the new kids

Today I took Zora, Sam and Lucy to drop off the registration at the preschool where Zora will go this fall. We've decided to try out the local Montessori preschool. It is a community co-op, so we will have a lot more involvement. We liked the school she attended this year, but I have been curious about Montessori for years, and this seems like the best time to give it a go, before Sam and Lucy reach that age. Parents do all of the jobs that keep the school functioning, other than the actual teaching. The teacher (called the directress) can then be free to focus on her more important responsibilities. I like the idea that we will get to be in the classroom as parent helpers to really see what goes on, and that we will be part of a community. We'll keep you posted.

As it is the end of the year, several families were there doing the clean-up. There were children of various ages on the playground, which you pass through to get inside the building. Lucy was seriously protesting about having her lunch delayed, so I sat down at one of the picnic tables right there in the playground to nurse. The mom on playground duty offered to introduce Zora and Sam to the other children, and I reassured them that I'd be watching. They got about ten feet away from me before stopping to do those introductions. Then Zora put her arm around Sam's shoulders, and Sam put his arm around Zora's waist, and there they stood, together, protecting each other and giving each other courage as they faced new people. I could have just melted with love for them both.