23/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2016."

Stella: I can't believe how well you're doing at your new school. Though you tell me you don't want to go to school, you walk towards the bus stop happily chatting about your day. Then trundle off on the bus without complaint. You went on a field trip to the zoo and were up at the crack of dawn, too excited to sleep. You came home brimming with stories of elephants and bears. I watched you one evening playing your heart out with two little kids who go to your school, and you did just fine even though you didn't share a language. You are picking up key play phrases and navigating the social world just fine. Sure there's been moments fraught with anxiety and some pretty intense feelings (and boy those moments have been difficult) but I have a feeling you'll be just fine.

Hugo: You're getting your two-year-old molars and you've been pretty unhappy about that. Thankfully they haven't impacted your sleep much (so far!) but you've really been clingy and sad during the days.