The More We Get Together the Happier We’ll Be!

5/5/2020

As lockdown perseveres and we continue to do online sessions the lessons learned are mind-blowing. This really is with reference to a deeper understanding of the human spirit and what matters the most; I speak of our compassion, our resilience, our values and our enduring bonds.

I am aware that I have skipped a few blog posts. There has been a change of focus and a shifting of routines which has made the world turn slightly upside down and subsequently my routine of writing the blog has been sidelined by sharing news with the parents and posting on our private Albany Montessori at Home Facebook page.

The absence is significant because in the midst of it all there was a wonderful surprise which needs a big mention. In the second week of term whilst Tim and I were doing our online circle, the doorbell rang and we were slightly distracted. I was mid flow in circle, talking about our Stone Age people and the evolution of humans from then to now, and Tim got up and came back with a hamper and a card. I glanced at the top of the card and out of the corner of my eye there were all the children smiling up at us. I caught Tim’s eye and told him, ‘I can’t do this right now – let’s do this at the end of the session.’ So that’s what we did.
At the end of the session we felt the presence of our wonderful nursery community even more, all watching us from their homes. Tim started by saying that most of you might have heard the door bell during the session. He continued that that was unusual as we had not been expecting anything, and when he had opened the door there was a hamper at the door step as well as two boxes of wine. He began by thanking everyone, by going through the contents of the hamper, by saying it would be so lovely if everyone could come over and share. And actually we were both so choked up that not many words flowed other than thank you, we miss you and what a wonderful surprise. There were tears from us and from the parents. Even now writing this two weeks later it make me well up.

This is what I wrote to the parents later that day:

In moments like today my brain becomes overloaded, my heart bursts and I become speechless. Luckily Tim’s brain doesn’t shut down for as long as mine! He has already eloquently summed up our feelings and thoughts beneath the video and really I just want to corroborate and add some words of my own.

Sometimes there should be more words than ‘thank you’ to express the depth of feelings that are felt; like a scale of thank yous. If this was the case our thank you today would be off that scale.
Your combined thoughtfulness, care and love is amazing. We value the daily circles so much for the opportunity to see you all and continue to be a part of each other's lives. Thank you for taking the time to be there too and now giving us one of the most thoughtful gifts that we have ever received. We are overwhelmed by your kindness and feel very blessed to be part of a such a caring, joyful and united community. So from the absolute deepest, soulful and love-filled bottom of our hearts an enormous (bigger than Argentinosaurus!) THANK YOU with massive amounts of love.
Missing you all hugely. Coming back together is going to be, without a shadow of a doubt, the best thing in the world. ❤️❤️❤️

The mind-blowing lessons are all and everything to do with experiencing what being part of a united and caring community feels like. That we all share caring values, that we support one another and that we continue to be there for each other. Since then I have spoken to parents who tell me that the online circle is the best part of the day. I whole heartedly agree. It fills the soul to its brim and overflows with love, laughter and joy. And the best thing is we repeat it all over and over again seeing each other, touching base and then signing off till the next day. And our goodbye is singing ‘The more we get together the happier we’ll be.’ So much truth in such a simple song.

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