Last week we had our first parent conference with Nishad’s teacher. Nishad has been doing great since the start. 🙂 Right now he’s working with the Red Rods. He’s also quite the eater! His teacher commented on how wonderful it is to see him enjoy tomatoes and hummus (things other kids won’t eat and even refresh to try). I feel so secure with letting him eat snack at school as I know they are not exposed processed or sugary foods. She also said that sometimes he is an observer- he likes to watch the older kids (his classroom, like any holistic Montessori School consists of 3-6 year olds) at work.

He’s made quite the bond with his two teachers, Brenda and Mary Beth. Though there are 11 children total in his class, he speaks mostly about his friend Thomas and Adam (who noticed his new haircut and liked it!). There are no tears anymore- they only lasted briefly in the beginning of the school year. The director of the school describes Nishad as a very sweet, gentle and compassionate boy.

We are thrilled about our decision to enroll him in the 3 year program. I always tried to maintain a Montessori home for Nishad (and Arun), but having him in the environment that he is in, REALLY impacts him. He was my helper before, but now he is my full out assistant, if not supervisor! They have a Spanish specialist as well as an art specialist. I’ll never forget a parent telling me in another Montessori school, “My child knew where Asia was on a map before she even knew her A,B,C’s.” Some parents get it- and some don’t. I wish everyone could have an authentic Montessori experience…even adults! 🙂

This past week Ashish also went to Parent Education Night at Nishad’s school. He made me so good. He left there and called me and said, “Now I know why you are so passionate about Montessori.” Of course, he was on board with the decision of a Montessori Education, however, he hasn’t had that much time to experience it first hand, or rather hands on. Sure, he’s done the tours, observations and of course, researched and educated himself too…but it is very different when you are one with the environment.

This past week I also took part in a “Coffee with…” the director of the school. What an enlightening conversation and spirit of community. It’s nice to be able to share with other parents and form a common bond based off of prioritizing your child’s needs- Montessori, of course, paving the way for their future. One Mom shared with us how her friends and neighbors can’t believe her 3 year old is in a 3 hour, 5 day a week program. She said how some perceive her as snobby as her daughter is in a Montessori School. How they question her again and again about what Montessori is, doubting her answers. I smiled and said, “Just tell them it’s a cult.” ..haha…

I also had a park and rec meeting and another photography order to work on! Busy week! This combined with commuting 5 days a week to pick up Nishad. My friend and I did get our walk in this week (albeit, wasn’t in the morning as usual)- we’re on a roll! All the boys sure did enjoy the cows. She made a comment about getting heaters installed on our strollers. I’m up for that!

With Nishad going off to pre-school in the mornings, I can only reflect upon how fast time has gone by. I am feeling a little sentimental these days. While cleaning out my e-mail, I came across this e-mail I wrote while I was pregnant with Nishad. I hope you enjoy the trip down memory lane- the words of an expectant Mommy that are lined with hope, joy, excitement and love.

With this being Breast Cancer Awareness month- I find it appropriate as well. It’s good to remember…It keeps my Mother’s spirit alive.

Happy Day after Mothers Day!

For those of you that are Mother’s I hope you all enjoyed your Mother’s Day. For those that are not, I hope you enjoyed simply spending time with your Mother’s, or remembering them. This Mother’s Day was my first “Mommy-to-be” status Mother’s Day, as I am carrying a beautiful gift inside of me. There is something so precious about carrying the baby of the man you love inside of you, and knowing that it’s because of this baby, you have an added title…one I feel is the most important one could ever hold; Mother.

In a card I received from Ashish it read, “God created Mother’s because he could not be everywhere.” I think that’s true, in the same sense that he creates teachers. Teacher’s, like Mother’s, watch over, protect, educate, guide, care, are advocates for children and scaffold children from one milestone to another. I’ve also encountered mother’s like my friend Jessica’s Mom, Pat, Kelly’s Mom, Dee and John Krecek’s Mom, Sandy that don’t only look out for the benefit for their child, but have opened up their hearts, and loved other peoples children unconditionally. Not that they ever took my Mother’s place, nor did they ever want that position in my heart, but they certainly took off where my mother left off. Though my Mother is wittiness to everything that occurs in my life, and is with me (as I can feel her presence in all that is beauty and love which surrounds me), I sure am blessed to have these inspirational mother’s in my life.

I also have found a few friends, that God has chosen for me, that are mother’s of some beautiful children; As my mother would say, “A reflection of ones parenting.” Christine, Francesca and Odel have always been a constant steady presence in my life that have always offered what I call unconditional motherly advice, support, and praise.

So many of you are inner-woven into the fabrics of my ideas of what parenting, and being a Mother is all about. I thank you for your continuing example. Your life stories are the stories that lay the foundation for learning and sharing of life. I’m not only glad that I will be a Mother, I’m glad I know so many wonderful Mother’s.

This Mother’s Day was also about healing. It was the first Mother’s Day that I didn’t try to “avoid.” It was the first Mother’s Day that I actually looked at the cards in the store without crying or feeling a loss. In fact, this Mother’s Day, I was able to purchase a few Mother’s Day cards and feel good about doing so. I don’t know why I am suddenly healing, and feeling as though my mother’s presence is stronger than ever in my life after 13 years, but I do feel this. I feel as though she is beaming with pride and joy, as “her baby” prepares to give birth to her own baby. Thirteen years, and yet I can still hear her laugh and smile that lit up a room as if it were yesterday. I thank God that my Mother and I had the strong relationship that we did, as though she and I only had one another for 17 years, some people have their Mother’s around for their entire life time and never come anywhere close to the relationship my Mother and I had. She was at every event I had, we always had a house full of my friends as she loved having them over, she supported not just me, but everyone in plays and at dance, she was my biggest fan and called me she and my father’s love child, because “they were so in love when they had me.”

I know how they must have felt, because that is how I feel with Ashish. I knew that Ashish was going to be the man I married, because he looked at me the same way that my father use to look at my mother. Just enamored, and full of love. For short while, especially those few last months living in Berwyn, I forgot what was important. Ashish was my rock. He reminded me what was important. It’s not the drama, the gossip, or even the daily affairs. It’s the over all scheme of things. Being a good person, having good intentions, and loving so much that your heart overflows with care for all. I hope I can pass these things on to my Baby.

This Mother’s Day I received a dozen (multi-colored) roses from “Baby” and a cared that read that he or she promises to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day in person next year. Yes, you guessed it, Daddy played a part in helping Baby get Mommy the flowers!

Next year, when Baby is here, I’m going to start gardening again (Something, like cooking, I picked up from my Mom!). I use to take care of “her garden” back in Berwyn in honor of her. After some time, I started planting perennials for some people as my Mom did for my brother and I. (A purple climber for me and a bleeding heart for him!) In that garden, to name a few, I planted tiger Lillie’s for Audrey, funky purple spiral butterfly flowers (never knew the name- just knew they were funky-cool!) for Kelly, Tulips for my niece Jessyca (I always remember hiding Easter eggs in the yard for her and stuffing her basket with stuff until it was over-flowing!), purple corn flowers for Ian, gladiolas for John K. and Daisy’s for Jessica. Next year, I will be starting my own garden with Baby. I already know, you will all be included in this one!

Ashish and I have decided to post-pone our house warming until next year, so maybe you will see the garden first hand! Hopefully, I will see you all before at the baby shower that “Auntie Jessica” is hosting! She and I have been collaborating with ideas, and oh, boy (or girl!!), you just wait! haha! I’m so excited!

Ok, my friends! Love to you all. Have a great day.
Beverlee

It’s Monday already? This weekend I ventured out into my garden again. I’ve gotten so busy with photography/design projects that I have had to neglect my garden a bit. Thank goodness for the rain! I love my veggie garden, though I’m still not quite sure I understand it. In time… I went out and passed off some herbs to a friend and tomatoes to my neighbor. With the night temperatures dipping so low, it won’t be long before it’s all gone.

Despite being sick this weekend, I was also able to plant 9 new shrubs in the front of our house. If you’re keeping tabs, that completes phase two of the front of the house. Next Autumn (2009) we’ll add one more tree, and then we are done, done, done. It will be nice to sit back and watch it all grow- as we’ve finally been able to do with our backyard. I am so excited about the burning bush shrubs– they look fantastic! I’m glad I put them around the fire pit. Believe it or not, my climber (crimson) is still in bloom! It bloomed all Spring, Summer…and it’s still holding on. All of our trees in back gained a lot of height this season. They are starting to look amazing as the foliage peaks. I love standing on our deck and looking in both directions to see the reflection of the trees in the two ponds. Just beautiful.

Tomorrow Nishad is going to bring some veggies to school from our garden, including a mini-watermelon and melon. His classmates and teacher just love our home grown stuff. We’re happy to share.

We have a busy week. After work tomorrow, Ashish is heading over directly to Nishad’s school as there is a parent function in the evening that begins at 6:30PM. Wednesday, after I pick up Nishad from school, we have an eye doctor appointment. That evening, I have a park and recreational meeting. Thursday morning, I have a ‘Parent Coffee with the Director’ at 8AM at Nishad’s school. Ashish will bring Nishad and Arun when it’s time to drop Nishad off. Baby Arun can stay with me the remainder of the time. Thursday night I was invited to a party, but I had a previous commitment, so I’ll see if I can juggle both.

HEROES is on tonight! I can’t wait until tomorrow when Ashish comes home! We watch in on Netflix– no commercials that way and the kids are subjected to any tv. Yeah, leave that mindless stuff to the adults, thank you! Ashish is so cool. I love the way he can fix and maneuver things. He hooked up one of our lap tops to the big tv in the living room- it’s great to be able to watch things in the comfort of our home, on our time schedule.

We finally decided what we are doing for the boys birthdays- besides going to the best celebration on earth…DinseyWorld! 🙂 I am really looking forward to some R & R after in Cocoa Beach…some good, quality, family time! In a little over 2-weeks…but who’s counting? 🙂

On a side note, I heard from a good friend of mine today, Vicki! She and I lost connection for a while….we’ll touch base in the morning and catch-up. I can’t wait to for her to fill in the gaps for me!

2nd Debate tomorrow night!