GYM BAG UPDATE

After a week and a day of searching for it, Kolina's gym bag mysteriously turned up on her hook at school. I'm still miffed that some kid took it as a joke, but totally relieved that I won't have to fork out money for new running shoes.

THE GOOD OL' CATHOLIC CHURCH

I had to laugh to myself yesterday. I was reading about the actor Mark Wahlberg and his girlfriend, who are planning to get married. Mark is apparently a Catholic (funny, I'd always thought he was Jewish with that name, but I digress). Mark's girlfriend (she made such a good impression on me that I can't remember her name) is non-denominational. She is currently, out of love for Mark, learning all about the Catholic faith and is preparing to be baptised, so that they can be married properly in the eyes of God and start their married life together in faith, etc. Mark is apparently so proud of his girlfriend. All well and good, but I wonder what the Catholic Church thinks about them having two childrend...OUT OF WEDLOCK??? That means they...gasp...had sex before they were married! Isn't that supposed to be a sin?

How hypocritical can you get?

CHESTNUTS ROASTING BY AN OPEN FIRE...

Some of you will be thrilled to know that Old Man Winter decided to pay us a visit after all. Since last night, we've had 20 cm of snow dumped on us. As a result, two big branches of our lovely already-in-blossom magnolia tree came down under the weight of the snow, which is real heavy stuff and really gross. Hard to believe we were outside in T-shirts last week. However, it's supposed to rain tomorrow and by Sunday it's supposed to be 12°. Freaky weather by all accounts.

Quick addition to the Kolina Chronicles: she came home from school yesterday and told us her bag with her gym clothes in it had been stolen. I was so pissed off! There go a pair of sweat pants (her favourites of course), a T-shirt and a pair of running shoes. Like I'm made of money? I tell you, I was THIS close to taking a sawed-off shot gun to the school and commiting a Columbine-type shooting.

Sometimes I feel like taking Andy and the kids and going to a deserted island where I can eat coconuts, weave fishing nets out of palm fronds and make seashell necklaces for the rest of my life.

KOLINA CHRONICLES PART 2

Oooops. Forgot to post an update on Kolina's possible first kiss. It didn't happen. But she enjoyed seeing Pingu again (who I have since found out is called Manuel)(but is nothing like the Fawlty Towers Manuel).

Since then, we've had our hands full with her. Or should I say, to do with her. Let's start with last Monday. A trip to the orthodontist. Since she had a bad accident 16 months ago, the whole getting braces thing was put on hold while her mouth healed and we were what was going on with the damaged teeth. The dentist told Andy that it looks like the two front teeth are disintigrating inside the gum and that once Kolina has finished growing, like around the age of 17, the teeth will have to be pulled out and she'll get implants. Ugh! Just the thought! I feel so sorry for her and can't believe that that accident has caused so much continuous damage. It makes my heart bleed for her, knowing what she'll eventually have to go through.

On that same day, we had a parent/teacher interview to discuss where Kolina will be going to high school in the fall. Let me explain first about the Zurich secondary school system. It sucks. There are two levels, called A and B. The smart kids go to level A and the "others" go into B. Kolina will be going into B, but we knew that and are happy with it. She's not a great student, good grades do not come easy for her and she will be in classes with kids who are like her. Now, apart from A and B, two classes are divided yet again into 3 groups: 1, 2 and 3. Group 1 is for the best students, 2 is for average students and 3 is for the "scholastically challenged" kids. This is where Kolina will be going for math. Again, not a surprise. For French she will be in group 2. As if all this is not confusing and segregating enough, the kids can change groups 3 times a year. If they work hard and get good grades, they can move up a level. If they don't, they go down a level. Talk about putting stress on them! Honestly, I think the Swiss live for stress. They're not happy unless they're stressed. I repeat: it sucks, in my opinion. But there you go, that's how it is and I can do anything to change it. I can be there for my daughter, I can help her, I can incourage her. So other than finding out where Kolina will be places, we were given a slap in the face when we were told that socially speaking, our daughter is an outcast. She's been labelled an outsider. This because she doesn't have any real girl friends in the class. That is because most of the girls belong to a popular click and the "leader" of this click (who I cannot STAND) actively shuts Kolina out. Apparently this is Kolina's fault. The one good friend she does have, Kristina, is also good friends with another girl in the class, Pascale. Pascale is totally jealous of Kolina being friends with Kristina and is really mean to Kolina, hoping she'll have Kristina to herself. Apparently this is also Kolina's fault. So, because no one wants her, or has the guts to stand up for her, she goes and plays soccer with the boys, who accept her and let her play with them. Or she goes and jumps rope with yougner kids. Apparently this means my child is backwards socially. Andy and I sat at the meeting with our mouths wide open and were pretty much speechless. I had to dig my nails into my palms so I wouldn't burst into tears on the spot. And the best part of all this was: Kolina was with us and heard all this. She must have felt like a million bucks. We knew that she didn't really hang out with anyone, but that it was this bad....I wonder why we weren't informed sooner, if it was that big of a deal. Once home, we talked it over and we all ended up crying. I felt so sorry for her. And I'm wondering if the reason she's been so difficult at home is because she's letting out all her sorrow and frustration out. And we've been punishing her for her "bad" behaviour. Once we calmed down and slept on it, Andy and I have gotten angry. We're furious with the teacher for his remarks and we don't think that Kolina has problems socially. Everyone we know says how outgoing and friendly she is. And so she plays soccer with the boys, so what? At least she helped herself and found someone to play with. And why the fuck is it only her fault? Why aren't the other bitches in her class being spoken to? Oh yes, we're angry. And we're in the midst of composing a letter to the teacher to tell him our "thoughts." Since then, we've told Kolina repeatedly that we are proud of her, that we do not think she's antisocial and we're perfectly OK with her playing with boys if that's what she wants to do at recess. We did encourage her to try and make friends with the other girls, because other than the bossy leader, Kolina likes the other girls and would like to be with them sometimes. My very good friend Gaby's daughter Jasmin belongs to this click. Through her, I've found out that this bossy girl is a bitch to everyone, but no one stands up to her. Jasmin said if Kolina wants to hang out with her and the other girls at recess, she should just come over, and if anyone says anything, Jasmin will tell them off. Jasmin also told me that the "in" girls went and told the teacher on Pascale for being mean to Kolina. Funny, he never mentioned that to us.

