First Day back

I thought the most challenging thing about going back after vacation would be waking everyone up.  Getting everyone up was easy actually. Allison said she had a stomach ache, I didn't really believe her. Everyone got dressed and ready, except Allison who said her stomach hurt and couldn't get ready- I didn't believe her. Then she said she couldn't eat breakfast because her stomach hurt. I said, "well then you are going to be very hungry today."  On the ride to school Allison said, "my stomach hurts like throwing up sickness".....again I did not believe her......until she threw up in her hands. Then I believed. What a crazy morning ensued with trying to find a last minute child care situation and clean clothes and clean the car.

  If before vacation Allison hadn't said, 'you know vacation is going to make me not want to go back to school. I will want to stay home with you when it ends. I am probably going to scream a lot on Monday when you try and take me to school", I probably would have taken her stomach complaints more serious.

  The rest of the day actually went fairly well. I do miss vacation though.

First Day of Vacation

Day one of April Vacation. I am happy to be a teacher and have this time off.  We went to Dunkies this morning, since I had no food in the house. It was nice sitting there chatting with my kids. The older woman next to us thought I was their babysitter. That made my morning. But the car engine light refused to go out so I drove it to Michael's. I am so glad he is a mechanic I honestly don't know what I would do with  out him. He plugged my car into a nifty little computer that told him that my engine had misfired. He couldn't get it to do it again and chocked it up to a mechanical "hiccup". Not too reassuring but at least it didn't cost my anything. 

 Finally we made it to Stop and Shop and they actually were fine. I couldn't believe it. They were helpful and even bagged the groceries.

  The nieghbor came over and watched a movie with them, Space Buddies-very cute, and then we all went to the freezing cold playground. They had a blast though so I am happy we went. I brought my NEMTEC reading but it was just SO cold. I didn't get too much done. I do love The Discovery of the Child though. I am glad I am forced to read it again. 

 Now back again I should be doing housework but I am instead writing boring blogs. 

 Today was Grandparent and Special friends day at my school. The day was divided into four half hour sections and up to four families could sign up for each slot. It was a steady flow of grandparents, two parents, and a babysitter. The kids were wonderful. It was such a nice experience for the grandparents. I am sure some of them contribute, so it must be nice to see first hand the benefits of Montessori. I am sure also that some are skeptical and  it was wonderful to see their amazement of what these little children were doing. The highlight of the morning was this one mother who came. I am not sure if there was no grandparent or if she just didn't understand the day ,but her child is a quite a special child. She has trouble focusing and has loads of unmanageable energy-BUT when she takes out work she has a calm about her that Maria Montessori would have loved to have seen. The work takes her out of her own ciaos and allows her to feel calm. The mother had never seen her child this way. She had no idea what her little girl was capable of. At times she had tears in her eyes as she sat and watched her daughter. This family had not re-enrolled for next year due to money issues, but today as she was leaving she was going to do her best to find the money to send her next year. I hope she finds it. I can not really explain the transformation that this child undergoes when she takes out the work. It is truly amazing.

  Another child was looking sad, I asked her if anyone was coming and she told me that no, if they brought her grandmother there she would not be able to understand where she was. I felt for the child and at the same time took a moment to pause and be thankful that my own children know all four of their grandparents. What a true and rare gift- one that I may sometimes take for granted.

  When ever I spend time with older people I feel very humble and somewhat reflective. That poem "A hundred Years from now" always pops in my head.