Montessori - On Our Way

We have made the decision to switch DD from her current school to our local Montessori. She has been positive about this switch. Well, that was until I told her that we'd be going next week to have her visit in the classroom. Then she became very emotional and stated that she hates school. She also told me that I shouldn't have told her. I know her pretty well and I feel that telling her a week ahead of time would give her time to get her head around the situation and be prepared. But shoot. Anyhow....

I accepted an invitation for DD to spend two hours in the classroom next Wednesday. Along with my email acceptance, I informed the head of school that DD transitions slowly, and is likely to be uncomfortable with my leaving her there. I told her that I would, in that situation, either stay with her or remove her, but that I didn't want to leave her there in great distress. I suggested that perhaps allowing DD to meet the teacher ahead of time would help ease some of her anxiety around the visit. To their great credit, they've invited us to come after school the day before to meet the teacher and see the classroom. Great. I informed DD of this yesterday (with some trepidation) and she seemed to take it in her stride. She actually asked me a little bit about the teacher. Cool.... I am taking DD out of school for the day on Weds. Though maybe it would be better to have her return to her school for the afternoon, I sort of think that have her focus on one school at a time makes more sense. (Tuesday will be an exception to this, but it's just a brief visit...)

Anyhow, I'm constantly questioning our decision these days, and am so hopeful we've made the right one. My personal challenge at the moment is to keep myself focused with her at her current school. In my mind, we've already made the switch! But she's still got three months at her current school-a lifetime to a 5-year-old. A meeting this morning with her current teacher which focused on goals for the remainder of the year has grounded me some. But I am anxious to move on. Time to settle down and be with her where she is.