Baby Big Blue

Part of this project has also been to really limit how many scheduled activities we have for the girls. The exceptions have been for one physical activity each (ballet and gymnastics respectively) and after-school theatre...mostly because they love it, and because I am able to participate with them as a volunteer. Our weekends (other than one hour of ballet) are sacred. And so I was a little torn when we decided to sign Esmee up for an after school chess club on Friday afternoons. Who wants to play chess on a Friday afternoon?? However, her first grade teacher has been extolling the value of chess for young children, and this was the first time that a club like this has been offered. And she really, really wanted to go. So on Friday Esmee had her first meeting, and she loved it. And what I loved was the hour that I got to spend alone with Kicky, brainstorming ideas for the book we've decided to write (more on that soon). I also loved that when Esmee came home, she wanted to teach her sister how to play chess. For nearly an hour, Esmee got to be the expert...not something Kicky usually tolerates. I think it's so important that the girls have separate interests. I'm hoping it will not only free them from painful rivalries but also allow them to share "their" interests with each other.