The Benefits of Being Five

When a girl turns five years old, it means she is allowed in the hot tub at her Aunt Felicia's community pool (without that aunt lying in her behalf). Annie was very excited to reach this important milestone in her life. Too bad the pool doesn't open for another six months or so.

Annie's dream this year was to eat chicken nuggets with ranch at McDonald's on her birthday. Since we are parents in the business of making dreams come true, we indulged her. It was her first Happy Meal. Those things are WAY fancier than when I was a kid.

Earlier in the day, Grandma Dennis drove down and gave Annie a magical Princess crafting kit. This crown was one of her creations.

 The Olveras joined us and made it a real party.

We have a school-aged kid! That seems crazy. Annie and I have been doing homeschool preschool with the plan to do kindergarten homeschool next year. Recently, she realized that was the plan and had a little breakdown. I asked her why she was so sad she wouldn't be going to public school. She said it was because she wouldn't get to have lunchtime or recess. "What's recess?" I asked her. "I don't know," she said through her tears. I explained the concept of recess and then said that as homeschoolers we would have lots of time to play with friends. She allowed herself to be consoled. This week she told a relative she was five years old. The relative said, "Oh, so you'll be going to school next year?" Annie said, "Nope. I'm doing homeschool kindergarten." There was no crying, and she sounded content with it. 

Every day is another attempt not to ruin your child's life. I think that on her birthday we succeeded.

Two days later, Annie also had a glorified play-date with her two besties, Emma and Nancy. I didn't take a single picture. Motherhood fail!