Okay, okay, okay, I admit it: I was wrong about Em's preschool teacher.
I still suspect she's not the brightest creature on earth; but I'm rather ashamed of myself that I still tend to assume not-bright people aren't terribly perceptive. I know plenty of near-geniuses who are completely tone-deaf to non-verbal cues; why should I be surprised that someone who's maybe never going to be Einstein gets the more important things just fine?
One day last week she asked me to pronounce Em's last name (it's pretty easy to figure out if you've had any German, but an awful lot of people haven't). I pronounced it for her; she repeated it back a few times, making sure she had it right. The next day at drop-off she repeated it, just to verify she'd remembered properly (she had).
The following day we got there late - everyone was already lining up for breakfast. Em wanted to go to the cafeteria with them, but she wanted me to carry her. Her teacher had the other students wait, and when I couldn't easily detach Em, she said "Emily, do you want to lead the line with me?" And Em went to her right away.
So maybe she knows a thing or two about shy kids after all. And maybe, eventually, I'll learn not to judge so quickly.
One of the other teachers (I don't know which one - there are four altogether in the room all day, in overlapping shifts) sent her home in a pull-up. Oh, dear. She's not quite there; and of course when the thing got wet I had to throw it out. What an ogre that made me! But I did discover the amazing power of Princesses, and promptly ordered her some real Princess underwear on-line. We also picked her up one pair of Princess underwear and three pairs of Thomas the Tank Engine underwear at Target, so she could see them and have something to think about when considering whether or not to use the potty.
She did once, on Friday when my mom was with her. Just a little. Very exciting, of course! Although she wasn't in the slightest bit interested in discussing it afterward. It's SO hard not to push when she's got all the pieces in her hands...but I don't. I ask her every once in a while if she wants to use the potty. Sometimes she'll take her diaper off and sit for a minute, then wash her hands; but nothing has come of it since Friday. So I'll just keep asking, mentioning her underwear, and trying not to make it a Big Deal.
But HOW WONDERFUL WOULD IT BE DO HAVE HER OUT OF DIAPERS???