Our new world!
So far, my kids are ROCKING their new lives in DC:
When we left Nairobi, there were a few things I was very sad to leave behind. Namely, JKM Dance -- Zahra's ballet studio; Kitisuru Riding and Rescue -- the kids' horseback riding classes; and Lasona, their amazing little preschool. (Also the weather and the pool and of course, our friends, the elephants, the beach and the PARTIES!!! :-))
But, my biggest concern was their preschool. We worked so hard to find the right school for Zahra and Jari. And once we found it, we were able to give Zahra such a wonderful PreK experience. She came home happy, covered in mud, thrilled about her day. For Jari, there couldn’t have been a better introduction to school than playing outside in a garden with chickens and rabbits!
And I was very concerned that our move to DC would pull Jari out of his happy nature school and leave him stuck in an academic environment for PreK4. I felt like he was the one losing out the most in our move because, not only was he leaving everything he knew -- he was only nine months old when we moved to Kenya, but he wasn’t going to benefit the way Zahra did from our relentless search for the perfect nursery school.
And yet, somehow we were able to find the most amazing, wonderful school for him in Washington DC that was more perfect than I could have imagined.
A school where he plays outside everyday: sledding, swinging, and running around.... a school where he is legit getting excited about learning... and a school were he’s making great friends! This is the first time in his life where he’s really making his own little besties and not just hanging out with his big sister’s friends. He goes to school beaming each day and I pick him up in the afternoons with a big smile on his face! We could not be happier.
The emphasis on outside time, for a 4-year-old was what we wanted the most. And while going outside in all kinds of weather in Nairobi is one thing, going outside in all kinds of weather in DC is something else. I couldn't have been happier on Tuesday and Wednesday when I went to pick him up and, despite the snow and rain, I heard sounds of laughter and fun when I walked down the street. Both afternoons, despite the cold and questionable weather and threat of snow squalls, kids were outside running around, having fun, and enjoying the school's gorgeous playground.
But today we woke up to 9F ( - 12.8C) before the windchill factor. I actually hesitated in sending him to school at all. I didn’t want to go outside, nevermind sending off my 4-year-old who pulls off his jacket every chance he gets. But off he went.
And so did Zahra, walking half a mile to school in the below freezing temperatures. She wasn’t nearly as prepared as one of her classmates.
And so, I was thrilled when his school posted on facebook that they set up an obstacle course inside the school! They also played with balls and parachutes so that the kids could get in their movement and have some fun!
They just totally understand what kids who are 3, 4, and 5 need! I'm so happy that Jari's first year in DC has been so wonderful and that, even when he moves on next year, he'll forever be part of this wonderful little school community. On Saturday, his school hosted a pancake breakfast, complete with an amazing balloon maker, face painting, and live music. Kids came dressed in their pajamas. Jari and Zahra had a wonderful time. We’re so grateful this school has been part of our DC experience. I really think, watching Jari fall in love with school and come into his own, has been the highlight of our first year here.
AND, while we may not have found a way to get the kids back into horseback riding -- that’s still on my list but it’s ridiculous expensive and the experiences young children can have are somewhat limited at our nearby stables...
After many months, we have finally found a sweet little dance school for Zahra!
Her dance studio in Kenya was such a highlight of our time there. I could go on and on, and I have, about what a difference it made walking into that studio our first week in Nairobi. After a day or two alone with a 9-month-old and a 2.5-year-old, where we’d hit up multiple disappointments, and were still jet-lagged and adjusting... it just felt so normal, so wonderful, and so perfectly appropriate. Zahra joined a class with several other 2.5 and 3-year-olds and we never looked back. Her weekly dance classes were where we first started making friends who helped us navigate Nairobi. We learned about doctor’s offices and playgroups. Later, her dance studio is where Zahra and her dance friends watched from backstage while the big kids prepped for rehearsal. It’s where I sat in empty auditoriums with other parents, watching and chatting as dress rehearsals went on forever.
It was some of the most normal, sane moments I had in Nairobi. And such a beautiful part of Zahra’s early childhood. Jari grew up hanging out outside of Zahra’s classes. Despite buying him tap shoes at age 2, he was never into it. But every week he’d come with us and hang out and wait while she danced. And so, when we moved to DC, we wanted to find something similar. It took a while. But finally we found a really sweet new studio where there aren’t performances twice a year and Zahra won’t be taking ballet and tap, but the vibe felt right. On Saturday, Zahra starts hip hop classes (which she chose after sampling ballet, modern jazz, and hip hop this past Saturday after some face-painting) and we couldn’t be more excited!
At six, turning seven, she needs the movement and freedom. The studio feels right. The teacher seems fantastic. And we’re so excited to see if she builds a new community out of the dance school! If she doesn’t, it’s fine. But either way I think it’s going to be a wonderful new experience for her. It’s been nine months since we left Nairobi. There have been times where Zahra and Jari have these tiny little moments of sadness or regret. Yesterday, when I picked Zahra up from school, she looked at me for just a minute and said, “Mama, I really miss my friends from Kenya right now.” Within thirty seconds she was off and running with her new friends from school, not looking back. But that moment was still real. There are times, especially when it’s as cold as it is right now, when they wish we were in our compound and it was sunny and warm and we could meet their friends at the pool. But they couldn’t be more excited that on Saturday we’re going snow-tubing and next weekend Jari has two birthday parties. I don’t know how long we’ll be in DC or what the future holds, but for now, we’re figuring it out!












