Butterflies, Mommy!

 Last week my daughter was flipping through the channels and stumbled onto PBS.  A documentary about butter flies, how fitting.  Images of delicate Monarch butterflies were fluttering through the air.  Our whole family hunkered down onto the couch or found a chair.  Two of us were sprawled out on the floor.  Our two year old exclaimed, “Butterflies mommy!”  My husband was even enthralled.   Indeed, we were in awe.  From their beginnings as caterpillars to the chrysalis phase, to the wiggling out the journey of a butterfly is truly a phenomenon.    Their journey consists of over two thousand miles to reach their final destination.  Along the way they face weather difficulties, predators, and insecticides. The way they fly isn’t necessarily productive.  They tend to use more energy than stored to move.  Instinctively they wait on the wind so they can glide through the air.  On their journey they transformed the sky and even the trees when their destination was complete.   The orange and black of their wings on the trees was a peculiar yet beautiful sight.

The utter joy is in the struggle.  Children move and grow in spectacular ways.  Their newness allows each to be completely in the moment while also learning at the same time.   They begin their school careers innocently.  Each is a pallet waiting to be used as a beginning to create their future.  Some kids are eager, and willing to learn right away, others cannot stand the thought of being away from home.  The spectacular capabilities of children need to be drawn out of them.   An ideal school setting needs to enhance each child, highlight their strengths, and improve their weakness in a way that flows naturally.  When I think about such a transformation I think about a wonderful place called Monarch Montessori. 

I’m not going to go in depth about what a Montessori school is but I will however highlight the qualities of an excellent place for children to begin, learn, and grow.  The whole institution from the staff at the front desk, Joe the maintenance man, the administrators, teachers, and parents (with the encouragement from those listed above) operate with one focus; to support what pertains to children in school and at home, individually and socially.  I had the pleasure of speaking with some of the amazing staff at the school.  Over the next few days I will be sharing their hellos and why they chose their occupation.  Until tomorrow, have a wonderful day!

(The PBS special NOVA: Journey of the butterflies was used as a reference in this post.)