Missing Miss Essi...

Well, today I got what I considered to be horrible news. Luke's teacher in day care is being moved to a new classroom on Friday. (Nothing like ample warning.) Miss Essi is a wonderful woman who is originally from Togo. She adores Luke and the feeling is mutual. He often cries when she leaves the room and cries out for "My Essi." Miss Essi speaks French to Luke (it's her native language) and she has already taught him to say "Au revoir, Maman" when I say goodbye in the mornings and how to count to 15 in French.

Needless to say, given the bond my son has with Miss Essi, I am terribly upset at the abrupt way in which she is being taken from my son's daily life. She is being relocated to another toddler room, two doors down. Luke may still see her from time to time on the playground or if he goes for a visit to the Green room, but she won't be a part of his daily routine any more.

After discussing with the center director, I'm simply left with the option of having Luke stay in the current Yellow toddler room and meet the new teachers on Monday. Too many parents are asking to move their children with Miss Essi and there isn't sufficient room in Green Toddlers. This is definitely a leap of faith for a nervous mom.

My biggest worries are that Luke has such a loving advocate and teacher in Miss Essi. For all of the challenges attendant with a spirited child like Luke, Miss Essi seems to revel in his uniqueness and encourage him to channel his energy in very productive ways. With a new teacher coming in, I worry that the next person may not realize just how special Luke is and how his energetic approach to life really is a wonderful gift. I worry that he won't form the same bond with the new teacher as he had with Miss Essi- it's hard to replicate that level of closeness. I also worry that Luke will miss out on the experiences of having a person from another area of the world teach and inform him- especially with the foreign languages.

I guess that we will see what Monday brings. I have started preparing Luke that Miss Essi isn't going to be his teacher any more and that a new teacher, Miss Anne, will be his new buddy. He doesn't understand yet and I think that Monday may be a bit tough overall.

More updates as the days go on.....