I allowed Mary to look at the crayons I bought her for kindergarten.  But, no, I told her, she may not use them yet.  She has to wait until we start school.

So there she is, sighing and smiling over the big, beautiful box of neatly sharpened colorful Crayolas – do you remember what that was like? – and she says, “Oh, I can’t wait to go to school!”

I noted her interesting word choice, but merely agreed with an “mmm.”

“I suppose I’ll make lots of new friends,” she said, with a sideways look at me.

“Mary,” I said, “Where did Fritz go to kindergarten?”

“I don’t know,” she said.  And since she hadn’t even been born, I guess it was a rather silly question.

“Where did Peter go to kindergarten?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” she persisted in trying to prove her ignorance on such matters.

“I’m sorry, honey,” I said, gently.  “We’re a homeschool family.  You’ll do kindergarten right there at the dining room table.”