Tonight I helped my three year old daughter with her first ever homework assignment.  She was to place 3 things in a bag that described her. 

Brett and I brain stormed earlier in the day suggesting things she might be able to bring in for this mini show and tell adventure.  Finally after dinner, bath, and some extensive dancing in her brand new blue leotard and hair brushing, because suddenly she's decided she loves brushing her hair (that came out of left field!) Ellen and I sat on the couch with the bag and the instruction note from school.

I asked her, if someone had never met Ellie Batson, what would she tell them about her?  What are her favorite things in the world?  Toys, clothes, food, cartoons...  I gave her many ideas.  We all three agreed, something BALLET!  Ellen right away suggested a leotard, but afraid she'd strip in class to demo it, I convinced her to instead place her play, princess ballet shoes in the bag... not her real ones.

So what next?

She began randomly suggesting things.  A Brush!  No, I told her, she had only decided tonight that she likes her hair brushed, most days it goes without any brushing at all.  Then she shouted out "ponies!" because she saw her Barbie horse.  Okay I thought, but what else?   "Lincoln Logs," she decided.  Again, the barrel of logs sitting next to Barbie's horse.

I offered a book.  She loves The Wisdom Of Kittens, and also loved reading Sneakers the chapter book about a cat.  She shot me down.  Next I mentioned crayons.  Ellen does love to color.  Still a no. 

Suddenly, almost like seeing the light bulb go off, she understood the mission.  

"A Flower!"

YES!!!  My Kingdom YES!  Nothing says Ellie like a flower!

Great!  We jumped off the couch!  She grabbed her ballet shoes and placed them in the bag!  We went for her latest bouquet of flowers in the window vase, but then I suggested we wait until morning so it doesn't die.

So one more thing....   

"LaLee," she said with a very proud grin.

Yes, my girl, yes.  LeLee it perfect.

We folded up her LaLee (her white blankey burp cloth she carries every where) and placed it in the bag.

My girl did it.  I helped her get started and she took the reins!  She did this assignment all by herself, and that makes me even more proud of her at this moment, then I was a few hours ago.

I love her.  

She makes it all worth doing.

And she's sleeping snug as a bug, in her bed... in her new blue tutu'd leotard