As our food arrives, we switch the conversation to milder topics.
“How is Mira doing? How was her first day?”
“Switching from kindergarten to first grade in the middle of the school year is not recommended.” I wave my fork in the air. “I don’t know why I let myself be talked into this.”
Katherine grimaces. “It didn’t go well?”
“Oh, it went well. She made a friend. But she also got saddled with a lot of homework. Her teacher wants her to catch up with the rest of the class. When I left her with my neighbor for dinner, she was working on math problems. Addition and subtraction.”
“So, what’s the issue?” Katherine shrugs. “She’s intelligent. She already has a friend. She’ll be fine.”
“I don’t want her to stand out, Kat.” I sigh. “I want my daughter to be a normal, happy child, not some s
