The Graduate

No I am not talking about the movie, we actually have one in our midst - a pre-school graduate, that is.

A couple of weeks back the kids in Alex's class were photographed in graduate cap and gown. Today, with just the class picnic to be had, parents and relatives of graduates were treated to specially prepared songs and shenanigans; a prelude to watching our little rascals receiving their graduate "diplomas".

In Australia, I had to slog through 4 years of university before being honoured with such ceremony and officialities by the academic world. Even in high school we were lucky if we received a boot in the arse as we exited those hallowed halls for the final time - I remember my high school certificate came in the mail. Primary school was capped off with a year 7 "disco". All I can remember about that was perfecting my wall flower impersonation to a tee; a skill that has served me well in life, ever since. I never went to pre-school or kindergarten; straight into grade 1 ....so yeah....28 years I had to wait for my first dignified graduate moment.

Getting back to Alex's big day, the kids entered the room to the dreary tones of "Pomp and Circumstance" while balancing hand-made, and rather ill fitting, cardboard graduate caps on their heads, shuffling in, determined and concentrating, in the hope that they not be the one whose hat topples off in front of everybody. We parents and relatives listened to renditions of "baby bumble bee" and "good bye my Friends", in both English and French, and then the "diplomas" were passed out along with a laminated class-page; a double sided piece of paper which consisted of self-portraits of each kid in the class, and their names scrawled underneath. Nice touch.

They had obviously practiced the routine a couple of times, because every child was very well behaved and stood patiently for the individual glory moment in receiving their diploma. After all the goodies had been handed out, the teacher gave a little spiel before announcing morning tea. At this point the kids were starting to get a little restless, and began pretending they were pirates; their rolled up diplomas suddenly doubling as telescopes (eye eye Cap'n). It was all pretty cute; Alex was positively beaming, as all the kids seem to, when the parents are allowed to attend for a special reason.

The graduation for them was a good thing. Finishing pre-school is a little rite passage for them, as we all begin to ready ourselves for "the big school" and the accompanying complexities and issues which face our older children as the years roll on.

Olivia starts the three's class in September, so we didn't really feel like we were letting go of anything major with the graduation ceremony, and I don't really think Alex understands that pre-school is over for him now, but it was still a little sad to think that these kids, most of whom Alex has spent the past two years, will all be going their separate ways. A couple of them will start at the elementary school with Alex; the rest though, we are never likely to see again, especially after November when we return to Australia. I guess that is just life, but the loss of sapling friendships is also the price of moving away.

Here is a picture of Alex and his friend Carson. They have an odd relationship, where they are mostly best mates and then suddenly they have the grumps with each other for a weeks or so, hmph...kids!

Belcarra Beach

We went to Belcarra the other day, you might remember that it was one of our first discovery trips when we arrived in Canada over two years ago. We were impressed then, but even after pretty much searching the entire area that can realistically be covered in a day trip, it is still up there as one of the prettiest places we discovered while over in this neck of the woods.

Belcarra has a beach, which we didn't discover last time, so we scoured around there until we were told that the tide was just about to come in and we would soon be waist deep in water if we didn't skedaddle out of there pronto.

The coast was really interesting those; surrounded by a pin straight redwood forest and a tangle of trees that stretched all the was to the coast, literally. Where the tide had sculpted the coastline, the water had actually carried all the soil away, leaving these tremendous trees standing on their roots alone, creating dark caves underneath.

Time would ensure that these trees would indeed fall at some stage, as was evident be the overturned and severed stumps lying on the edge of the beach.

We were hoping to see a bear (drat) but we did see this deer, so that was pretty good. We are yet to see a bear in the wild. We don't want a close-up look, just a drive-by-at-a-safe-distance look. Someone was telling me that people are getting them in their backyards up at the North Shore (Vancouver) and that I should stop in for a cuppa with someone up there if I want to see a bear! Ummm....rather not thanks!

Anyway, we all had fun searching the beach, clamouring over rocks and playing in the park.

Ashley is off for the week, if you hadn't already worked out. It is the Canada Day long weekend over here; we are off to Whistler, tomorrow.

Under-estimated

I remember when Dad first took my training wheels off my bike; I was six.

I remember the anticipation; my self-doubt and fear in riding without my tiny support wheels. I remember Dad's encouragement and promise that he would not let go of my bike until he knew I was ready and able to ride on my own. I remember taking off for the first time, Dad running along side me holding the seat so I would not topple over. He kept telling me to peddle and concentrate on where I was going - "look straight ahead". We did this over and over again, on the circular driveway out the front of the ole homestead, near the garage. Unbeknown to me, Dad, though still running alongside me, was decreasing the amount of support he was applying in order to keep me upright, until his assistance was no longer required. Then eventually, we took off together, but Dad stopped part way, while I rode on - solo. I had ridden a few metres before I realised he was no longer there, panicked and turned to see where he was - of course I fell off and of course I scraped my knee, but I was also encouraged to get right back on there and try again, and eventually...at some stage, I must have gathered the experience and confidence to ride steadily and confidently.

Alex is an avid bike rider. He loves to tear around the street on his bike, and show off to the neighbour, delighting in her telling him "how fast" he can ride. Now and again we have suggested that perhaps he might like to take his training wheels off, but as is usually the case with him, we were met with much wailing and resistance, but since he is still only four, we didn't push it.

On Thursday afternoon, Alex was watching "Franklin", a cartoon about a turtle and his mates. During the episode, Franklin took the training wheels off his bike, and for whatever reason, Alex suddenly declared that he would also like to take his off. We were delighted to hear this, and bargained with him that we would do the deed on Saturday and spend all afternoon nurturing his confidence and guiding him in the art of bike riding sans trainer wheels.

On Saturday, Alex was champing at the bit, waiting impatiently as Ashely removed the wheels. We encouraged him to ride on the lawn at first, but the ground was too moist and spongy and he was having a hard time getting started, so we took him out the front, where there is a pavement and lawn for him to fall onto. So we took him out there, nervous about how this experience might turn out; how much wailing and disenchantment there would be as he struggled to control and balance the bike, without the customary support. We were bracing ourselves for a very long day; some skinned knees and howling; the beloved bike very likely being tossed aside with promises of never riding it again "UNLESS those trainer wheels are replaced"...but we were wrong.

I kid you not, we had scarcely gotten into the front yard before Alex, without ANY assistance whatsoever, jumped on his bike and rode off BY HIMSELF! Ashley and I were both stunned, looked at each other, and then threw our heads back and laughed out loud. Alex couldn't understand what we were laughing at, and since we didn't want to make him paranoid, we explained that he was doing a fantastic job, and "could not believe" that he was riding so well so soon after removing the trainers. We told him "we could have removed them weeks ago if we had known he was that good". Basically we praised him up, and he was very proud of himself. He even went for a ride around the block. He did very well, but got a bit wobbly when the path appeared to narrow, but overall he rode exceptionally well for a first go.

This morning he showed his friend Riley his new biking skills, and then he declared that he was going to teach his other friend, Carson, how to ride without trainer wheels - I am sure Carson would be wrapped! There have a bit of competitiveness between those two.

Alex, who has been known to be an overly resistant nervous nelly about practically EVERYTHING, has really gained a lot of self-confidence in recent weeks. He is really enjoying being a "big boy" and we are also, very happy to see him bloom.