Last week I wrote a whole post about the kids going to school and the changes taking place for them in September. The visit we had was great and felt good, things seemed to be going so well…all feeling so right and natural, everything was coming together. But do you ever have moments in your life when things are going along swimmingly…you make plans, set the ball in motion and it feels good for a while and then something just doesn’t feel right? You can’t always explain it to people but there’s something in your gut that is making you question it?
This has been me recently with my little Megsie and the decision we made to send her to the school nursery with E.
After a lot of back and forth questioning and to be honest feeling quite anxious in myself too, I realised that the problem was that I wasn’t truly happy or comfortable with the choice we had made to move her to the schools nursery. I realised that I wanted to stay true to what I had originally felt to be right and keep her in Montessori education until she is old enough for “big school” – I never even wanted my kids in nursery because I don’t work in a job that requires them to be and I didn’t see the point in them being there when I was at home. We have a busy life with lots of adventures and felt at this age I was giving them a good natural education in the world around them. I did however, when I learn’t of Montessori feel good about them being in a Montessori setting a couple of days a week as it was a natural approach and followed the child’s strengths and interests and helped them with life skills and the world around them as oppose to other things. It complemented what I believed was good for kids of this age and so after finding one by chance we enrolled them and we have never looked back on that choice.
I dropped them an email on Wednesday and asked if we could stay, if they still had a space for Megs in September – and to my joy they did! YAAAYYY! As soon as the email was sent my anxieties left, a weight was lifted and I haven’t thought about it since (except to write this!).
What has been even more eye opening is that after telling Megs the new plan she fist punched the air and said “yaaaayyyy I get to see my fwends and wabbits and chickens still” – the next day she was amazingly well behaved and went 2 days with no accidents (though i’m not 100% sure if that was this or the Tink outfit I bought her as an incentive – maybe a bit of both?). I
couldn’t be happier for her. Yes its a faff to get them both 2 days a week to different schools but I will make the sacrifice because it is what we want and what obviously is a better choice for Megan. I am so happy we have another year with Montessori’s approach, lovely people and a beautiful school…WHOOP!
“Education is a natural process carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words but by experience in the environment.” Maria Montessori
Feeling good with a decision means ita the right one. Everything seems to fall in to place doesnt it.
Yes it does and I do feel so right…it also means its not always the most easy thing to do hahaha xx
So glad you all feel better about your decision. I have heard of Montessori and they sound like a wonderful place for children to go. How lovely that Megan felt exactly the same. Have a great summer and I look forward to hearing all about your adventures xx
Thanks Tracey. Montessori is such a great way to educate, but of course probably doesn’t suit everyone if they don’t believe in her philosophies. Its fairly new to me, but the more I learn, the more I nod along and think “mmmm yes” hah!! Hope you have a wonderful summer too x
I’m so glad you were able to go back to her old setting, what a relief! Great that you were able to identify what was bothering you as well, high five! Becky x #bestandworst and also following too 🙂
I know what a relief. I am still (a week on) loving it haha Thanks, its refreshing when you make a better decision x
I’m pleased you reached the right decision in the end! Childcare choices are such a headache…. Prob the topic of my next blog. Being a mum seems to consistently mean questioning every decision we make and whether it’s the right thing… Even though we always have their best intentions. X MMT
It sounds like you have made the right decision. I feel the same about nursery, as I work from home. I like the sound of Montessori, I will have to look into it. Lovely photos!
Becky x
#BestandWorst
Thanks Becky – It does sit loads better with me now. Montessori is a lovely approach to education. You will not believe the calmness when you enter a “children’s house” compared to that of a mainstream nursery. I love they learn of the outdoors, the world, cultures, space and things like that and lead the learning instead of sat down and doing the usual 0-10 and letters! I see it more useful at this age and my kids have been very content there x
always follow your gut. everytime! #bestandworst
I have often wondered about Montessori education, we have one near us but I confess I have not looked into it properly. We have him in nursery twice a week and it works well for us all round, he’s come on leaps and bounds. I definitely believe in trusting your instincts,we visited three nurseries and this one felt right. Thanks for linking up to the #bestandworst 🙂