Monkey See, Monkey Do

Susie is getting ready to go to preschool at the end of the month. I've worried about how she will get along with other kids in her class. Let's be honest - this is a concern of all moms . . . even the ones that won't admit it. Yes, yes . . . we all want them to be smart and learn and make good decisions, but we want them to do all of that while ALSO making friends. She has been going to Gymboree Play and Music classes since she was 9 months old, and hasn't really ever played with any of the kids. In fact, a lot of our time there has been spent teaching Susie that sometimes it is better to keep our (and by "our," I mean HER) hands off of others. She used to be excited to see Bella and Rhiannan, but after an initial burst of joy to see a familiar face, they all went their own direction. Perhaps it was the lure of things on which to climb, jump and beat.

People say that kids her age don't really play "with each other" they play "along side each other." However, there has recently been a shift in the kids that come to Gymboree . . . there is a group of kids that come together that all know each other from day care. THOSE kids play together. They seek each other out, they make sure they have a buddy with them . . . they play together.

Last night, we went to our friends' house for dinner. They have a two beautiful daughters - one 3 years old, and one almost 1 year old. This family has been part of Susie's life from when she was still a newborn squawking in the hospital. Ava came to meet Susie strapped to her daddy's chest in a Baby Bjorn carrier, fussing vehemently when her mommy held Susie. Ava and Susie have been to the zoo together, visited Santa together and had countless dinners together, but they've not ever really played together. Now there was the one time that Susie repeatedly took Ava's stuffed animal and Ava repeatedly expressed her disdain . . . Call me cynical, but I wouldn't say that is really "playing together."

Last night, Susie played together with a friend. Ava and Susie ran all over the house together, plotting and playing all the while. When Ava's daddy dared to open her bedroom door to make sure the girls were, well, still breathing, he was asked to leave. They played "hide and seek" together, where they would go somewhere together, one girl would leave, then come back to "find" the one she'd just left behind. They lied in bed together and pretended to go night-night. They played together.

On the way home, I asked Susie if she had a good time playing with Ava. Susie happily replied, "Yesssss, I DID have fun playing with Ava. Susie go back to Ava's house again. Go back soon."

. . . My heart burst with pride . . .

First, she all of a sudden developed the ability to talk in the first person when answering questions. Her daddy attributed this to his earlier reading of Dr. Seuss's "Green Eggs and Ham." I don't doubt it - she seems to pick up all sorts of skills from books. Second, Susie made a friend! She interacted with another child in a positive way and had a GREAT time doing it. I can now rest comfortably with the knowledge that she will do fine in preschool.