Blessed Unrest

This is a letter I wrote to Adirah's teachers at her Montessori school. This morning, Adirah set up her own tea party. She chose the tablecloth and the tiny cups and plates from her tea set.  Next, she found some flowers and set them in a vase in the middle of the table. These are simple tasks, but seeing her standing on tip toe with a determined look in her face to reach the water-reminded me of being a child and for a moment I could almost see what she was seeing and feel what she was feeling. She put the lid on her teapot and held it firmly walking heel to toe over to the table.  This action brought tears to my eyes. I felt so happy that she has had this Montessori experience for these years. And it tugs on my heart that her time in the preschool classroom will end one day (soon!!). Of course, I see her perform dozens of tasks independently each day.  But today, the tablecloth, the plates, the teapot, the cups and the flowers had a profound effect on me. Maybe ...

Asher : "Passover is the one with all the Matzoh right?" Adirah (5 1/2): How many days until my spring tea? Me: Seven days Adirah: But what does that add up to? Me: Well there are seven days in a week Adirah: Nooooooo! What does it add up to? How many? Me: Well a day is 24 hours and there are seven of those until your spring tea. Adirah: You don't understand! Me: Well, honey, there are seven days in a week and there are about four weeks in a month (I thought for a moment about how I was going to explain that only February had exactly 28 days and not even all of the time) Adirah: (Getting very frustrated) No how much does it add up to? Adirah threw out her arm incensed and then held up some fingers, How much? Me: Ohhhhh (thinking now about her Montessori training) 3 +4 equals 7, or 5+2 equals 7. Adirah:(Smiling) 3+4. Okay