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so there i was seated in the waiting room at my kid's ballet class. seven's class. one of the other parents had just asked me what my kid liked to do in her spare time. besides ballet. hmmm, let's see. there's swim lessons. and cooking class. and art class. and t-ball. and soccer come july. a rather impressive list. or so i thought. and what about your daughter, i inquired. hmmm, let's see. there's ballet, of course. and swimming. and cooking. and art. and t-ball. and soccer. and skiing. and guitar. and gymnastics. and that's when i realized it. that's when i realized that i can't compete. not in this neighbourhood, anyway. not with this crowd. and so i began to feel sorry for seven. because this is the neighbourhood that she will grow up in. and these are the kids that she will compare herself to. and this is how she will be judged by her peers. and whether it is fair or proper or even important is not really the issue. because these are the laws in this jungle. and seven never asked for any of this.

"little girls are cute and small only to adults. to one another they are not cute. they are life-sized." - margaret atwood

notice how he spells his name with a "y": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMe7WdK-XKo