a letter from noras nursery teacher

Hi Virginia,
Hopefully you can open the photo of my oldest son so you see why this next statement is true...
I know all too well, the curls get Nora noticed, but maybe people don't always see the person as readily whose head sports such beautiful curls.


I want to share a BIG moment with you that Nora had today. I don't think it was just a mature moment or even a personality moment. I think it was a sweet Christlike moment that is her becoming who she will be.


First, I have to share a hard things so you know why it was a big moment.
Lydia and Nora are the only girls in Nursery. For many months it was obvious if you watched them closely that they didn't care for each other. They actually make mad faces at each other and take toys they may see the other one eyeing. Lydia always goes for the baby stroller and Nora always goes for the grocery cart, thank goodness, but many Sundays one or both of them would purposefully hit the others stroller with theirs.


Such sweet little girls, it was odd yet amusing somehow to witness a territorial thing happening between 18-24 month olds for seemingly no cause. I was careful to intervene quickly and show affection to both equally.


So the big moment today was this....I lost count but I think four different times something went wrong for Lydia today, normal toddler-hood events and NORA quietly and un-intrusively as possible reached out to her. It was so beautiful.
The last instance was so precious and obvious to me that Nora was purposefully trying to be kind to Lydia. 
Lydia was dancing in the bubbles I blew and stumbled and fell. She was holding a little plastic heart and when she fell it pinched her thumb. She cried and ran to Sister Alley (her favorite person) who picked her up. Nora immediately picked up Lydia's ruby shoe that fell off and ran to Sister Alley and placed it by her feet and then quickly almost ran away.


Another time they were coloring their pictures with their own 4 crayons each, when Cam got excited and flung his hands around making Lydia's crayons roll away. Nora quick as a mouse picked them up and placed them by Lydia then went back to her own coloring, but watched to see if Lydia noticed. 


During our lesson we took objects from a bag, one was a plastic heart representing "love". Cam drew it from the bag, and held it, but soon Lydia and Cam were tugging over it. It opens so I pulled it apart and gave a 1/2 to each, before there were pushing or tears. Nora was there expecting a piece, but looked right at Lydia as Lydia's frown turned to a smile now that she had a half and seeing the smile, Nora smiled at Lydia and walked back to her chair. She is so unselfish. I could tell she wanted the heart too, but was happy for Lydia.


What a special little girl you have Virgina!