Cole began attending Orono Montessori school when he was 17 months old (May 2008). After months and months of him exhibiting severe separation anxiety, Dave and I made the decision that it was necessary for him to be socialized around others consistently. I knew it was going to be initially a very difficult change (for both of us). However, my best friend's kids had attended OMS and though it was a 15 minute one-way commute, I knew with her recommendation, the obvious and overwhelming happy energy I felt when we interviewed there, the awesome outdoor play areas, the Montessori method of learning and the smiles on the kid's faces, I knew that was the place for Cole to be.
I'll never forget the first morning I dropped him off in the toddler room into the capable and caring hands of Ms. Sara. Cole writhed and sobbed and looked at me with such confusion as I walked away. It had to be done but I sat in the parking lot, sobbing myself, knowing he would be fine but wondering how I would cope. It was a rough few weeks, Cole was not happy about the new arrangement. They told me he would settle down after I left each morning and I just had to trust them.
It was so odd coming home to a quiet house, I was off-balance and didn't quite know what to do with myself so I tackled numerous household projects to fill the time (3 days a week). Of course, eventually we fell into our new normal. Cole spent a year and half in Ms. Sara's room before moving to Ms. Leena's preschool classroom just shy of his 3rd birthday. Cole was not about to transition quietly. Thus began a new wave of tearful drop-offs as he adjusted to new teachers, friends and daily events. He remained hesitant to engage for months, choosing to observe from the sidelines much of the time. Cole readily took to the Montessori lessons but preferred not to take part in some of the more social aspects such as singing, face painting or any activity that was not his choice. Ms. Leena, Ms. Holly and Ms. Jenifer took him under their wings and gently coaxed him when he put on the brakes.
As he approached his 4th birthday, Cole began to come out of his shell. He knew what he liked and didn't like but was now able to communicate it instead of just welling up with tears. Cole still clung to Dave and I in the morning, reluctant to join in the chaos of 24 little voices clamoring to be heard. Who could blame him? LOL. He was becoming quite the chatterbox though and would talk your ear off about such random things!
Cole had several buddies at school with whom he would gravitate to at drop off and be with out on the playground at pick-up, running, chasing, pushing trucks, and building towers. Every afternoon I was greeted with a huge tackling hug. The kid's knew everyone's parents and made the announcements as we entered the building. I came in to help with art and science projects, reading, field trips and the photo shoot. I got to see how dedicated the OMS staff was in caring for 60 some children that weren't their own! Spending time on-site allowed me in an insider's view of how OMS handled discipline, respect, learning and growing. I was awed by what I saw!
It was a big year between his 4th and 5th birthdays. Cole had already shown us what a charming, funny, curious, goofy and bright kid he was but those traits had remained buttoned-up when he was in the company of others. He finally turned a corner somewhere in his 4th year and then Bam, all of a sudden he was making everyone laugh, he was expressing his silly side, he was more inclined to participate in group/team activity, he was randomly hugging his teachers. It was a huge and pivotal growth period. As he became more at ease, he was more apt to get involved on many levels which had a positive domino effect.
As he entered the 2011-2012 school year, he was one of the older students at OMS which meant he was asked to help out with the littler ones. He liked the responsibility. Cole continued to excel academically, amazing us with his aptitude with numbers and his overall ability with phonics. He was doing first grade work and he wasn't even in kindergarten.
We knew in the spring that he would be attending full-day kindergarten in St. Louis Park so his final months at OMS were drawing near. His most formative years have been under the guidance and loving care of the staff at OMS. Cole has thrived in this environment and it has been a joy to watch him grow into such a smart young lad. Much of that is his own doing, some of it ours as parents and much of it is attributable to the individuals at OMS which will forever be a part of Cole's history and we will forever hold the memories that were made here in our hearts.
The last morning I dropped him off yesterday, August 2, 2012, I had a huge lump in my throat and I held back tears as signed him in once last time. We gave gifts to his teachers and dished out lots of hugs. Dave and I had a mini-party for the kids at pick-up with popsicles and lollipops. Dave read "Oh the Places You Will Go" by Dr. Seuss. Soon it was time to pack up, take some pictures and say good-bye. We will visit often. Some things in life though necessary are so bittersweet.
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