Why we are going
by Sara
Too many of our friends have known for too long that we (or more truthfully - "I") didn't want to stay in Davis for the long haul. This decision - to pack up our three little children and move to India for one year - is a challenge for me to examine my rationale for deploring a hot, flat, dry Californian landscape, and an opportunity to escape suburban motherhood. I'm not that clear on Ajay's reasons for going, but I suspect it to be somewhat of a stop-gap measure to prevent us from making a "major move" decision he will regret; to appease my constant whining; and to get a break himself. One motive of mine is to offer him an opportunity to pursue goals beyond bread-winning and public school education. Another is for goals beyond bread-baking and running sibling interventions.
I think we both agree that the year will be critical to building character for our children. We want to give them an early glimpse of how different life can be (including how lucky they are!) from middle-class America. And we want them to have a real idea of what their Indian heritage means. Not just a three week trip every couple of years, but an honest extended look at life in India. Children do learn from stories, but even more from experience.
Satya, age 6 has just finished one year of Waldorf kindergarten; Violet, age 4, has attended the same loving Waldorf pre-school that Satya went to (kicking and screaming), and even Tara, 22 months this week, knows the sweetness of the friends, care-givers and teachers who are dedicated to raising the whole child. Satya is on the verge of losing his innocence - already rebelling and teaching his sisters potty words. Still doesn't know what Disney is, who Batman is, or even what a monster is. But with school, and I won't be so naive as to think he won't learn these things in India too! - the magic years are coming to a close, and his sisters' experiences will reflect that as well.
I didn't use to be crabby, and I don't remember needing to express myself before. But then I once had a life of my own, which I seem to have lost in the process of birthing, nursing and raising three (terrific!) children
Too many of our friends have known for too long that we (or more truthfully - "I") didn't want to stay in Davis for the long haul. This decision - to pack up our three little children and move to India for one year - is a challenge for me to examine my rationale for deploring a hot, flat, dry Californian landscape, and an opportunity to escape suburban motherhood. I'm not that clear on Ajay's reasons for going, but I suspect it to be somewhat of a stop-gap measure to prevent us from making a "major move" decision he will regret; to appease my constant whining; and to get a break himself. One motive of mine is to offer him an opportunity to pursue goals beyond bread-winning and public school education. Another is for goals beyond bread-baking and running sibling interventions.
I think we both agree that the year will be critical to building character for our children. We want to give them an early glimpse of how different life can be (including how lucky they are!) from middle-class America. And we want them to have a real idea of what their Indian heritage means. Not just a three week trip every couple of years, but an honest extended look at life in India. Children do learn from stories, but even more from experience.
Satya, age 6 has just finished one year of Waldorf kindergarten; Violet, age 4, has attended the same loving Waldorf pre-school that Satya went to (kicking and screaming), and even Tara, 22 months this week, knows the sweetness of the friends, care-givers and teachers who are dedicated to raising the whole child. Satya is on the verge of losing his innocence - already rebelling and teaching his sisters potty words. Still doesn't know what Disney is, who Batman is, or even what a monster is. But with school, and I won't be so naive as to think he won't learn these things in India too! - the magic years are coming to a close, and his sisters' experiences will reflect that as well.
I didn't use to be crabby, and I don't remember needing to express myself before. But then I once had a life of my own, which I seem to have lost in the process of birthing, nursing and raising three (terrific!) children
posted by Sara and Ajay at 11:41 PM
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