, but this, this was a real, public school-sanctioned conference.)

She walked us through the assessment, and to no surprise to us commented on his intellectual superiority. The kid is bright she said. His mind moves so fast, you can see the gears turning. But he's also really good about making sure other kids get a turn at answering questions. (Score! That was what she told me he needed to work on in the fall, and so clearly he listened.)

She talked about how well he played with others ... and then she unleashed the story that created the most hilarious visual in my mind. She said that one day he asked the assistant teacher to read him a story. She looked at K and said, "Well, K, you can read, how about you read the story to me?" Of course, he obliged. And apparently as he started to read, other children began to gather around and listen. I'm sorry, but the image of children gathering around K gave me a flash forward to his future presidential campaign. She also commented on how the kid is a master negotiator and tries to make sure he plays with everyone. And that when it comes to dramatic play ... the kids the director and the star. (Hmmm, Clint Eastwood-type or Ben Affleck - I wonder?)

Then of course, the conversation turned to the things we should work with him on. He needs to learn how to write better with crayons (though, he's mastered using a pencil); he needs to practice cutting shapes more; and he needs to be better at communicating his feelings if something is bothering him. She said she notices he sometimes just shuts down. Now, she's not the first person that has made that observation ... but I always have the opposite experience. He tells me how he's feeling all the time, but I've noticed he doesn't like to share it with others. She said that it is a good precursor to ensuring he doesn't get bullied when he goes to school, because bullies may target kids like that because they don't want someone who will tattle on them.

Of course, I immediately knew D began thinking about defensive moves, etc. But it will be my goal this summer to ensure he's expressive to others in addition to me. My favorite part of the conference was the end where she shared videos of K during school. She also commented that they will take more, but then we get a copy at the end of the school year. Watching K play with other kids and being such a big kid was amazing. Every day I am astounded by his ability, his intellect, his compassion and just his love.

And I cannot wait until O is enough and we get to hear how this crazy kid is creating havoc, because that is my prediction. He's a ball of independence who is already sassing back. Of course, he's not using words, but you just know he's sassing, it's ridiculous and ridiculously funny at the same time. I am one lucky mommy.