Gratitude & kindergarten

Rachel expressed gratitude AGAIN for the play kitchen we got her for her birthday. On the way to Powell's tonight, again apropos of nothing, she said, "thank you again for the kitchen area." I am amazed at her ability to be so gracious. Tonight when I was rushing around after we got back -- unloading the dishwasher, changing out of my work clothes, bringing her laundry upstairs (she had peed in her bed last night, something that seems to happen only when Drew is gone, hmmm....) -- she said seriously, "I'm sorry, Mommy, that you have to do all the work." Later she put her arms around my leg and hugged me, and when I said thank you and asked her why she was doing that she answered, "because you're tired."

Is there any question as to why I love this kid?

***

Most of Rachel's friends have gone up to kindergarten. They're 4 1/2 but I still think Rachel is ready to join them, and yes, I know she just turned 4. I asked Patrick, the head of the school, if there was any way she could start early and he said no (very nicely); the kids who are little and start kindergarten really struggle because they start them reading and writing right away. I still think she's ready because she is, literally, teaching herself how to read.

Tonight I asked the same question of Teacher Erin. She paused and said, yes, that Rachel is ready for kindergarten. Then she paused again and said slowly, "she's a really smart kid."

I responded that I don't want to be overbearing but I do want to push Rachel, and Teacher Erin nodded. I would love to try to get her into kindergarten or 1st grade early at our neighborhood school, Alameda Elementary, but I just don't know if that's feasible. Rachel isn't a prodigy, after all; she's just very smart. But I hate the idea of not pushing her to reach her potential.

The issue may be moot in a couple of months -- they're talking of forming a class of 2- and 3-year-olds and 4- and 5-year-olds, so maybe Rachel will get the enrichment she needs, anyway. I'm going to have a longer discussion with Patrick next month. Meanwhile I will check into the idea of her starting kindergarten at Alameda early.