Okay so I've been battling some sinusy, cold like dilemma that has waged war against my body. Having retreated to my bed this weekend has actually been quite therapeutic. Within I feel very well, its just that my body is not in total agreement with that status. Its a three way fight it appears between my body, spirit and soul and its pretty much a toss up right now as to who is winning. My last few nights have not been pleasant at all. Why is it that a cold always seems worse at night? Well, after dosing up with more icky cough syrup around midnight and fading to black sometime after 1:00 am a friend who works graveyards found it imperative to wake me up around 5:00 am. I cannot return to sleep so here I am with a multitude of things flooding my mind. My thoughts continue to shift to the three year olds I spend my day with and the elementary aged wonders I spend my evenings with. Children are truly the greatest teachers. It is absolutely fascinating how two completely opposite types of children can be so alike. The truth of it is that they are so very much the same. At the end of the day my Montessori friends hailing from well to do families and my little hood wonders from the lower income spectrum are at their core simply children in need of love, support and boundaries. During the day I find myself attempting to master my Montessori lingo. Always trying to remain positive, soothing and nurturing. It is indeed a fine line of accomplishing that while remaining stern. I attempt to walk this tightrope daily and fail quite often but I get up again and again because in doing so I am learning much about life and myself. Discipline, consistency and structure makes all of the difference. What I've found to be so amusing is how I've struggled to balance both environments. Again during the day I entertain Finn, Lillian, Alessandra, Stanley, Angelina and others such as Evan whereas in the evenings I work with Destiny, Prince, Alize and Sanaia. Do remember the names have been changed to protect the innocent and the not so innocent. However, the names say it all. I am charged with nurturing children from two worlds but they are all children. By the time I arrive in the afternoons to my afterschool program I am met with smiles and hugs. I am greeted so warmly because I never learned how to turn off my Montessori sing song voice from earlier in the day and these elementary aged kids actually love it! Many of these amazing kids stand eye level with me yet enjoy my asking them how their day was and expecting responses void of the adjective "good." I've found that they thirst for attention, affirmation and engagement. My toddlers from earlier in the day have all of those things yet are without boundaries, consequences and discipline many of them have been over indulged to begin with. Early in the day I am just as delighted to see Duke's smile as I am in the afternoon to jump rope with Destiny. Their smiles contain the same childlike joy and wonder. Their tears convey the same sadness and fear. At the end of their day both sets of children return home yet home may be a completely different experience for each of them. This dance between two worlds certainly keeps me on my toes and I love it. Catering to the needs of two sets of children compels me to be creative, clear and quick with it. I admit I pour on an extra helping of gentleness and comfort to the likes of Sanaia and Alize because I realize that my nurturing may be the only kindness they receive that day. Little Naomi, one of my Montessori friends is lavished with attention and indulged in it from every direction. Although I have yet to meet her parents seeing as I've only met her nanny, it appears to me that this little princess with a Texas-sized personality is greeted with smiles and warmth from everyone. How privileged is that? Smiles and warmth for every child, especially from one's parents should not be a privilege. When I set foot on my evening campus I notice that some of the teachers are yelling and hardened towards the students. I understand their frustrations, Lord knows that I do but again, these are children. With the right mixture of firmness and concern I know that any child can thrive. It matters not where a child originates from as long as their experiences and encounters with the world around them validates their presence on the planet. I think that is part of my purpose. I am here to do that with each person I come into contact with. I must validate your presence on the planet. On behalf of all of the other spirits who've arrived here and are actively involved in their work, welcome to planet Earth may your journey here be peaceful, productive and filled with love. I say to Prince and to Tatum welcome, you are both welcome here. I am so glad that you've made it. Make yourselves at home. May your work be blessed. Yes, its an interesting dance that I stumble through daily as exhausting as it sometimes is, but dancing with Duke and Destiny has taught me so very much. Now, God please give me the grace tomorrow to return because somehow I feel You're going to turn the music up aren't You?
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