Dream big

During the past six months or so, I have often found myself trying to recall what life was like when I was in the first grade.  What did I learn?  Certainly, my curriculum was much more basic.  I remember where my classroom was located in the school building that now houses the town's police department.  My teacher was old and scary.  I recall forgetting my lunch money (oh, the horror) and having to sit around a circular table waiting not so patiently for other students to learn to read.  I can't remember much else.

This year in the first grade, the girls have learned who the president is and what the president does.  (No comments from my Republican friends, please.)  Emily brought home a writing project that had to be returned but I'm hopeful I'll see it again as the school year wraps up because it's a keeper.  It was about being the president and gave the beginning of a sentence and she had to finish the sentence and then draw a corresponding picture.  For example, "the first thing I would do as president is ____________."  Emily wrote "sit in the big chair."

Rich usually reads to the girls for a few minutes each night after I do.  For awhile, he was reading to them snippets from a book about the "human" side of the presidents.  One of the girls asked, "If there's a girl president, is her husband called the first man?"  So now they've all declared that they want to be the first female president.  I like that they dream big.      

One day last month after another presidential conversation, I engaged the girls in a pretend presidential photo shoot.  They all wanted photos of themselves writing something because apparently, the president writes a lot.  

And what did they write?

Anna - Boxing Bees  (Don't ask.  I don't know why.)

Allie - Be Frreeee!
Emily - No War



Allie has asked to visit DC and we've been promising the girls a trip down there.  We do have family in that area, which makes for a nice vacation.  Maybe spring 2015?