Weave the Web

Arthur was next to join WMS.  At three years old he was shy, a bit fearful and didn’t really speak much English!  After about three weeks of holding on to his jacket in the coat room, Ineke Ghering counseled me saying maybe he just wasn’t ready;  let’s give it one more week.  In a week’s time, Arthur was speaking English with his friends and grateful parents, he was involved in the activities and had turned a corner.  Throughout Arthur’s WMS experience there were many more corners to come, and he turned them all with aplomb!

 

Out third son, Haden took to Montessori with enthusiasm.  He embraced the respect and the independence given to him and thrived on the multi-aged groupings throughout his time there.  The year we enrolled Haden was also the year that I went from being a volunteer board member  and chocolate chip cookie baker and became part of the teaching staff working as an assistant.  Many years later and many teaching experiences later, I still think of my time at WMS as the most rewarding in my career.

 

I just recently celebrated my 70th birthday with all my family gathered round.  It is a rare occasion as I live in San Francisco, Michael lives in Connecticut, Arthur lives in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Haden lives in Montenegro.  Spending a glorious week with them, I was struck by what amazing and good human beings they are;  and without apology or exaggeration, I credit some of this to their experiences at WMS.

 

Michael is a successful computer programmer.  Never a follower of the crowd, he has always been his own person.  Never swayed by the latest gadget or the “in” fad, he is totally happy and content with his world.  He is an amazing father to Griffin, allowing his unusual child to revel in who he is.  What a blessing.

 

Arthur is a relentless striver who loves a challenge.  Married to a Brazilian woman, they live in Sao Paulo with three beautiful children.  He is fluent in Portuguese, and when life deals him a blow, he gets right up and says to life, “Bring it on!”

 

Haden is a curious pilgrim interested in the diversity that life offers.  He is always looking for ways to bring joy to people and make life better.  In Montenegro, he has started a computer center for young children (phaedrusproject.com)   based on Sugata Mitra’s “Hole-In-The-Wall” idea that he shared in a TED talk.  (https://www.ted.com/talks/sugata_mitra_build_a_school_in_the_cloud)  This concept is incredibly akin to Maria Montessori’s philosophy, and I know if she were still alive in this technological world, she would be working with Mitra and Haden and the likes to establish these kinds of learning centers all over.

 

Acceptance of who you are,  resilience to face challenges, and curiosity for the world are values that abound at WMS.  I feel so indebted to this wonderful place.  My children are better human beings;  I am sure it helped to make me a better parent;  and the future is in better hands as my sons pass on these values to their children and beyond.