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esterday was a big day in our house: June started Montessori!
She’s been going to Grandma Nanny since she was three months old and loves her Grandma Nanny , so I was nervous about how she’d react to being placed in a new environment with new faces, expectations and routines, but she did great…much better than I expected. No tears, no clinginess, no separation anxiety. If anything, it was the opposite. I actually had to corner her to kiss me goodbye while she looked at me like, you still here?
When I came to pick her up that afternoon it was pretty much the same. She smiled my way but didn’t leap into my arms and kiss me like she usually does.
My ego felt a little bruised but the teacher reminded me June’s nonchalance could also be a sign of confidence; my daughter feels comfortable and secure enough in her environment to treat her mom like chopped liver. I am so pleased.
In fact, the teacher said that earlier that day June leapt into the arm’s of a male stranger, one of the teacher’s husbands who had stopped by.
June has a habit of doing this: Holding out her arms to be scooped up by strange men. She does it all the time. The stranger the man, the more she wants to be held by them. It’s very cute and endearing — a crafty ploys since who can refuse a huggy toddler? — but it’s a bit disconcerting too — why strangers? Why men?
If she’s still doing this when she’s 15, we may have a problem.
Here’s to another successful day at pre-school.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Hate to bring bad news, but you already have a problem. When little girls prefer men they really like them as they get older!
Oh, I do speak from experience. Ha
Wasn’t June’s daddy pretty much a stranger to her when he got home? Maybe she thinks a warm welcome for a strange man means she might get to take him home and keep him! Worked once, after all.
Still could be a problem, though.
She looks awful cute ( AND confident!) for her first day of school!
I am actually starting next week as the art teacher for a nearby Montessori School in California. I am really excited to learn more about the method as my past teaching has been in public schools. It looks like an amazing place! Good luck!
In 1980, I worked nights on the children’s floor of the library. The nuns/teachers from the local Montessori school were there often for books, and sometimes brought classes of children. I was very impressed with the children, their love of books, vocabulary, good manners, and curiosity.
I bet you’ll like it there.
My daughters first day of kindergarten was traumatic for me .She walked into the school and never looked back.I stood there like a blubbering idiot,crying because my baby girl was growing up and going to school like her big brother.
Many days I would love to do that, just hold out my arms to a handsome man as a non verbal way of asking “Hey, Handsome, wanna cuddle for a while?” In particular I hope this works if ever I meet George Clooney.
That is great Jessie, Max was the same and is still very confident in new situations. She will have a great time there I am sure. Enjoy the quiet hours, they go by so fast!
i thought i was special June.
My daughter was fine on the first day, but come the second, she cried at the door, with a monkey grip around my body, and the teacher had to peel her off of me. Went on for 2 weeks! Hope you have better luck!