Study of a gan party

Last night Eden's gan marked the end of the year by throwing a party. Sometimes I come to these things as a participant, throwing my Ivrit and Israeli parenting skills around like a pro. Other times, I am the American parent of an Israeli child, watching as Eden participates in some experience that I never had, do not know what to expect from, nor what she can expect. Its all new to me.

I would have expected some sort of graduation ceremony, in little purple caps and gowns. But that's just me.

Eden's gan party was themed on Israel - the country, the symbols, the colors, etc. It was kind of like independence day all over again - in fact, it was a better independence day party than their Independence Day party was. It was a birthday party for Eretz Yisrael, complete with Kova Tembel, old songs, pita and falafel, and general disorder.

They did have some great things, played lots of music, acting out the songs. At one point, they laid out a large map of the country and had the kids put trees on it, then houses, then streets, then bridges. It was really nice how they had the kids themselves building the country.



Eden placed a bridge down on a road:



They also celebrated Israel's birthday by bringing a present. After all, what is a birthday without a present? And the best present of course is peace, shalom. It came jumping out of a big box with a ribbon in the form of a parachute, blue and white.

If only.

Eden is really going to miss these kids. She's made some good friends (she calls them "my kids") - some of whom will be continuing on with her next year at her new gan.
These are pictures of Eden with her friends Yuval (the girl) and Lior (the boy) - who will both be going to different gans next year, then different schools, and only maybe will we see them around town some time.
When Eden started gan 2 years ago, Yuval was a skinny little girl who wouldn't let the pacifier out of her mouth and cried whenever anyone looked at her. She and Eden have become great friends. As wonderful as its been watching Eden grow older, its really amazing watching some of these other kids get big too. Apparently Eden has been teaching Yuval some English. She now tells her big brother, "Stop!"

There is always the other side to the night, namely that they didnt put food out until 7:30 ish or so, and that it included Coke! At 7:30 PM for 3 year olds! And that there was one little boy there who has always been a troublemaker, who was pushing another little girl and making her cry about every 15 minutes (Eden included, and Eden is a tough kid). We came home really tired, but all in all pretty happy. I'm sure that Eden has almost only good memories of Gan Ofir, even if I have some that are mixed.

Going to be a little proud

So I have something to be proud of today. The woman who runs Eden's gan told Ben the other day that Eden is one of the best behaved kids in the class, and that she wishes all the kids could be like Eden.

And that (here's the clincher) its clear that Eden comes from a very stable home.

As a mom who does not see her daughter for most of the day (save hours between 5 and 8ish PM), this is one of the most meaningful and wonderful things a day care teacher could say. Anyone could say for that matter. Its encouragement that no matter what other people say about working moms, it can work, and that somehow we are doing it right.

We mentioned this at a dinner with Ben's parents and my grandmother who is visiting from the States. They of course were very proud also - because of course in order to create such a stable home we must have come from stable homes ourselves :)

Looking back, high school was some of my worst years. But at the end of the day, my parents provided support and love, confidence and stability. Despite our both having made aliyah straight out of high school, despite going away to high school (in my case a few different high schools), despite any difficulties we may have had or still have with money, religion, friends, relatives, our own inefficiencies and self confidence issues, we must somehow be ok. You always wonder about that.

It kind of really makes it all worth it - no more guilt this week. And gan teachers are angels :)