And the final chapter in today's Kolina Chronicles prooves that she's NOT socially incompetant. Just last week, a 12-year-old boy called her and asked her to "go" with him. OK, he's the local deliquant, but still! Thank goodness she turned him down because she is forbidden to have anything to do with him. He's 12, but has been kicked out of every school in Niederhasli. He also smokes, brags about the fights he's been in, and rumour has it he's a bit weird in the sexuality department. The story I heard involved a boys' shower. Enough said. I don't even want to go there. So needless to say, he is NOT considered boyfriend material!

So that's it. You're all up-to-date. Enjoy the potty training!

GROWING UP

While Sue is writing about the trials and tribulations about toilet training, I'm kind of at the other end of the spectrum. All of you readers out there with little girls, take notice: it ain't easy letting them grow up. I'm convinced that raising boys is easier than raising girls. I'm not implying that it's a piece of cake with boys, because I know the time will come when Dylan drives me to distraction. But on the whole, I believe boys are easier. They're not bitchy and two-faced and back-stabbing like girls can be (all you parents of girls are thinking what right I have to say such things and THEY'RE little girls will NEVER be bitchy, two-faced or back-stabbing. However, I speak from experience. As soon as your little angels start school, they too will change). Boys get into fights, sure, but they tend to blow up, maybe get physical, then it's over. No holding grudges. Later, when they become teenagers, they become sullen, angry and silent, maybe a bit more physical, but I don't think they go through the same heart-breaking time as girls. Luckily Kolina isn't quite that far. There have been no tears over boys and luckily she has a great little body and doesn't bawl her eyes out because she thinks she's fat. Actually, this is not what I had planned to blog about today! It just kind of spilled out. The actual subject was: "I Think Kolina's Getting Her First Kiss Tomorrow." Kolina's very good friend Adrienne is having a birthday party tomorrow. She turned 13 today. She has a 16-year-old brother called Dominic. Last summer, Kolina spent the day with Adrienne and they went to a pool. Dominic and a couple of his friends joined them. When we picked Kolina up that evening, she was gushing about a friend of Dominic's whose name I do not know, but everyone calls him Pingu. Whatever. Kolina thought he was cute and she and Adrienne no doubt discuss him frequently. Earlier today, I called Adrienne to say Happy Birthday and to tell her Kolina is really looking forward to the party tomorrow. They're going bowling. And since Dominic is going too, he's allowed to bring a friend. You guessed it: Pingu. Adrienne told me that last summer, the gang of them were playing some game at the pool which Kolina lost. Apparently she had taken a dare and hasn't "cashed it in" yet. Apparently Pingu remembers what the dare was and is planning on collecting. The dare was for Kolina to kiss Pingu. Kolina hasn't mentioned it, although she knows Pingu will also be bowling tomorrow. I bet she's forgotten. Adrienne begged me not to tell Kolina, which I agreed to. I wish I could be a fly on the wall at that bowling alley!

(I remember being in Grade 6 and playing Spin the Bottle at a party and "having" to kiss a boy who I had a crush on. Secretly I was thrilled, but of course played it cool and acted like it was SUCH a waste of my time. Lisa, that was at a party at Robbie Waddell's house and I had to kiss JAMES TAYLOR!)

So you see Sue and Lisa, your time will come. By then I will no doubt have written a book on the subject. You guys will of course get a free copy!

TWO WEEKS LATER...

Now that Miss Stephanie is back from her travels, I will be spending my usual amount of time at the computer and therefore re-join the blogging world.