I'm not the stay-at-home-mom type. Don't misunderstand! I realize the battlelines between working and stay-at-home mothers are deep and controversial, and I am definitely *not* judging. If anything, I truly admire full-time moms, as I think their jobs are the hardest in the world. Me? I get snippy, impatient, and sometimes downright Scrooge-like with the kids. Going to work in my office is far easier.

This is why I have a huge love for teachers. I entrust my children to their care, knowing that under their guidance, my rugrats are discovering the world, growing a passion for learning, and developing into healthy, happy, good people. I can't imagine a more valuable or critical job than teaching.

So where is this all going? Well, Ellie is finally becoming a big girl, and soon, she'll be leaving the comfort of her home-based daycare to head off to "real" school. Before that happens, I felt that I had to leave a few words about her teachers -- specifically Peter, her favorite. Their relationship is hard to describe. Peter is everything -- her mentor, caretaker, and best friend all rolled into one. Consider this blogpost a tribute. And don't just take my word for it; Ellie's "What I Did Today" notes speak for themselves.

Feb 26, 2008
Linda: I think I lost Ellie to Peter. She would not leave his side today. During diaper change, she asked me, "Linda, can I go play with Peter or read a book with him before nap...please?" Sweetest thing ever! Ellie made him read tons of books during group, sit next to her during lunch, and play with her at the park on the play structure. She had a blast!

Mar 19, 2008
Linda: Ellie looked for Peter to change her diaper before nap. After waking up from nap, Ellie went looking for Peter to change her diaper again. She was on a mission, I tell you! We sang Happy Birthday to Peter, and after we were done, Ellie said, "My birthday is today, too!" We will celebrate tomorrow.

Jul 16, 2008
Linda: Peter has been hiding behind the corner after putting Ellie on the potty.

"Is someone over there?...Hellooo, is someone there?" Ellie yells from the potty. Peter peeks over, and Ellie giggles. "I knew you were over there!!"

Aug 29, 2008
Ellie: "Peter...I have a present for you!"
Peter: "Oh, what is it, Ellie?"
Ellie: "Umm...it's a present!"
(Ellie telling Peter about her present to him, a.k.a. poop in the underwear.)

Oct 2, 2008
Peter: Ellie was looking at a globe, and she asked me, "Peter, where is my house?" I used a pen to point out the area. Then Ellie continued with a long set of questions ("Where is Claire's house? Where is the park? Where are we?"), which on a globe is hard. I really wasn't moving my pen much.

Then she talked about Cinderella's castle and dress, and I asked, "Oh, you wanted to know where Disneyland was?"

"Yes," Ellie replied.

So I showed her. "You drove from here...all the way down to here."

"Wow, that's far," Ellie said.

"You were still in California," I said.

"Wow, California is big, and it doesn't look that pink here." A question mark popped on top of my head...then I noticed and explained that on this globe, they made each state and country different bright colors so you can find what you want easily.

Oct 28, 2008
Linda: Peter sang Morningtown Ride at grouptime, and Ellie sang along. It was so cute. Usually, she sings along (whispering), but today, she sang like she was doing a duet with Peter. She sat at the front, hand on Peter's knee, and she sang loudly.

Nov 20, 2008
Peter: "Ellie, do you have to go potty? I smell poop...Ellie?"
Ellie: "No...I don't wanna go."
Peter: "Ellie, let's go poop."
Ellie: "OK." (Sits on potty, and a pebble comes out.)
Peter: "Hmm...what was that? Are you sure you didn't need to go poop?"
Ellie: "Peter, I have to go poop."

Dec 12, 2008
Peter: "Ellie, do you have to go to the bathroom?"
Ellie: "No...I'm going to take a nap first, but Peter, can you wake me up in eight minutes?"
Peter: "Emm, ok, but that would be a short nap, Ellie."
Ellie: "OK...can you wake me up in three minutes?" =)

Mar 3, 2009
Linda: Ellie had so much fun with Peter today. She made him juggle, dance, and read to her, and of course, Peter did everything Ellie wanted him to do.

Mar 20, 2009
Linda: Peter read Arthur's Birthday during grouptime. Ellie exclaimed, "Peter, it's Arthur's birthday, too, just like you and me, Peter!"

Peter: Ellie was not in the mood to blow out her candles. She seemed very excited when we sang Happy Birthday, but when the apples with candles came out, she froze. For awhile, she was just staring at the flames in front of her, and the only blowing towards the candles were coming from Bryce and Evan. In the end, I told her we would blow out the candles together. That did not work. "Just blow them out, Peter," Ellie says to me.

Mar 26, 2009
"Ahhh, Peter! There's a spider on my napkin!" Ellie yelled to me while she was eating snack. Frantic, I ran over to her and asked her where it was, and Ellie pointed to it. "Right here," she said.

It was one she had made out of a cheese cracker and pretzel sticks.

Apr 14, 2009
Linda: Another lovely, silly, extra special day with Peter! Ellie is a totally different person with Peter is around. She snorts when she laughs, she babbles, and she does a lot of flash-dancing (stomping on the ground really fast with arms flailing). Her hair is also out of control from all the hugging and roughhousing.

Jun 24, 2009
Before taking nap...
Ellie: (whispering) "Peter, can you get my blankets?"
Peter: "Ok."
Ellie: (whispering) "Oh, and can you get my heart? It's not a real one...no blood, not from your inside...it's fake."
Peter: "Oh? Ok."

At the park...
Ellie: "Look, Peter, (Holding a small twig and leaf.) I'm doing homework. (Pretending to write on the leaf with the twig.) That's an A."
Peter: "That's a pretty tiny leaf. Do you think you can do your homework on it?"
Ellie: "I'm going to write extra small, but Peter, I can also write on the back." (Flips leaf over.)

Jul 6, 2009
Linda: Ellie had a tough time waking up from nap. She did a lot of kicking and ended up farting, which made Peter (the waker-upper) laugh really hard. I think the whole situation woke Ellie up because she proceeded to point the finger at Peter and blame him for the gas.

Jul 13, 2009
Ellie: "Is this school going to be here forever?"
Peter: "As long as we have kids coming here, we'll be here."
Ellie: "I think it will be here forever because there are a lot of kids still here. You also live here, silly!"
Peter: "Yes, I do, but are you going to be here forever?"
Ellie: "No, I have to go to a new school soon. Peter, I love you."
Peter: "Will you miss us, Ellie?"
Ellie: "Yes...(Long pause...) But don't worry. I'll visit when we have to pick up Bryce."