Papaya and I are on our journey each day. Some days she wakes me with the sun and I drag every muscle in my body to crawl to the toaster and make waffles. Some mornings I get really excited for her to wake up and start the day.
She’s loving Montessori Preschool and has quite a crush on a roatating list of little boys and a few girls. It is so funny to hear her tell of her day and how “Hanna and I wanted to play with the same job, so we made a choice to share.” How cool is that?
It’s starting to get busy here. Adventure Dad is off on his new submarine and won’t be home for a few more months. So we are into our “groove” of staying busy - weekly playdates, meeting and getting to know the “boat wives” and the Holidays! I’ve already ordered a bunch of Christmas gifts. I am planning to attend a wedding, a Military spouse conference and a few other social events this month.
I feel like the busiest woman on the block and it’s nice, being so social I’m much more fulfilled at the end of the day when we’ve interacted with a variety of people. So far, Papaya seems to react the same way. Thank goodness she’s as social as I am!
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"Don't be sad" by Papaya Mom on January 4th, 2008
the Papaya said to me, sweeping away the tears as they ran down my face.
Laughing is not appropriate by Papaya Mom on October 15th, 2007
when you are a children's librarian in a town that sits next to a military base, on an island with many military bases and a mother asks you about children's books on deployment.
Like a fish out of water by Papaya Mom on October 13th, 2007
It's how I felt - without internet (on MY beloved Macintosh computer - I had access via my 'rents PC but PCs hate me and it's just not the same) for what I think may have been an eternity but Adventure Dad assures me was only a few weeks.
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About a month ago I decided to homeschool Papaya. I gave notice at her Montessori preschool and prepared by joining groups, planning playdates and looking forward to more time with my daughter.
When alone though - I worried, a lot. Not about if I’d be able to “teach” her - we all know that children learn as readily as they breathe. I mean I’m no expert but I managed not to mess up the walking, talking, potty training and so forth, right? But the worry was more about taking her out of a school I think is doing a great job of child-led free play, a school that is hard to get into - was I letting it go to quickly?
I worried and I worried - even having a few alone crying moments (and a lot of mind racing stressing about it mid-driving places). Then I realized - I want Maya to get to continue to enjoy school for what a Montessori education is at this age - a daily four hour playdate. With a variety of children, great resources and long-term relationships that I was just not ready to steal her away from.I had made a mistake pulling her out and wanted to send her back for half days, she’d only been out of school for ONE school day….would there still be space? I realized this at six a.m. this morning and resisted walking across the street to the home of her Preschool Director (yes, she lives across the street) and instead left a message at her office.
She called back and said that they missed her (her friends were asking after her this a.m.) and would love to have her back. I dropped her off with some worry that I was “giving up” but a whole lot less stress than I had about taking her out altogether. What I need to do with this gift, the gift of realizing a mistake and being able to solve it, is get over the ideals I’ve set about being “crunchy enough” or the like and just enjoy being a Mom. When my princess is home in the afternoons - don’t get things “done” but rather hang out with HER, doing her things and enjoying who she is and our time together.
So there I go - making decisions, changing my mind, working it out - this parenting thing is so incredibly hard (emotionally) when each and every choice feels so very important and messing it up seems like the worst thing in the entire world. Let’s hope my kid makes it through her childhood with a minimum of scars (physical and emotional) and I do too. I may homeschool her once preschool has passed as many homeschooling families do - time will tell and I’ve got two years to make up my mind!
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On the journey by Papaya Mom on October 6th, 2008
Papaya and I are on our journey each day.
A Montessori Overview by Papaya Mom on July 14th, 2007
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The Cult of the Pink Tower, an article in Slate made me think more and more about how and why I made the choice to send Papaya to Montessori preschool. I was really turned off by some of the indoctrination of Waldorf, and scared by some of the criticizims of the movement as a whole for example labeling of child’s personality, avialability of personal information between families, and most important to me the reading delay (until baby teeth begin to fall out).
Soooo…I found Montessori and I love the ideas of the child rather than the teacher being the focus of a classroom, the direction provided but not overdone - allowing children to learn problem solving, and many more reasons.
Often - I find others have said words that I only wish I could use to communicate how I feel. An example? Read on.
“In today’s crowded world of power struggles and ego trips, the Montessori method serves as a guide to raising unselfish, self-regulated, caring human beings who are problem solvers and have the self confidence to lead successful lives by their own efforts, rather than at the expense of their fellow citizens. The world needs as many people with these qualities as possible to shift the balance away from the good-of-the-few mentality that plagues many cultures today. The world needs Montessori.” - Lori Bourne of Montessori for Everyone Blog
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On the journey by Papaya Mom on October 6th, 2008
Papaya and I are on our journey each day.
Changing Tides by Papaya Mom on August 4th, 2008
About a month ago I decided to homeschool Papaya.
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