First Day of School 2018

Big day for the Durneys! Both kiddos starting their first days at ISA, Maeve in the nursery program ("Hedgehogs") and Jude in pre-K ("Dragonflies"). It is a bit of a misnomer as the first day is really "first 90 minutes" for Maeve and "first half-day" for Jude. Still, an exciting day. Pete and I both rode our bikes in with a kid each on the back. Dutch!

Clap your hands, school starts today! 

Pete teaches the 1st period of every day again so we left him at his classroom to prepare for his first day. We went to Jude's classroom first and found his cubby. He was off playing and not at all phased about it being a new space. The hardest part was (and continues to be!) getting Maeve to leave his classroom to go to her own. She just wants to stay there are play! We waited with Jude 10 minutes or so, but he was good to go so I walked Maeve down to her classroom. She was a bit apprehensive to enter, but was happy immediately playing with me by her side. Maeve has all the same teachers as Jude (just one new one) so we have complete confidence that she'll have a great year.

Daddy was able to sneak away to spend time with Maeve on her first day

We had one week of 90 minute sessions, introducing her to the specialty areas, getting to know her special teacher, Pipi, exploring the classroom and rest time areas. It is a very slow start and the week feels very long, but I understand that it is for the benefit of the kids settling in well. After that week, she had two half days when I practiced our morning routine of dropping her off and leaving her :( Then her first full day was Monday and some tears were shed at drop off (hers, not mine). The reports are that she is doing great though, so we are thrilled to have her settled.

In the outdoor kitchen

Loves gym time, 2 days a week

On the first day of school, I decided to bring Jude home with me and Maeve at noon, instead of sending him to the creche, wanting to be there at the end of his half day to hear how it went and knowing he'd be tired from the week. They both wanted to ride in the stroller as we walked to the metro (still without a car at this point). Get to the metro and see that is an inexplicable 28 minute wait for the next one to come! So we walk back to school and wait for an uber to take us home! Then we all get in our beds and pass out!

Jude was tired and Maeve wasn't having it. Reminded me of when I would take the two of them home two years ago, with baby Maeve in the infant car seat attachment, Jude's head in her lap asleep until she would pull his hair!  

With new library books

Many days, when Maeve ended around 10, we'd stay to play and eat lunch before heading home. During that time, we got to see Jude during one of his 3 outside times per day. So great to see him so happy.

We love the international environment at school!

Have you seen anything cuter walking the halls??

Cheers to great a school year for all of the kiddos in our lives! 

End of Summer

We were back from America on the 14th of August and Pete was back to work on the 16th. We squeezed every last ounce of fun out of this summer between 10 days in Greece and 5 weeks in America! We are very fortunate that Pete's school provides childcare for the children of faculty and staff on days when school is not in session so Jude was back in "creche" with Pete in the week leading up to the first day of school. Children need to be 3 to attend the creche however, so that gave me one final week home with Maeve, savoring time with my little girl before she is off to school.

Zoo visits with Joey and Audra 

Zoo again with the whole family for their Saturday summer evenings

Attending a pop-up music class in the park

Back to school afternoon. Maeve got to see her classroom again to prepare for the first day of school. 

After a week of creche, Jude was excited to begin classes with his old friends. His group from last year was split up so we have some old and a lot of new friends this year. And as much as I love my time alone with Maeve, she seems very ready for a school environment and to learn and be challenged with new things. In truth, she was very restless at home with just me after an entire summer with her brother and dad so the timing seems good. Still, nothing quite prepares you for your little one's first day of school...

Goodbye to Jacaranda Tree Montessori

When Jude stopped attending Montessori classes, it hit me really hard because the program had been such a big part of his life. When Maeve stopped attending classes in July it hit me even harder because the program had been become such a big part of MY life. My Amsterdam identity has been tied to being a mostly stay at home mom and the highs and lows that come with that life choice. And what got me through the past 4 years was having activities to attend, play dates and friends in the same boat. Nearly every Thursday morning for close to 4 years, I was at Jacaranda Tree with Simone and an ebbing and flowing group of parents and babies/toddlers who became friends. 

Here's a look at Maeve through her Montessori time. Cue the mommy tears!

One of first classes at 8 months old. Those cheeks and necks! Miss them!

The bam bam pony :) 

 

Lanterns made for Saint Martin

"Come and make a circle"

Maeve could most often be found in the snack corner :) 

I learned a lot of Dutch through songs and books

I loved passing this roundabout every February on my way to class to see the crocuses in bloom 

So great when snack time became more communal! And super cute, too. 

Maeve loved to help make the crackers

A few photos from Maeve's last class, which our whole family attended as a last hurrah! 

I first joined the parent-baby montessori playgroup with Jude as a way to meet people when we were new to Amsterdam. I had no idea then how much that choice would influence my parenting and as a result, our family and life. Everything I have learned over the years from Simone has helped make me a more patient, empathetic, and observant parent. Being a toddler is hard! Anything we can do to help them make sense of their world and become independent in their environment will pay dividends! We are not hard core montessori parents, I think of myself more as a fair-weather follower of the principals.

The biggest compliments I have received in the past 4 years are related to my parenting skills (which are still a work in progress like everyone else!). So I want to give Simone a huge shout out for her incredible work. Are you thinking, "Gosh, I wish I lived in Amsterdam so I could meet Simone and be influenced by her wisdom?" Well, you are certainly in luck as she published a beautiful book last year through a kickstarter campaign: The Montessori Toddler. And no, I am not turning my blog into a profit-maker by advertising. I just want to share this with all of my parent (or even grandparent, auntie/uncle) friends! You will thank me!

You can get a copy here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/simonedavies/the-montessori-toddler-by-simone-davies

At the book launch party this past winter (this post is a long time coming!)

We will all certainly miss "Mone's class," perhaps me the most! Thank you Simone for taking us on this wonderful ride.