“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” Walt Disney
The first step. It’s often the hardest. Or so we are told.
For a young child, the first step is not a conscious one, it is one that is urged by an internal life-force. Dr. Montessori called this the horme. It is this life-force that drives young children’s needs to learn and explore. A child crawls toward what interests him, he pulls his body up to standing and starts to feel his weight on his feet. He cruises around your furniture, and then in an interest to discover other areas of the room, he lets go and starts to step. As he realizes his accomplishment he smiles and often drops to sitting. He feels more comfortable closer to the ground. He is now aware that he can move toward you on his feet. He has been watching you all these months and now he, too, can walk.
The time from birth until walking is about a year. Unbelievable! In just a year he has come into the world, shown us his personality, and gone form a helpless newborn to a communicating toddler. Since becoming a parent, each year of my life has offered so much change, both in my children and in me. My children have taught me to live in the moment and to not wish the time away. I used to spend so much time imagining what was coming next. Over the years, I have done better to enjoy the now. The older my children get, the is easier it is to do;, the time seems to move faster.
I’m thinking about the next year and what first steps we will see at the Studio. Yes, we will see children begin to walk, we will see children water their first plant, roll over for the first time, bake their first pie, and speak their first word. What a gift to be surrounded by so many first steps!
We will also see many first steps by parents. We will see first moments of waiting as a child over fills his glass, pausing before catching a child’s stumble, and moments of silence as not to interrupt a child’s concentration. These moments of waiting are also precious to witness. These moments are the reason I started Studio June. We are here to support you on your parenting journey and look forward to another year of first steps.
Thank you, Studio June families, for sharing these moments with us. Thank you for letting us be a space where you return to find community, to find support, and to find peace in your parenting. I look forward to the next year with you and with the new families who will join the Studio. Thank you for continuing to sign your children up for classes, for attending our parenting classes, for reading our blog and the parenting tips in class, and for sharing with new families what Studio June has to offer and encouraging them to join our community.
Thank you and Happy New Year!
Sarah