Montessori

This year Jill is going to Montessori school two mornings a week. Last week was the introductory period at the school. On Tuesday night Peter and I went to an open house at the school. Then on Wednesday Jill and I went to Jill's classroom to play and explore together. The room is lined with shelves filled with pieces of "work" which are puzzles or toys that teach the child a skill. Jill was to pick a piece of work, bring it to the table to play, and when she was done carry it back to its designated spot. Jill had a great time. She fired through maybe 10 pieces of work and when we got home she talked about her teachers Miss Deborah and Miss Jane all day.

On the schedule for Thursday and Friday were Jill's first experiences in the classroom without me. At the open house Miss Deborah had explained that the parents should tell to our children what was going to happen, "Today you're going to play with Miss Deborah. I'm not staying, but I'll be back soon." The teacher also instructed us to say our good byes at home or in the car because on the big day she was going to quickly lead each child by the hand into the room and she didn't want the parents to remind their child to freak out by saying something like, "Give Mommy one last kiss!"

Thursday went great. As instructed I told Jill what was going to happen that morning. As soon as I said "Miss Deborah" Jill jumped up and said, "I go to Miss Deborah's house! (That's was she calls the school.) I get my shoes!" She was psyched and I had to reel her back in, "OK, but wait Jill. We're not going for another couple of hours!" When it was time to actually go to school Jill was first in line. Miss Deborah took her by the hand and whisked her into the room. All I saw was a plume of curls as Jill ran in and didn't look back. So cute.

At pick up Miss Deborah said Jill had a great time and even shared and talked with another little girl in the class. The teachers offer each child a chance to use a miniature potty in a bathroom adjacent to the classroom and Jill wanted to sit on our potty at home three times when we got home (no production though). Given that, I thought Friday would be a piece of cake but when it was time to get her dressed to go she fell apart. "I need my big girl pants! I need my big girl shirt! Little girl is OK." I think that Jill must have seen a trained kid using the potty and had some underwear envy and that she was unnerved by a little who cried the first day. She sobbed and fought me for an hour before we left but pulled it together when we got there.

I think that all of the new things going on in Jill's life--new brother, new school, a desire to use the potty but no skills to back that up--are stressing her out a little bit. I love her so much. I just try to be very patient when she is frustrated and upset so I can get her what she needs.

These are pictures of Jill on her first official day of school. Here she is playing in a sandbox with her classmates. The playground overlooks a lake and has a beautiful view.