Kann ich mit dir spielen?

A subtle shift happened in the Amor household last week.  Alethia started school and ballet and, suddenly, our conversations included Alethia's schedule.  Just like that, she has her own schedule to keep and we must now plan our own days around hers.  It is truly amazing how time flies when you are watching a little soul bloom and grow.  What was life before this little spark of passion and sass was in it?!

Alethia got to "sample" German kindergarten for a couple weeks before we left for the States, but now that we are back, she is attending regularly.  We are still deciding how much we want her to go, but we have the option of leaving her from 7 to 2 every day of the week.  That feels like a bit much for a 3 year old, when she is really just going to experience some freedom and autonomy, to enjoy the social interactions, and to learn German. 

So far, she is liking it.  We have taught her a few German phrases, like "Kann ich mit dir spielen?" which means "Can I play with you?", to help get her started.  She has about 20 kids in her class (only one other that speaks English) and two wonderful teachers, Frau Valerie and Frau Olga.  They are the Gespenst (ghost) group.  Alethia loves the giant "house" that the classroom is equipped with including a play kitchen, dress-up clothes and loft.  She also loves getting to play on the playground everyday (rain or shine). 

The Lord gave me a great gift.  The day before Alethia started at Kindergarten, we were at the park in our neighborhood.  While there, I met another mom who has a daughter in the same class as Alethia.  It was nice to talk to her about it and to introduce Alethia to another girl from her class.  I ran into that mom again today and she helped me translate the school calendar.  I feel like I am beginning to make a friend, which was not expected, and is a wonderful surprise.

Alethia also began ballet classes last week.  She goes twice a week to Miss Jenny (a very sweet German woman) with about 10 other little girls (mostly Americans).  It made my heart melt to see her all dressed-up in her leotard and tutu and dancing around.  About five minutes into it, while the class was doing their "butterfly stretch", Alethia looked over at me and, with a huge grin on her face, gave me a thumbs-up and nodded as if to say "Good job mom; I like this!"  I do not think I will ever need to worry about not knowing what she thinks about things.  She always seems to find a way of telling me with great verve.  And she loves ballet!  She has asked repeatedly to go back. 

Overnight Alethia has acquired this whole little life that is all her own.  It is strange to not be a part of everything she is doing and to know that now there are things that are just hers.