When I was your age

Every time I tell Gwenchik that when I was her age I used to do this or that without much assistance from my parents ...

Gwen: Of course, you did it by yourself. Life in Russia was really hard, right?

...

Not sure where she got this from, as my life was actually really easy

Mother's Day

What a lovely surprise -- Gwenchik and George prepared a feast for me in a finely decorated room with beautiful cards, actual long letters listing my many virtues, fireplace and presents :)

Ten deeds of the day

1. Packaged pennies and dimes into rolls

2. Went to the bank to exchange for real paper money ($20)

3. Symphony concert

4. Filled in application for a library card

5. Signed for Gwenchik's own library card

6. Selected ten books to read

7. Told all the neighbors about the money and the library card :)

8. Math homework

9. Several chess games with Dad

10. Make pancakes with Mom

Selective hugging

George has been sick for the last few days, so he is trying to avoid interacting with Gwenchik as to not to pass the germs.

Gwen: Oh, how I miss my Daddy. When can I see him so that I can hug him?

Me: You know that he is sick, so wait another day or two -- he should get better. And you can hug me instead. I can't say I got to many hugs today.

Gwen: I am with you all day, so there is no reason to hug you as much -- I do not miss you. Now when you are not around, than I miss you more than Dad and want to hug you. Don't you know by now that this is how it works?

Spelling challenge

Gwenchik is doing great at school and the only thing that we need to work a bit on is spelling... so today as we walked home from school we decided to play a spelling game.

Me: Spell "about"

Gwen: a-b-o-u-t

Me: Great! Your turn.

Gwen: Hmm, you are a grown up and you know everything so the word has to be bigger than "about". Ok, spell supercalifragilisticexpialidociou.....

Naked

The last few days were surprisingly hot here and we have been spending a lot of time outside on the playground.

Gwen: It is really hot. I should take all the clothes off and run around naked.

Me: Well, even though I understand you it is not really acceptable in society.

Gwen: Why?

Me: There are social rules of behavior...

Gwen: Who came up with those rules? In the museum there are lot of naked people so they were allowed to run around then, why not now?

.....

How do you answer a question like that?

Presumption of innocence

I was summoned for jury duty and was trying to explain with Gwenchik what is it for starting with presumption of innocence.

Gwen: But what if the jury is bored or just do not like the person. You know so many people just look guilty....

Self-reliance

After one of the awkward social gaffe's Gwenchik and I were discussing options on how to deal with something similar for next time.

Me: You know, you really should trust and listen to your parents on this one.

Gwen: I know and I do, but than you'll die and who would I listen to than?

What is really important

We spent an hour with a group of new kids -- singing, dancing and playing around. Ultimately, Gwenchik ended up running around like crazy playing catch up with them. As we are driving home she reflects:

Gwen: I was the fastest one, right?

Me: Yes, but is it really that important?

Gwen: Honestly yes, but if anyone else asks -- it is more important to play.

Have options...

Gwenchik overheard during one of our friends get together in our house as a friend's mother described how during the discussions about "future wife" her 6 year old son stated that Gwenchik is off the list -- she is his friend girl.

Gwen: Mom, why didn't you correct her?

Me: I should have? I thought you really liked Lesha the most.

Gwen: Well yes, but it is nice to have options. When I grow up I can than choose, right? Doesn't really need to happen now?

My own money

Gwenchik just came from her hockey practice -- all smiles. Often during or after practice kids ask for lollipops from the stand and once in a while we oblige Gwenchik as well. The last time we talked that we can buy a bag of these in CVS for about twice the price of one of them... and that got her thinking and planning...

Gwen: Mom, look what I bought with my own money! You know I took it out of my piggy bank.

Me: Nice friendship bracelet and a sticker for your helmet.

Gwen: Yes, the sticker is important and will stay forever. And the bracelet is better than a lollipop: you can't buy a bag of these in CVS, and anyways a lollipop would be gone in five minutes and all I would have to show for it is a blue tongue.

Visions of Tooth Fairy

Gwen: I saw, I saw the Tooth Fairy!

Me: What did she look like?

Gwen: She was all white, just like the teeth with a white bag. The bag was split in two sections -- one for teeth and another for money. She also had a beautiful white wand. She flew into the house and checked to see if I was sleeping... but I was pretending and she didn't understand that I was pretending and peeking, because she didn't have the special magic like Santa to see if I was asleep.

Tooth Fairy inflation adjustment

During our long drive to Toronto Gwenchik lost yet another tooth and was a bit concerned if the Tooth Fairy goes this far north.

Gwen: Will she know that I am in Canada, just like Santa? What kind of money will she give me? Does Canadian Tooth Fairy actually give dollars or maybe dolls?

.....

In the morning Gwenchik got 3 Canadian dollars (a loony and a toony)

Gwen: Mom, the Tooth Fairy gave me 3 dollars!!! Not one!!

My own, personal Daddy

We have been on vacation in Toronto, and George took Gwenchik to a few museums and then almost daily swimming in the pool. So at some point in the day, I wanted to hug them both, and Gwen objected.

Gwen: I have MY own, personal Daddy that I do not want to share!

Uncle enticement

Gwen's uncle is leaving for Russia, so she is really upset and really doesn't want him to go.

Gwen: I made this snowman from popcorn and jelly beans in my cooking class today. I will give it to my uncle Roddy!

Me: Great, I am sure he would like that.

Gwen: I know, and then I can make another one, and another one ... and he will like all of them and will have to stay to eat them all! And I will make one a week -- he'll stay for the entire year.

Future husband considerations

In one of our mother-daughter conversations we got around to talking about kissing and getting married.

Gwen: Who do you think I should marry?

Me: I think you need to wait just a bit more for that.

Gwen: I know, I know... but if I were to get married now -- who do you think would be best?

.....

After my suggestion of a younger boy Misha

......

Gwen: No, ALL husbands are older!

Me: Well, no. You know aunt Yana who is older that her husband.

Gwen: Hmm. She is? Well, I guess Misha wouldn't be that bad and he is more likely to take care of me.

Santa's list

Gwenchik and a friend decided it was about time to write a letter to Santa. So they locked themselves in a room ... 5 minutes later

Gwen: Mom, I need you to help me.

Me: What, with the spelling?

Gwen: No. I do not know want I want and if I do not come up with something --- I'll get nothing and then I will be really upset.

School report card

We got Gwenchik's first school report card this weekend and had to sit down and go over it with her. She is doing great academically and even got a few outstanding, but following the rules and routines are not her strong points.

Gwen: Well, I am doing even better than I thought. They didn't tell you half the things we do in school! :) Yes, yes, I'll follow the rules, but often they make them up as they go along!

Tooth Fairy screw up

Gwenchik finally lost her front tooth in school yesterday and brought it back in a small white tooth shaped box, which was promptly deposited under the pillow. Next morning believe it or not there was a gold dollar in the plastic bag.

So tonight while preparing for bed we found the plastic bag with the white tooth box.

Me: Strange, why there is a bag still under the pillow?

Gwen: The Tooth Fairy forgot to take it with her in exchange for the dollar so she will probably come back tonight with another, don't you think?

After School

We have a GREAT after school program and on the early release days they organize field trips. So far they went to CoCo Water country and to a farm to collect apples.

Gwen: Tomorrow we will go on another field trip! Yeee!

Me: Great that you like them.

Gwen: Oh, I like them more that school itself. We get to run around and have fun instead of sitting in class learning letters. I can read so it is soooooooo boring.