A New Chapter

For a while I stopped writing. I think I was trying to assume a new sense of normalcy as Butterfly Girl grows and matures, outbursts become less frequent and life unfolds. I also stopped because the whole mess around the charter school was terrifying and perhaps I thought not writing about it would help squash all the uncertainty and keep my terror of "what the hell are we going to do if there is no charter?!"  far enough under the surface. 

All that said, the charter did not come through and we were left at a dead end with no where to turn- or so we thought. But life has a way of unfolding and in my life I have always been fortunate to have a trap door open at the last minute through which I always fall clumsily into a new and wonderful experience.

Welcome to Play Mountain Place (PMP). The new school. It has been around for 60 years and it isn't going to go away. It is child-centered. It is humanistic. It is inclusive. The whole day is spent almost entirely outdoors. There are no textbooks, homework, formal classes. There is no raising hands or sitting on squares. There are no bells or lines. There is no "lunchtime"- just eat when you are hungry. Butterfly often eats her lunch perched high in a tree.  

There is morning meeting where kids share plans and problems and questions. There are "teacher led" plans including water plans, wood shop, recorder, rock band, origami, reading, digging and more. There are kid led plans too. Kids choose what they want to participate in on any given day. Butterfly has built a dog house and a bird house. Numerous fascinating and intricate origami pieces have come home. She is learning to play the recorder. On Peace Day last week, the kids made signs out of cardboard and did an impromptu march through the busy city streets near the school. Honk for Peace. 

The yard is an oasis in the middle of the throbbing city. Providing a natural ceiling, tall, old trees worn by 60 years of kids like Butterfly climbing and swinging from the branches cover the yard.  You cannot hear the sound of traffic, horns or airplanes. Structure of wood in shapes and configurations wilder than Dr. Sueus' imagination provide challenging climbing structures and forts. There are geodesic domes for art and meetings. There is a small stage for impromptu performances.  The kids in her yard range from 5 - 12. They interact all day. 

And... the coolest thing... is the mush area. I think this must have been designed 60 years ago for a kid just like Butterfly. The floor and walls are covered with those mats you see in gymnastics. There is a punching bag. A wall of old newspapers  waiting to be torn, thrown, ripped, stomped on. Large padded things to wrestle with or throw. The mush area is to help kids get out energy and also work out big feelings that are manifesting physically in a safe area. Butterfly spent the first three days in there... by her own choice of course.

 We are all learning a new language. I am learning a new way to parent. Our parenting classes at school start next month. All the parents are required to take them. Brother is also in school at PMP. He is in a younger yard with kids 3 -5. In a couple years, they will be on the same yard. 

Much has happened in the last couple weeks since school started. A new chapter in our lives. More to come.