The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life.
–Maria Montessori
For many, the holiday season is a time for giving. Perhaps more than ever, it is so important for our children to understand that giving does not have to be a materialistic gift. Simple and heartfelt words of love and friendship will last much longer than most anything that can be bought from a shelf. It can be an amazing and powerful gift to our children if, in all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we take time to slow down and model being grateful.
This week we asked each child to share what they are thankful for. While their messages will make you smile and warm your heart, there is beauty in their simplicity.
Amelia– is thankful for her pig stuffy because it’s so cute.
Annie– is thankful for her family because they love her and take care of her.
Arian— is thankful for pasta because it is his favorite food.
Arjuna– is thankful for flowers because they smell good and are pretty.
Ben– is thankful for his bunnies because they are soft.
Brisa– is thankful for her Mom and Dad because they give her hugs and kisses.
Casey–is thankful for Long Island because he loves to go there.
Daniel– is thankful for his friends because he likes to play with them.
David–is thankful for his dogs because they lick him when he wakes up in the morning.
Elanour– is thankful for her Ariel stuffy because she likes to sleep with it at night.
Elizabeth– is thankful for her dog, Bell Bell, because she is a good pillow.
Enzo– is thankful for his Mom and Dad because they always help him.
Evie– is thankful for her brothers, Ruscher and Rory, because she likes to play with them.
Fiona– is thankful for her Gigi and Pop Pop because they love her a lot.
Harlan–is thankful for his iPad because he likes to play Lego Star Wars on it.
Kian– is thankful for hiking with his family.
Kimberlin– is thankful for her brother and sister because they make her laugh.
Levi– is thankful for his Mommy and Daddy because they play cars with him.
Nicolas–is thankful for apples and the animal work at school.
Noelle– is thankful for the ice cream place because she loves the chocolate and vanilla ice cream.
Parker– is thankful for her Nintendo Switch because she loves playing games.
Ryder– is thankful for the claw machine at Bill’s Drive-In because he likes to try to get a stuffy from the machine.
On Wednesday, the children were treated to a presentation honoring the meaning of Diwali. Diwali represents new beginnings and the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. This five-day festival is observed around the world, and its rituals vary by region. Homes are brightly illuminated with diyas (candles) and oil lamps, and people decorate their homes with rangoli. While gathering with family and friends, people often wear fine clothes and jewelry. We are grateful for the time and effort that Paromita Dutt Kunzweiler, Punam Patel, Supreeti Saika, Mithu Talukdar, Chamaini Niyangoda, Radha Priya Gupta, and Hema Ganesan volunteered in order to share with the children this beautiful and meaningful tradition.
Hema and I are grateful for the time we spend with the children each day, and for the relationships we develop with each of you. Wishing you all a week filled with peace and love.
Amanda & Hema