What have you been up to: 34 months

Apologies for the crappy photos. Also, I'm not sure about courier. Hmm, what font will I try next...

Everest expedition

This last week we've had SNOW, and you've started at a Montessori Childrens House. think the snow just left you cold really. Although you did enjoy sledding in the park. I think I definitely enjoyed it more than you though! 

We've been doing some art, after a break from the busy "artathon" December.  Another thing I enjoyed more than you was making snow pictures. I found the know-how in a Winter Book.

The first method is to dab an old toothbrush into white paint, point it downwards towards the paper (I used black paper for maximum effect) and then run your finger along it to make lots of tiny snowflakes.  The other method was to scrunch up a crisps bag, dab it in the paint, and then dab it around the paper to make a snowstorm. You were more interested in painting a moon with the white paint. No photos of these, as I've recycled them already.  I'm ruthless like that -it's the process maaaan, you don't have to keep the product! Hmm, that reminded me of something really interesting I read by Bill Drummond a few years ago.  Feel another post coming on.

Then you also had your first experience with lino cutting.  I've been giving it a go myself recently, as I love the effect, and I have a dream of cutting out a hare figure (hares are such powerful symbols for me). I'm nowhere near cutting out a hare yet.  You're better at this than me right now. I thought it would be a good example for you - to see practising a new skill.  One that is really like a foreign language for me. It was nerve wracking letting you cut with the cutter, but you just got how to do it straight away, much quicker than me.  It took me a while to get that you don't use it like a pen - you had no such preconceptions and just cut with it properly from the off.  Here are pictures of your first prints - Daddy drew the sun with a pen, and helped you to cut the circle part of it, but you did the rest yourself.


After a bit of searching I found the right Montessori Childrens House.  And it accepts children for less than 5 days!  At first there were no places available, but one came up just before Christmas and I grabbed it. The directress is so calm, relaxed and respectful with the children.  There's no pushing, patronising or instructing. And there's lots of fun - stories and singing and playing in the garden, even in this very cold weather. You took to her straight away and gave her a big hug the day we went over for a look.  As you are a discerning person, this meant a lot. 

The environment is her own home, adapted downstairs for children  The ratio is 3 kids to 1 adult (and there are only 6 kids, which is brilliant). Lots of lovely shelf work, but also small world play, a tree house, fish, playing with balls, a giant outdoor xylophone etc. No meaningless praise, explaining instead of punishment, free choice, free flow to the garden...I am so relieved. Its not totally ideal as it's 3 days, and I'd rather two, but that's ok for now, perhaps we can change later. The garden is fairly small too, but its big enough and there are outings to the very close park.

I don't think kids need pre-school so that's not why I sent you. I don't think you need to go away from your family to get what you need as there are lots of ways of spending time with people and groups outside the family, not just school. You're going partially as Daddy is going to work, partially because I want you to have that Montessori group experience now, and partially because you miss out not having lots of neighbours' kids to play with out in the street, or running in and out of their houses like I used to do.  Its nice to get to be with a small group of kids regularly and for a large chunk of time, freely playing in someone's house, who shares our philosophies.

V blurry photo of the Childrens House

So, the first day came, and you went off with your little lunch bag and slippers. Daddy was very emotional about you going. I was happy it was the right place to try, so I wasn't really. As well I think I have already let you go to an extent, by handing you over to Daddy's care for much of the time. I want to stay home with you, but this is best for all the family, the best we can do now. The settling in policy is that I would stay there all day, quietly reading in the corner, so that you were confident that I knew what went on there all day, and that you knew that I was happy to leave you there (as long as you wanted to). You settled in more or less immediately, and I could hear you chatting away confidently all day, having a whale of a time, grinning from ear to ear, cuddling on the directress lap for story after story and playing in the snow. You cried when Daddy came to pick us up because you didn't want to leave.

So far so good.

Love Mam x