Preschool and kindergarten are combined in the Ukrainian school system, with kids having the same teacher, classroom and classmates from the time they start preschool until the time they move on to primary school.
But Dietrich was the second-youngest in his class last year, and he missed the cutoff for primary school by two days. We're thankful that he gets one more year in a less-formal setting to practice his Ukrainian, but it means that he joined a class that has been together for the past three years. He's not entirely alone in this; about six other kids from his old class also are taking another year of kindergarten.
The new class is big. Thirty-seven kids. One teacher. One helper. They've asked anyone who can to pick up their child after lunch, because there aren't enough beds for naptime. (Dietrich stopped napping three years ago, so I've been picking him up around lunchtime since he started school, and I'm thrilled that it's now officially sanctioned. I'm no longer a weird-o, at least when it comes to pick-up time.) The teacher has warned us that she won't be sending home homework unless it's specifically requested, and she won't be hanging up artwork because it would take too long.
She also strongly suggested that we abandon candy and juice boxes for birthdays, and bring cake instead.
In my family of origin, birthdays mean chocolate. My mom has been making the same rich, moist chocolate cake for as long as I can remember. When Eric and I started to get serious, she passed the recipe along to me in a little book called "My Keepsake Recipes." Our wedding cake? White on the outside, mom's chocolate cake on the inside.
However, in Dietrich's new class, no chocolate allowed! Too many parents don't allow their kids to eat chocolate, the teacher explained.
So, Dietrich ended up with two cakes, one to suit his classmates' tastes, and one to suit my tastes.
Ukrainians often comment on how sweet we Americans like our desserts, so I knew I needed something with a bit less sugar. And Ukrainians are excellent at cooking with whatever currently is in season. In September, raspberries are plentiful. So, I made a blueberry muffin recipe, substituted raspberries and poured the batter into a cake pan.
It turned out UGLY. Cracked and crumbly. So, in an effort to cover up the cracks, I added the "6."
Also, remember? Thirty-seven kids! This cake would serve about 12 kids, so I also sent cupcakes. (Or, as we would call them, muffins. And then we would eat one for breakfast.)
And just for comparison's sake, here is the chocolate cake.
Which would you rather eat?
