No teacher was more considerate and kindly

In around 1863, the young Tchaikovsky - then 23 - began to study with Nikolai Rubinstein, an intimidating force of a man who was also the director of the Conservatoire in Saint Petersburg. According to Herman Laroche, Rubinstein's potent personality "inspired us students with unbounded affection, mingled with not a little awe. In reality no teacher was more considerate and kindly, but his forbidding appearance, his hot temper and roughness, added to the glamour of his European fame, impressed us profoundly." And yet, while Tchaikovsky venerated his teacher, Rubinstein was relatively unimpressed with the pupil who would later become so successful. As Laroche put it, "It is not difficult to understand this, because Tchaikovsky's artistic growth was perfectly normal and equal, and quite devoid of any startling developments."

Which may be why, in turn, Tchaikovsky's parents did not receive weekly e-mailed reports on this progress in school. Or perhaps that was because the Conservatoire was simply no Bolton Hill Nursery. Because, after all, we do get wonderful, and wonderfully regular, reports of Cleo's ups and downs. And yet, despite the gap of 150 years, and the technological chasm that lies between us and them, it sometimes seems that not that much has changed. For Exhibit A, see the report that landed in our box a few moments ago:

Cleo doesn’t get in trouble often. She had a strong sense of right and wrong and is very hesitant to cross those lines. Well, last week she got lost in her thought and started drawing on the floor. Ms Kelly told her to stop. Cleo was taken back and needed to calm down in book nook for a little. She immediately felt very bad for her mistake and Ms Kelly was quick to remind her not to worry and that it was a mistake and she is a lovely and magnificent powerful girl. Cleo has been having a lot of fun helping to save the land of Zamonia from the dark forces of Reginald Fortwasher. A lot of our projects these past two weeks have worked to help build the world of these stories. Cleo got a lot out of watching her creations become contributions to a greater environment that we built together. She’s been a lot more vocal with the girls lately too, showing off dance moves and telling goofy stories.

Perfectly normal and equal, right? And deeply admiring, as well, of a teacher who is considerate and kindly, and who inspires our daughter with her unbounded affection.

The names change, but, happily, much in the development of our children remains the same.