Daycare feats

I had a "student-teacher" conference a few weeks back where they told me Elias was a bright, normal 2 year old. It was interesting how he shows abilities and difficulties at daycare differently than at home. For example, at daycare he's the best at waiting until everyone is served before eating(!), whereas at home sometimes he's gobbled down half his meal before I even get everything set on the table. Alternatively, they were surprised to learn that he was using a fork and spoon just fine at home, fingers--or, rather, fist-fulls--being the serving tool of choice there. Another example is that they only have him down for knowing 1/2 his colors, typical for his age...but I know he's known then all cold since last May. He's sneaky, my little one. I told them that, and that he also knows all his letters and the sounds associated with them, but I think they just put it down to mother's bias. I wish his daycare would push "academics" more, rather than settling for the "lowest common denominator" goals of the Madison school district. If Elias knows this much just from what brief, jumbled exposure I give him, just imagine what he'd do given some informed, intentional teaching. But even if they're lagging on that front, his daycare is wonderful at doing other things I wouldn't be as good at providing. They have tons of varied art projects, dramma, group activites, guests that play music or speak Spanish with them, and outdoor play nearly every day, sun or snow. He's spending a lot of time with kids his own age, learning important social skills--something his mom wishes she'd learned better, herself.

A few days ago this "biased mom" got a nice rush of justification, though. Wednesday Elias slept in, therefore I slept in, and we were running late for school and work. His class was already at breakfast so I brought him in there (where, incidentially, he immediately walked around to an empty chair, seated himself, and waited patiently to be served--unlike the whiney chaos typical of his 1st daily breakfasts at home!) His teacher excitedly referred to when I'd told her he knows his alphabet, and said "he really does!" and related how the day before he was casually reading off all the letters of a banner in the room, and proceded to do the same with other printed matter. She asked the 3yr olds teacher to back her up, and she also got excited and said how Elias could "read" the signs and spell his name and was just amazing, like no other kid she'd ever seen do that [that young]. I may've let slip a "I told you so," but played it cool.  It was certainly a nice way to start the day (even if I did show up 40 min late to work.)

Wednesday Elias went potty on the toilet for the first time at daycare.  He was progressing quite well over Christmas, but hasn't shown much interest since coming back home.  I'm told boys often do that.  The great thing is, Thursday he did it 4 times (never having a wet diaper), and again several times on Friday.  He complains a bit, but will do it at home, too, so hopefully this time it'll "take" for good.  His aim could use some help, however:  this morning he peed all over my leg and foot, as I was sitting next to him sitting on his potty.  Oh well.  I think it's time to take out his urinal, even though I've been unsuccessful at recruiting anyone to demonstrate its usage.