Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Book Review - The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

There are some books which touch your heart even before you have actually read it. One such book definitely has to be The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires. I read the brief and I instantly connected with the book.



This book tells us about an 'ordinary girl' and her pet (her best friend). How they plan to make the most magnificent thing... They plan and get to work. Will they succeed will they not? What if they don't? What will be this 'Most Magnificent Thing'. You have to read it to see how amazing this book is.

The book talks about planning, invention, failure, success, ideas and execution. More than all this girl it is a story about a very young girl who doesn't know when to give up and why to give up. I loved the simplicity and the awesomeness of the book. The girl and her assistant are the best. The illustrations are beautiful and take the story forward. For Z, this book came at the right time, she is just learning that if you aren't able to do something, it doesn't make you a failure... till you keep trying.

Z loves the book, she has already read it a few times and she has a big smile on her face whenever she reads the book.

Friday, January 6, 2017

Why I chose an Elementary Montessori for Z?


Image Courtesy: Google

 
Z, who is now a confident 6 year old, introduced me to the world of Montessori education. She joined this amazing House of Children in June 2013, and she literally blossomed into someone who is curious, confident, independent and aware (for her age); into someone who likes learning.  She doesn’t need to be entertained; she loves her company as much as of her friends and family. 
 
Now, that she will be completing almost 4 years in her current school, it is time to bid adieu to one of the most amazing schools (not just Montessori). Siksha Montessori (her current school), unfortunately, doesn’t offer Elementary Montessori.

Last September, Z got admitted in a very good school and we had decided to go ahead with the same. It seemed like the perfect choice for us, many of the kids who come to MLCB go to this school and I received a positive feedback. Besides, it was walking distance from our home and my work place.

When she went to give the entrance test and interaction, she did fare well; but seemed a little lost. We decided, it is a new environment and she will adjust easily. She was also looking forward to join this new big school.  

One thing that was bothering us was that she was already reading chapter books, doing multiplication, carry forward and borrowing, she knows about most parts of speech, she has also read so much about the world around us, space, environment, animals etc. Wouldn’t she get bored in a regular school environment? Yet, we were happy with our decision.

Then out of nowhere, we got a pamphlet about an Open House in an Elementary Montessori. Now, we did receive a couple of information pamphlets about Elementary Montessori schools, and since we had decided to go ahead with the big school, we weren’t paying heed to any information brochures. This one stood out, and since, the open house was on a Saturday, we decided, my husband and Z would visit the school, just to look around (my Saturdays are busy, hence I couldn’t). When they came back, both of them had liked the environment a lot. We decided to fill the application, just like that and we did. When after a month we went for an interaction, we learned about the approach and the school, we really liked it.

What stood out for us was how our little girl blended in with the environment. Usually, when she enters a new environment, she takes her own sweet time to open up, but here, she was, talking to adults, roaming around in the environment, and just happy to be there. She owned the place. That was an eye opener for us, we knew, we should choose a place where she is happy, and if she is happy, we will be happy.

That was the day; we finalized our decision and enrolled her. For us, it was like making a decision between two good choices, yet, we didn’t have to think twice about our final decision.

Z will join her elementary school in end of May Insha’Allah, and we can’t wait. She is sad (make it very sad) about leaving Siksha, but she is happy to join her new school.

I have no doubt that Z would have been ‘just fine’ in the other school, but is that ‘just fine’ enough?


Tuesday, January 3, 2017

A little guilt is good for health

Guilt strikes when you least expect it, actually, when you don't want it to. 

Picture this... I just have the busiest days coming up, some trainings, and Montessori classes. I was happy, and actually was looking forward to meeting and training new people. Wham! Z gets sick, starts with a stomach upset, bad throat, followed by fever. 

What do I do? Thankfully, this time, the decision was 'slightly' easy than what it could've been. Courtesy Fizz, he had taken a week off from work, and I felt so relieved. Every single morning, before leaving them, I felt pathetic, and that's to put it mildly. My thoughts kept going back to Z and I checked my phone every time I could. Fizz, on the other hand was the best, he just made sure he didn't let anything affect me and my work. He tried his best, and it was making me feel great and guilty at the same time.

Z, on the other hand, was at her best behavior. She was feeling bad, as she felt, because of her, my work was getting affected. I ensured her, that's not the case, but she's a big girl now... She understands things. Alhamdulillah, Z is fine now, and I just feel better myself.

This happens all the time, and I guess, it makes me (us) stronger. Every mother, working or not working, has to go through so much on an everyday basis. In fact, any parent who is hands on, goes through so much. Guilt, is not good for us, but if at the end of the day, you have a beautiful family who supports you, no problem is big enough. Besides, when Z tells me "Mumsy, you're the best, and I'm so proud of you," I can't ignore her words.

Wild Karnataka – Experience

We were ecstatic when we got to know we were going to see  Wild Karnataka.  It was a long trip to Vega City mall, Bannerghetta Road, Benga...