Ode to Pyrate as she Turns 5

Pyrate turned five this week. Here's what I have to say about her:

She is an excellent problem-solver. She is endlessly curious. She loves language and relishes new words. Some of her favorites are devour, camouflage, inappropriate, hilarious. Just since Wednesday, when she turned five, she has decided that five-year-olds are more helpful and responsible, that they have more self control and can stop themselves from making bad choices, and that they are kind and polite, offering encouragement, compliments and showing a great deal of courtesy in general. I had no idea five could be such a gift to me! She is a sweet and caring sister who likes to help out with as much as she can; getting her sister down from her booster seat, helping to calm her before her nap, teaching Pepper new words and skills. Also, sometimes she is a brute who lays her sister out flat, but what are you gonna do?

Her favorite activities are usually centered around pretend play. Lots of dolls and tea parties or dolls being captured and needing to escape. She still does some dress up and loves to make up games to play, with rules not so subtly slanted toward her own advantage. She is great at puzzles and can get lost in a sticker book for a long time but more often then not, seeks out my company.

She is learning to read! She's getting better at sounding out words every day and has an excellent memory for sight words. Kindergarten should be a snap for her. She can count to at least 160, and has done so in the car.

She can test my patience and push my buttons much quicker than should be possible. I'm working on it, but her turning 5 has sure helped! She has a clear sense of what justice should look like and knows how to express herself in order to achieve it. She won't hesitate to approach a stranger and tell them that they or their children have done something wrong and then recommend how she thinks it should be righted! And that's never awkward for me, thank goodness.

On her actual birthday we went to a MOMS Club outing at the beach. She played in the waves for a few hours with her friend Jack. She was very active in planning her party this year. Baking, making all decisions about decorations, insisting her pinata be a "surprise". Her party was a huge success. We had water play, snow cones, hot dogs, a pinata built like a safe and cupcakes. All the kids had a great time. So did the adults, I think. As her guests left she thanked them in her slightly melodramatic and breathy voice. Telling one guest, "Thank you. You make my dreams wonderful." And to me, "I'm glad you're in my heart. You're such a delight!"

No, Pyrate, you're the delight!