Well, not really. Exactly one and a half years ago, I found myself dumping Maeli in a full-time kindergarten in Zhuhai, China. For nine hours a day, five days a week, Maeli was stuck in a “nursery” kindergarten with teachers who didn’t speak a lick of English. To my surprise, Maeli never cried or got too upset when I left her every weekday for a solid month.
But today is the start of another school beginning for Maeli. This time, it’s Western style. Have you ever heard of Steiner-Waldorf education? Simply put, it’s a morning full of wooden toys and imaginative play. Opposed to Chinese schooling, Steiner-Waldorf doesn’t focus on long spats of sitting still, queuing in line, or memorizing letters, numbers, characters, etc. Maeli’s new relaxed setting helps young children learn hands-on while creating healthy relationships with their surroundings.
So at 9am this morning, Maeli was the only child who whimpered and whined while I said goodbye. My poor little girl has had too much stimulation this summer. However, I’m confident that a few weeks of repetition and a nurturing school environment will earn her the title of “happiest kid on the block.”
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