Melancholy Meditations on Montessori

I have to confess that we are enrolling Lola in our local Montessori school in August. We had always planned to send her to private school if necessary, but anyone who has followed this blog for a few months will remember that I said "absolutely not necessary" of Montessori a few months ago. But Baby Lola has been succeeded by Preschool Lola, an amazing, narration-prone little girl who is telling her daddy a story in the living room as I type. We think Montessori's focus on independent learning and activity will be best for an only child with parents who are not tremendous extroverts (although we make efforts in that direction). I'm having a day where I feel sad that Lola is entering the world of Experience. Hopefully she can preserve a core of Innocence that will later be converted into idealism and resilience. Babyhood is so short! (at least after the parents make it through the first year--that phase felt pretty long). If Montessori doesn't fit her, though, she can go back to her friends Cody, Amber and Shemya at her current school.--K