TRUTH

I’ve been pondering over the ideas in my last two blogs. Maria Montessori was the environment for the children because she knew the truth of life, just as many parents, especially mothers, and a few teachers, know the truth of their child’s life. They are born with the child as he emerges and develops in the surrounding environment, becoming one with it—conquering it, swallowing it like a starving animal, ravishing missed meals of many days.

Maria Montessori knew the child was hungry and had to be fed. She spent the rest of her life doing so. Like Mother Teresa, Maria Montessori knew and lived the truth of humanity: the work of the child becoming the adult, the work of the adult becoming one with the child. I pondered this thought several evenings this week, knowing I’m not there, still out of the loop when I’m with the little ones. My experiences as a Montessori teacher were egocentric, I’m sorry to say. I’m thankful my grandchildren are blessed with exceptional parents.

One Easter morning, for a short time, my thoughts were resurrected. I realized that my problem was my perspective. I have been looking through the window of the teacher, the view of the adult working on the other side of the glass knowing where I think the child should go, what the child should be, and how the child should behave, should develop, in order to get there. For a few seconds I wanted, prayed that I could be, could experience being the child on this side of the glass not knowing my future.

My imagination allowed me a brief Easter understanding.

Please read my book, Montessori—Living the Good Life. I’m blogging on my website: www.montessoritheory.com