The Tien Times: Graduation ceremony

I fell for it. The schmultz and pride of "pre-school" graduation. But it wasn't your classic K or Pre-K, capped and gowned graduation. It was a line up (literally) of 6 of Seattle's cutest 2 and 3 year olds, finishing their tiny dixie cup of snack crackers, while their equally cute Chinese teacher handed out giant "completion certifications"...all while the tune of Pomp and Circumstance played on her little boom box. This proud mom had eyeballs full of shiny tears. Partly because Lucy was the first name she called to get her certificate (so I say she finished "first" in her class. I'm terrible!); partly because there is another little girl Josie who is just as shy as Lucy but they keep coming and have inspired me to do so; partly for Nico and Heath, twin boys who were born on the same day as Lucy, who are leaps and bounds ahead of Lucy in size and vocabulary (at least in Mandarin!). I have come to know these kids and am so proud of them when the light "clicks" on and they do what the teacher asks in Chinese! However, I was mostly teary because Lucy had an awesome last day of class: no crying, participating with EVERY activity, lining up for snack without me, asking for her crackers and water IN CHINESE (she's only been exposed to the phrase 278 times or so!!). And this terrible mom forgot her camera!! (Photos provided by our teacher!) Even the phone was in the car. So I had to just watch and grin from ear to ear, basking in my own little moment of pride. And love. Our teacher, Wenxing Ayi, is so wonderful (not the same teacher I complained about last summer), I was even feeling sad that we weren't going to see her for a few months, as she is going home to China for the summer. All of this was in my brain and heart during those few minutes of Sir Edward Elgar's March #1!