Yesterday when my guy woke up and cried because his headache was still so bad he didn't think he would make it to his open house today... But being at rock bottom caused for some drastic measures and he finally agreed to listen to me about getting better.
Things to do, what not do, what to take and what not to take... and he did... listened to Every bit without a single fuss... He got better... and today we saw HUGE improvements... so he got to go to his open house.
When he arrived, three girls immediately ran up to him saying "Look everyone, look whose here? We missed you so" it was such a cute event and all the children made it so special for him. Hugs, and good wishes... They are not used to not seeing him... Many kids stopped what they were doing and ran over. The community was complete with one of their members back. And you could tell the peace in the room. They don't like to be separated.
Well, he showed me a few lessons like Dividing Meters in to Centi and Decimeters, Coloring, Cursive Writing, identifying germs under a microscope, you know... Normal things for a 5 year old. (not that I even new what a meter was let a lone a decimeter at 20... I mean 5 years old) But thats another story..
While we were at a table he heard a child crying across the room. He stopped what he was doing, walked briskly to the crying child and put his hand on the boys back to see if he was OK. He came back to tell me what happened, and that everything would be OK....
A few minutes later, we were at another table. two little girls behind us started to argue "Its, Mine... No its Mine, No its Mine" ... They were the only two children with out parents there to see them and they were so sad. Trying to find things to do left them staring out the window in to the parking lot waiting for their Mommies... (those are the times I feel so thankful to get to be there with mine)... And eventually they started to argue.
Well my Veg hears this, stops what he is doing, pushes in his chair and walks up to the young girls (each under 4 years old) He sets his arms on both their shoulders and says "Now girls, please don't fight"... He then says "You can both have a turn to look out the window and your Mommies will be here soon" They both proclaim each was there first and they weren't moving... So he says "I'm thinking of a number, each of you pick a number and the closest gets to look out the window first"...... This satisfied them and everyone went back to their business.
I stood there watching in amazement of what I was seeing... I mean there was compassion, leadership, problem solving skills all before my eyes. I learned more about what he learns at school in those 2 minutes then I did the whole hour of watching him do real lessons.
Montessori is so much more then Academic. And I love seeing the other side.
Now... never mind that we came home and he threw a complete fit, crying his eyes out because we weren't going to a restaurant for dinner tonight... Ah Well, ya win some, you lose some! *sigh*