Lovely Rain Walk, Appreciation of Molly

Molly and several children remarked that yesterday, Tuesday, was one of their favorite walks of the year.  The rains, gentle and otherwise, brought out the beautiful greens in the forest.  The weather pulled us together as a class, and allowed children time for a lot of reflection.  Without making a big deal about it, Molly and I left our backpacks in the classroom.  We took a reasonably long hike with brief pauses at Grandmother Rock and Fairy House Grove--two favorite sheltered places that we have not visited as much as we have enjoyed sunnier meadows.  We then returned to the classroom for a hearty hummus and lettuce and sprout and coconut and seed and jicama picnic feast on the carpet.  It worked beautifully (so much so I may make this more regular on hike days in the winter next year; it is the sitting and eating in the cold rain that really is the hardest).

Farewells from Whole Child/Whole Parent
Polly Berrien Berends

As the truly parently parent is the childlike parent,
As the truly nourishing parent is the nursing parent,
As the truly teaching parent is the learning parent,
As the truly freeing parent is the obedient parent,
As the truly unifying parent is the unified parent,
As the truly beautifying parent is the truthful parent,
As the truly creative parent is the beholding parent,
As the truly communicating parent is the listening parent,
So is the truly loving parent after all no parent at all, but only the loved child of God.

Song of the Seeing Being

The more we see that seeing is the issue in life, the more we look at everything for what it has to teach us.
The more we look at everything for what it has to teach us, the more we see that we are being taught.
The more we see that we are being taught, the more we know that we are loved.
The more we know are loved, the more lovingly we are seeing.
The more lovingly we are seeing, the more loving we are being.
The more loving we are being, the more we see that seeing is the issue in life.
[start over]

With her available housing on Whidbey ending May 31 and lots of opportunities for herself and husband and family calling her back to Oregon, it has become clear to Molly that the next logical step is for her and her family to move back to Oregon after next week.  She will miss our last 3 days of school.  Kristin--well known and well loved by many of our students--will be able to substitute on those last 3 days.

It has been immensely pleasurable to work with Molly this year.  I have learned a tremendous amount from working with her, and I know I will be a better person and teacher in the years ahead from knowing her.  Rather than missing Molly, I will joyfully seek the positive aspects she brings in others around me and thank her in helping to attract such positivity toward my experience.

With great appreciation,

William