Friday, September 30, 2011

Sharings on Kimi's Montessori's Journey

At his age of 22 months, I sent Kimi to Montessori in hoping that he could learn to be more independent and of course be close to us in KL. As travelling back to Taiping every two weeks to visit him, sometimes can be real tiring. So we have decided to bring him back to KL so that we can have more bonding time with him.

Perhaps I am not a good mum, perhaps I did not think from his shoes, perhaps I neglected his feelings as a 1 year+ old toddler. Kimi is a jovial and happy boy. He can mix around easily, so Hubby and I do share the same thoughts that Kimi should be able to adapt into his Montessori life very soon.  But never did I expect that Kimi could not get use to his new lifestyle so soon. He cried everyday when I dropped him off. It was really pitiful to see him cried in this way. However, I told myself: Is ok, everything will be fine soon... I think I am just a cruel mum. Seeing him cry so pitifully, I still insisted of sending him there, in hoping he can really get used to it soon.
He throws tantrums, he refuses to change his clothes, he does not want to go out from the house! A lot of problems and challenges he gave me every morning before we step out from the house. Occasionally, husband and wife might end up quarrelling because both of us have different points of views in this. But one word of advice, PATIENT! Everything will turn out fine ~
Perhaps it was a new environment for him, or perhaps he was exposed to some new bacteria, or perhaps he was a bit traumatised whenever we dropped him there, or perhaps he wanted to use his ways to show his discomfort in the childcare…. He fell sick on the fourth day night right after his Montessori life. High fever, coughing, flu, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. all came one after another.  

For the first 2months he was in the Montessori, applying leaves to take care of him at home and sending him to visit the paediatrician, were my weekly jobs.  I think I have lost counts in the numbers of times he went to see doctor. Waking up middle of the night a few times to clean his mess and wash the bed sheets after he vomited, trying to feed him eat medicine by myself during the day time, entertaining him when he was sick, all these almost made me lost all my energy in taking care of him.

As a pregnant Mummy, I finally fell sick together with him. When he coughs, I cough, when he stomach upsets, I also follow him stomach upsets. I had the record of coughing for one month plus and no signs of recovering.  In order to make myself recovering faster than him, I ate all the medicine which my Gynae prescribed to me including antibiotics. She told me is safe for me to eat, so I ate them without hesitating so that I could recover faster. I did all I could. And of course, for a sick toddler on medications for so long, definitely his weights will go down. Besides juggling between his medicine and meals, I need to hear some ‘people’ commenting that I did not take good care of my son well and made him look so thin. As a mother, seeing my own son getting thinner day by day, will I be happy over this? Well, this remark indeed made me sad for some time. It even makes me wondering… perhaps I am really not a good Mummy.
Kimi learns how to eat on his own ~

Some of Kimi's updates from the teachers which I received through MMS ~

Anyway, all these are over now. Kimi is now healthy and happily going to his Montessori in this week. However, this is his final week there. We supposed to send him there for another month, but due to some personal health reasons, I very reluctantly cancelled his October term yesterday. Haih… All my perseverance for the past 3 months seems like a waste now. It is a pity for Kimi. He seems to enjoy his life now with some friends he had made in this Montessori and yet Mummy is taking it away from him. Sorry ya, my dear son! At this moment of time, Mummy needs to take good care of your little brother in me first. Hope that you won’t mind. Mummy promises to you, I will definitely let you go back again once everything has settled down. Hopefully by then, you won’t cry again for sending you there ya…
Luckily the teachers there are all very friendly. They are the ones who give me confidence and encouragements all the time when I have signs of giving up. I really wish to thank them for this. Thank you for helping me to take care of Kimi for the past 3 months. He is a more sensible kid now. I cannot use obedient to describe him as he still throws tantrums at times when he feels not good or things not getting right for him. Well, I believe most toddlers are like this at this age of time…. I will slowly guide him in this. Hope Kimi can be a good boy very soon! Haha :)

To all Kimi’s teachers: For all the hard work and efforts you have put in, I am very thankful to every one of you in the Montessori!
Note to this post:
To all the Mummies out there, be prepared for your son/daughter to fall sick easily during the first couple of months when you send him/her to a Child Care Centre. Don’t too worry too much on this as the doctors also inform us that the child eventually will get immune to it soon. Be strong and believe in your choice. Although it may seem tiring to take care of a sick toddler all the time, I am sure you will grow together with your child in this Montessori or Child Care Centre’s journey. I learnt a lot from this lesson and I am sure you will too. Do speak to your child and let him understand your intentions of sending him there. Try your best to ease his/her separation anxiety. Give your child some time and confidence. Do assure him that you will come and pick him/her up after your work. Your child will understand and adjust themselves one day even though he/she may not able to express it.

When one day, you drop your child there without him/her crying and he/she can wave ‘Bye-Bye’ to you when you about to leave for work, then you will finally understand, all the efforts and time you have put in, ARE NEVER WASTED!! You will melt when you see him/her smiles on the face… Then you will realize, there are all worthwhile!

No comments: