Saturday, August 23, 2008

What's in a Name?

I had to write an assignment for one of my classes about my name--how I got it, what it means, etc. I decided to share it here.

Many years before I made my screaming debut into this world, my parents thought of my name, Katrina Ann, yet it wasn’t with me in mind. They had decided that they would name my older sister Katrina Ann. After some thought my mom decided that name would be a mouthful for a child to utter so they decided Sandra Dee would be the better fit.
Two years later when my mom was pregnant with me, my dad was fixated on naming me Brian James if I were a boy and Brenda Jean if I were a girl so he could call his second born “BJ” regardless of gender. Thankfully, when my mom laid eyes on me for the first time, she did not think that I looked like a Brenda Jean. Whatever that means. I mean, who actually looks or doesn’t look like a certain name. Doesn’t the name suit its recipient over time anyway? But I digress. Some discussions were had and the original name for my older sister reentered their thoughts and I became Katrina Ann Hutchinson. In some ways I am thankful. What girl would survive middle school with the name “BJ” without some derogatory comments or teasing?
So, Katrina I was. It wasn’t a bad name; however, my dad wanted to nickname me Trina. Even at three and four years old I didn’t like the name, nor did I think it fit. It reminded me of a choo choo train. I think I can. I think I can. Chugga, chugga, choo choo!! What could I do, though? It was my name. It’s not like I could change it…or could I?
The first day of first grade, my sister, Sandi (it turns out that Sandra was a mouthful too), took me to my classroom and I met Ms. Reese, my teacher, for the first time. Shyly I clung to my sister as the introduction was made until Ms. Reese crouched down and said, “Katrina, huh? Do you go by Katrina or would you like to go by something else?” Something else? I thought. I did have a choice. She began rattling off other nicknames. Trina. Yuck! Kate. Maybe, but it still didn’t seem right. Katie. That’s it!!! It was the perfect fit. I went through the day being called Katie and enjoying every minute. Why hadn’t I thought of that before? That afternoon, I returned home and informed my parents with an illustrative stomp of my tiny foot that my name was Katie and I would no longer answer to any other name. And Katie I was.
Then, in seventh grade, something happened. In Mrs. Bernstein’s science class I was one of five Katies in the class. Not only were there so many Katies, but three of us spelled it K-A-T-I-E while the other two spelled it K-A-T-Y. Our papers were constantly being confused and I heard Mrs. Bernstein grumble something about it would be nice if each of us had our own unique way of spelling the name so it would be easier to accurately keep track of our grades. So, as I was typing a report one day, I made a typo when typing my name. K-A-I-T-I. With Mrs. Bernstein’s words echoing in my mind, I decided that would be the new spelling for my name. I mean, it was a nickname anyway so nothing was really binding me to the spelling I had used in early childhood.
Eventually, I met and married the man of my dreams and my last name was changed to Lewitt. That was the day that brought me to the name I answer to today, Kaiti Lewitt—a name that was 100% my choosing. I chose the nickname when I was six, the spelling of it when I was twelve and my new last name when I was twenty-one. This name represents me, who I am, what I’ve been through, and my independence. It’s not just a name bestowed upon me by someone with no indication of my personality. It is a name that I chose piece-by-piece over the course of my life that reflects where I am from, who I am, and who I was meant to be. Kaiti Lewitt. That’s me.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Better Late Than Never: Lexi's First Day of 1st Grade

I'm behind on posting pictures. Lexi's first day, as I'm sure many of you want to know, was a success. She woke up with a smile on her face excited to put on her dress that she picked out weeks before for the occasion. Of course, Abby didn't want to miss the action so she got up too. I helped Lexi get dressed and did her hair the way she wanted (pigtails). Not to be left out, Abby too wanted to get dressed and get HER hair done. All the while Stefan was cooking the (what has become annual tradition) first day breakfast of pancakes.

Per her request, Lexi wanted us to take her on the first day which we were happy to oblige.





Once at school, she was fine until she entered her classroom. That is when she became pretty shy and was resistant to let us leave - I mean the chin trembling looking like she was ready to come unglued-type shy She had not done this in kindergarten or Pre-K, so this was kind of weird for us. Eventually, the teacher helped us with our exit by distracting Lexi's attention and we were off!





On the way out of the school Abby looked at me and asked, "Where's Sissy?" I explained that Sissy was at school. "Oh," she not-so-convincingly replied. All day long Abby continued with the same question, getting the same answer, and giving the same not-so-convincing reply.





And the same routing continued the next day.





When will this stop? Knowing Abby's persistent nature, it will go on until next Summer. I hope my nerves can take it!

Friday, August 01, 2008

Lexi Lewitt, First Grader

It's official. As of this morning, Lexi is a true, honest-to-goodness first grader. We fought the madness for her sneak-a-peak this morning. This is a zoo-like event in which the school attempts to make an organized effort of getting the school year started. They herd the hoards of parents and children through the cafeteria like cattle. The purpose? This is the time that you find out your child's teacher for the next school year and get bombarded by the PTA soccer moms to join their cult.

Once through the cafeteria and armed with the knowledge of who will be feeding Lexi's brain for the next 10 months, we proceeded to Mrs. Glenn's first grade classroom. Walking through the halls, Lexi was fine. Entering her new classroom, however, she clammed up into a fit of shyness. I swear my rear must smell nice because that is where she hides when she's nervous. Mrs. Glenn introduced herself although Lexi was still in her safe zone. We had to fill out the required mountain of paperwork that asks for the same info (child's name, parent's name, address, phone number, blah, blah) on each page as though the form's creator actually believes you may move residences in between filling out the forms.

Lexi was given a goody bag which was a thorn in Abby's backside. Abby wanted one too! While I was filling out the forms in a desk well-suited for someone Tinkerbell's size, I was eavesdropping on conversations throughout the room. I was quite amused to hear the uppity parents bragging about this and that. I cannot tell you how many times I heard the same guy explain to his first grader that they need to go so they could meet the teacher at the student's younger sibling's preschool which happens to be one of the nicest, most expensive schools in the area. Ironically, said school is located directly across the street from our neighborhood, but that's neither here nor there. Anyway, this father was not saying it just for his own kids' benefits but for everyone else's, too. "We need to go (Insert child's name here) we have to go meet brother's teacher at THE GODDARD SCHOOL," he'd say. "We're going to be late at THE GODDARD SCHOOL," he'd reiterate. I heard those words part his lips a minimum of 5 times. Enough already! I get it! Your other child is going to the GODDARD SCHOOL! Point taken. Now shut up. Elitist parents, sheesh!

Anyway, that's done. Lexi has already told me that she wants us to drive her on Monday and she'll ride the bus from then on. That's fine. I can't believe it. Lexi Lewitt, First Grader (at last). Where has the time gone? Next thing you know we'll be doing this with Abby. Oy!