A culture shock

I know a couple weeks ago I shared that we were all adjusting well. Unfortunately it didn't last long. If you remember one of the hardest decisions on making this move was changing day cares. Our daycare, Jardin Magico, in Minneapolis is truly a unique place. It was the first day care we toured, and nothing else compared. I was set on finding a place with language immersion. The fact that they had organic, mostly local food,  cloth diapers, a structured/exploring learning philosophy and was a mile from our house sealed it for me. We were on the waiting list for nine months, which now is probably a short time. Last I heard the waiting list was 3X the capacity of their 3 locations.

When we made the move  I was most sad about Penelope not being with her teachers and the kids she has known since 5 months old. And of course, sad that she wouldn't be in Spanish immersion anymore. However, I didn't think she'd have too difficult of a time adjusting to a new school. She's very friendly and plays with kids on every playground we visit. We toured daycares in Rochester. None of them had the feeling of Jardin, but I was prepared for that. We decided to go with Primrose since they have a very good curriculum and the structure I thought would be good.

What I didn't expect was the total culture shock she is going through. It took me a week to figure out the difference I was feeling when we dropped her off. At Jardin the teachers were all from Central or South America, most with teaching experience from their home country. The level of outward affection towards the kids was huge. It was like being surrounded by grandmothers and aunts and uncles. Although, Jardin's staff is only slightly bigger than Primroses', it felt like a lot more teachers just from the happy greetings of "Buenos dias Laura and Penelope" that came from every direction when we arrived. All of the teachers were amazing at redirecting kids when a fit was going to start and really had somewhat of a relaxed attitude towards tantrums and short attention spans. It was like "well, these are toddlers and they throw tantrums. We are going to do our best to redirect their attention." It was amazing to see them do it. With the preschoolers they were teaching kids more about how to behave. Sure, there were times when Penelope cried when I  dropped her off or she got in trouble and wasn't listening or still needed to "practice sharing," but they were few and far between. Plus, she was learning a ton. She blew me away one day by counting to 40 in Spanish and singing Itsy Bitsy Spider in both english and spanish.

Since I never got around to it I'm posting photos of Penelope on her last day with her teachers. All her teachers including her toddler and infant teachers came to the preschool class to say goodbye. They had put together a picture book of photos since her infant class (pics we had never seen before). Unfortunately I wasn't able to be there since I was on that darn bus. I bawled my eyes out when I got home and saw the photos so maybe it was good I wasn't there. Her wonderful teachers spent weeks preparing her for her new school. She would come home and say "Teacher Maya and Catalina told me I have to listen to my new teachers and make friends at my new escuela"

Teacher Lucy

Teacher Catalina & teacher Maya

This is Sandra (toddler class) and Irma (infant class). Penelope insisted on giving Irma a hug and kiss good night every single night when I picked her up.

Penny and Christian

Penny and Natalie (director of Jardin)

Unfortunately, Penelope seemed to forget her instructions from teacher maya and catlaina. After three days at Primrose, Penelope kind of lost it. I know these are sweeping generalizations, but the culture of a dozen young women who grew up in southern Minnesota is VERY different than the teachers at Jardin. The expectations of the kids behavior is a lot higher, and the learning style is more traditional rather than exploratory (not sure if that's the right word for it?). I think Penelope probably feels reprimanded a lot more just because the teachers are less affectionate.  One morning she cried to the point she was shaking. Last Thursday she cried the night before "I don't want to go to school." One day it took her 3 hours before she joined the other kids. Now it has gotten worse. For 5 days we've gotten reports about Penelope pushing and hitting other kids, which was never something she did at Jardin. We've talked with the lead teacher and are talking to Penelope every night about not being nice and listening to her teachers.

I know you are thinking "well, she'd have to go through this at some time." But to be honest the two elementary schools we had picked out in Minneapolis was the local montessori school or the spanish immersion elementary school. Both are less traditional than the school system here. I know kids adapt. I think it will just take longer than I thought. In some ways it is more like Penelope moved countries instead of 150 miles. And to be selfish one of the hardest parts is now I worry about her at work. In Minneapolis I knew she was having a blast at school...now I worry, which has to be the hardest feeling for a working mom.

I know everyone said moving when she is young is the easiest time to do it. I'm struggling with it because I can't explain it to her. Yes, it was difficult to move in high school, but I understood it. Penelope asks "can we go on a different street to the old school and see teacher Maya?" or "Let's go home today, not to the other house. I want to see my friends." I try to be as upbeat as possible so she doesn't know I'm upset, but it's tough.

I'm hoping in 2 weeks I can post about how she has adjusted so well and made a bunch of new friends.