My one worry in taking Mags out of school for touring is that instead of being a normal kid, she will turn into an adult kid-the kind of 4 year old that can totally carry on an adult conversation but then only has to deal with conflict that can be shut off with a "You are not making a good choice," from an adut. For obvious reasons, she needs to be around other people her own age. So, I'm happy to say we've had five playdates on tour in one week. Thankfully we now have a bunch of friends in Seattle with kids-so make that 2 playdates in row there. In Sacramento we hung with our very first friends to have children (who coincidentally put out our first record). Their kids and Mags loved climbing the beds in the bus and I caught them giggling while slamming their heads on the ceiling in the bunks. And in SF we hung with our old SF pals Terri, and her 4 year old, Felix all day at the park.
Even June got in on the playdate action with her pal, Ellis.
Mags with the Kando-Kaiser juniors, doing stickers (above) and bunk climbing.
From the pirate store, Felix is holding his Tinkerbell cage and Mags has on her diamond ring.
Just because we've had playtime, doesn't mean that Magnolia was socially on top of her game-she's still learning, clearly. In San Francisco I saw her point at and shoo away a cute little 2 year old trying to get in on her and Felix's sand games. She bossed Felix around the park (which he, for a couple hours, let her do). And, when they were both hungry and tired, we witnessed complete and total melt downs spawned by a he said, she said debate. Which brings me to the question of the day on our San Francisco playdate, when do you not allow your preschooler to lie?
We have discussed what telling the truth means. But, Magnolia is starting this thing where she does something or says something, then doesn't want it to have happened so, she does what any person who wants to look perfect does, she denies it. Felix was upset at one point because Magnolia told him that she automatically won the game because she had the certain terris racket. She was in tears telling me "I didn't say that!!" over and over. (oh wait, saying something and then wishing you hadn't said it so you deny it?? OK, I might do the same thing when arguing with Jason but it does't mean it's cool) So, when do you say, nope, you are lying? I had to make sure she knew I believed her so she would stop crying. And then we found ways to make up without admitting the lies.
She did manage to share well with each friend she played with (which used to be unthinkable for her) but we're on to bigger things now. Learning how to share? please...we're tackling bossing people around and telling the truth and stopping that sassy talk! She's really growing up.
At the end of each playdate, there were only smiles and even on the long one in SF, she walked hand in hand with Felix, visiting the pirate store and discussing tinkerbell and magic fairy dust. We even overheard Felix asking Mags, "Can we talk some more about Tinkerbell?
I guess that's the point of playdates, holding hands, working out social conflicts, and having age-appropriate talks-getting ready for the read world.
Next up, Mags brought her bike and has been riding it around the county. Bike tour 2008.