"He was NOT the tooth fairy."

Selah recently went to the dentist for the first time.

She had questions about every single device and tool, machine, sound, plastic covering and especially any pastes or gels or colored tubes. Untrusting of the tools and situation overall, Selah kept her eyes trained firmly on the assistant with the sharp, loud, scary-looking tools. I think it may have been the assistant's first day on the job. Selah made her very flustered and nervous, and she dropped several sterilized items as Selah barraged her with questions. I kept assuring Selah that the best, most helpful thing she could do was to plant her little booty down in the chair, and just let them prepare for the exam.

You never want your first-ever trip to the dentist to be a traumatic one, but alas, such is life sometimes. Selah managed to swat the dentist's hand a couple of times as he attempted to administer her first novacaine injection. (This swatting resulted in her entire left cheek and upper lip to remain numb for at least three hours, which created quite a panic.) The dentist was great with Selah, and very kind and tolerant - but I can't say the same for his patient! It was highly traumatic, but thankfully, it was over quickly...

Nothing like a traumatic dental experience to motivate a life-time flosser! She was in tears on the way home, saying, "he was definitely, definitely NOT the tooth fairy. He shouldn't have been trusted."

Third Grader!

Today was Selah's very first day at Volcano School - an arts and science charter school that is well-established, financially sound, has an excellent reputation and just TEN! Minutes! from home! We have had Selah on the waiting list for the last three years; today was a special, exciting day (for all of us).

She was appropriately exhausted like you are on your first day of anything, but seemed in great spirits and without a single complaint. I thought this to be a good sign since it's such a different environment than her last school program.

Tonite, as we were reading her bed-time Jedi story, she quite impressively and smoothly read an entire comic book aloud to me with rarely a stumble (and of course, great enthusiasm).

I said, "Jeez, Kid! You're getting so smooth, you're going to be able to read anything you want!"

To which she laughed and replied, "Let's not get crazy here!"

"I really wanted a new look...."

"...y'know, something cuter."