Well, lots. She’s officially a rock climber now. She’s “Crazy Good”, self proclaimed and readily agreed by both the mama and the climbing instructor Amy. She can scale and traverse like she’s been doing it for years! She doesn’t like the racing afterwards, however, as she still has not figured out how to insist the boys leave her enough space. She’s unaccustomed to the run, pile, smash into each other cuz it’s fun dynamic of the male, and she ends up hurt (twice now). Yes, she is the only girl in the group of around 15 boys. There have been a couple other girls show up, but they haven’t stayed for either of the two first classes she’s attended.
So, we’re hoping Papa will accompany her next week, and along with a Mama who seems to be useful for spotting (and keeping the kids from killing each other while waiting in line, hence the parent-spotter position that opened up), Cecily may figure out how to hold her own among the less than graceful boys that she’s pretty sure want to clobber her… she’ll learn.. they have likely no hostility toward her, they’re just 5 year old boys. I suspect her Papa will have some insight to offer that will go a lot further with the little boys than what I can tell her. IF nothing else, he’ll be there. What is it with our society and what we teach our boys about women so early on!!
(Look for the pink)
She’s continuing to progress in reading. She chooses to read from the various online sources at bedtime, and multiple times throughout the day.
A couple of days ago, she decided I needed to learn about addition and subtraction, so she set up in the front room with Window Markers, cleared her canvas and began to explain. She’s stuck in a world between wanting to “do school” because of the influences she’s inundated with from external sources, and just exploring and allowing her curiosity to lead her learning – a result of the environment we’ve chosen to create here.
We had a very full week last and that before, and so much happened, but I failed to note it here. I need some sort of quick post method from my phone (I have this, but not setup), that will trigger an expanded version when I have time to sit and write.
“What is it with our society and what we teach our boys about women so early on!!”: Another interpretation may be that the boys just act with Cecily the same way as they act with other boys. And their interactions with each other is more rough than Cecily is used to.
Of course, I was not there, so my thoughts may have nothing to do with what actually happened.
Thierry, you are absolutely correct. The boys in the class are behaving in a typical pattern for males that age and of that development, especially in an environment encouraging physical expression and action. And while the behaviors I am observing, while I wait in line with my Bug, leave me sad for the most part because of the parenting that is obviously taking place in these kids’ homes, the boys themselves are simply children.
Lily has a keen sense of balance, as well as motor control that borders on grace. The boys are not concerned with plowing into each other. As I explained to her, at this age, the boys’ bodies are happiest to move at full speed and not care who or what is around them or gets run into. Eventually the mental development takes forefront for a few years, but then, as I explained, they grow into men who once again happily throw themselves at each other and objects, for money AND fun. She decided she’d just run and/or climb fast enough that she’d be so far in front of them there would be no concern. And so she did.
But it is a significant experience for her – she’s observing and establishing herself as an equal among them, in spite of what is or isn’t demonstrated and offered by the boys collectively or independently. Mostly, she keeps me near her. BUT the moment her Papa walks in, so does her courage and confidence. It’s pretty cool to see.
“What is it with our society and what we teach our boys about women so early on!!”: Another interpretation may be that the boys just act with Cecily the same way as they act with other boys. And their interactions with each other is more rough than Cecily is used to.
Of course, I was not there, so my thoughts may have nothing to do with what actually happened.
Thierry, you are absolutely correct. The boys in the class are behaving in a typical pattern for males that age and of that development, especially in an environment encouraging physical expression and action. And while the behaviors I am observing, while I wait in line with my Bug, leave me sad for the most part because of the parenting that is obviously taking place in these kids’ homes, the boys themselves are simply children.
Lily has a keen sense of balance, as well as motor control that borders on grace. The boys are not concerned with plowing into each other. As I explained to her, at this age, the boys’ bodies are happiest to move at full speed and not care who or what is around them or gets run into. Eventually the mental development takes forefront for a few years, but then, as I explained, they grow into men who once again happily throw themselves at each other and objects, for money AND fun. She decided she’d just run and/or climb fast enough that she’d be so far in front of them there would be no concern. And so she did.
But it is a significant experience for her – she’s observing and establishing herself as an equal among them, in spite of what is or isn’t demonstrated and offered by the boys collectively or independently. Mostly, she keeps me near her. BUT the moment her Papa walks in, so does her courage and confidence. It’s pretty cool to see.