5.25.2010

Maybelle and preschool--this one less theoretically exploratory

We just found out today that Maybelle was accepted to our first choice preschool, Trinity Montessori.  Due to this blog's diverse readership, I won't--at this time--explain our thoughts about the fact that it's a church school.  Instead, I want to explain what made this school our top choice.

In my first blog post about the preschool situation, I said we hadn't decided.  I was really pleased with how well the administrator at the school I blogged about listened to what we had to say, and I got a sort of activist buzz that made me think we should go to this school and help diversify it.

Love me some jelly on toastIn the time since then, I've reconsidered.  Here's the deal:  Trinity Montessori already has two students with Down syndrome who have been there for a few years, so when we told the staff that Maybelle has Down syndrome, they said, "Okay!"  No concerned faces, no questions about whether she'd be able to keep up, no suggestions that we put her in the infant room or hire a shadow to follow along behind her.  It's as if we told them that Maybelle is left handed, or prefers to wear t-shirts with monkeys on them, or makes a mess when she eats jelly on toast.  Their tone was very much, "Yep, we can do that.  Can't wait to meet her!"  They took us to the classroom where Robert and Joe--both of whom have Down syndrome--are students, and we saw that these two kids were fully included in their classes, doing exactly the stuff that the other kids were doing.  No shadows, no weirdness, no iffy vibes.

I do love the activist buzz, and Biffle, Maybelle, and I are going to have lots of activism to be involved in.  But as a friend who has a child with a disability reminded me yesterday, we don't necessarily need to seek these activist opportunities out.  Sometimes it's nice just to relax, knowing that the people taking care of our daughter know what they're doing and don't need our coaching.

I'm just thrilled that we got a spot!

13 comments:

The Mom said...

That's fabulous news, and a fabulous blog entry! The Poppi said, "Yea, Weenie Bean! Yea, Alison & Walter!"

Love you guys, all three!!!

Unknown said...

Great that maybelle will be attending Montessori school!

Unknown said...

That's great, but I'm really posting to say that I love that picture- Maybelle is rocking the Paul Frank! So glad she'll be in a place where she can be herself.

Quiche said...

Fabulous! Maybelle is going to LOVE Montessori! I would love that for my son Baird, if we could afford it- excellent method (read the book years ago)!

Catherine Bush said...

So happy for you!!!!

Jen Howard said...

Fantastic news! Can't wait for all the cute pre-school stories!

emboogie said...

I love the jelly face. Its awesome that I get to keep up with Maybelle even though I moved. I went to montisorri and loved it - my parents loved it. Really is a great concept - we have some great ones here in Beaufort. Glad you found a place that is a good fit for maybelle!! Hope the three of you - and the fur-babies are all well : )

Dharma Belle said...

Yes! Yay! So much better to save energy for the necessary work rather than choose unnecessary work to get the buzz.

p.s. Speaking of which, Why does the word verification section have a little wheelchair? As if the wheelchair stands for every type of physical limitation one may have?

E B Schlaeger said...

Yay, Maybelle, and yay, jelly toast! - b

Unknown said...

We are so excited for you Maybelle! You will do great!

Amanda said...

Yay, I'm so glad that Maybelle and Hugh will be classmates! She can wear the Paul Frank shirt, and he can wear his Paul Frank boots. Is she starting in summer or fall? We're planning on starting him in June.

Kenneth Burns said...

That's wonderful, congrats.

Anonymous said...

Hurrah! I'm so happy to hear Maybelle will be in a Montessori program already primed to appreciate what a wonderful person she is and ready to help her learn exciting new things, rather than one where she'll have to bear some of the burden of educating them. I have no doubt that were it the other program that a combination of activism & her personality would teach them a great deal about the limits to their understanding & policies. It seems nice that she (& you) can enjoy a place where y'all don't have to do that work though.
-Deandra