To the Mothers of H.A.P.S!
Mothering is not just a biological role; it’s also a feeling, a benign presence. Many times, to mother someone can be misinterpreted as nagging, but the essence of mothering is to nourish someone’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs. While we often associate nourishing with lofty ideals and view it as an art, its fundamental essence is giving. A nourisher is someone who is a giver. They can be present in many roles, like aunts, older siblings, teachers, cousins, mentors… and one such vital embodiment is that in the shape of a Mother.
The modern-day mother may or may not be earning a monthly income, but she is definitely trying to nourish her children and, by extension, her family in the best way possible. As a homemaker, she may have neglected her personal aspirations and desires. She may be struggling, searching for a post in the job market, and facing rejection. She might be trying to improve herself and pick up new skills while working. Some may be trying to balance work and home, tired but unwilling to give up. They go to bed with a dream and wake up with the power to transform it into a vision and manifest it.
Teachers are the nourishers at school, the mother away from home who makes the campus feel like home! She extends a warm welcome to the students, welcoming them without any judgment. To her, they are her children with whom she’s going to spend the day, inculcating values, introducing concepts, doing revisions, instilling Healthy Habits, and Igniting the joy of learning! She gracefully moves from child to child, cajoling one and glaring at another. She gently wipes away someone’s tears and marvels at another’s beaming smile. It’s about disciplining one person and inspiring others!
The job of a modern-day facilitator is to be innovative. She’s a multitasker who is in sync with the changing times, embracing the fear, the stress, the excitement, and the developments and assimilating them all together to create a haven for her pupils. At H.A.P.S., our teaching fraternity has implemented three educational programs for the growth of our children. H-KYC – Hillwoods Know Your Child!— At the forefront is understanding the child’s emerging learning style. Is the child a kinesthetic learner? Is the child an auditory or visual learner? Is she/he an intra-disciplinary or inter-disciplinary learner? The teacher with a specific learning style is clubbed with children of that style in a CBL format (Cluster-Based Learning), which takes place on every fifth day of the week and is termed “Enrichment Fridays!”
The circle of mothers at our K–5 campus begins from the mother at home to the mother teacher at school and back to the mother at home. The biological mother is scared because the moment the child steps into the school, it’s as if her heart has left her body, and she has many questions, like will her child be bullied, and will she/he get along with the peers? The process of weaning off begins gradually with a lot of TLC (Tender, Love and Care). The effort comes from both sides, the faith of the biological mother and the nourishment given by the school mother. Together, they create a safe space for the child to thrive!
This cycle starts in the nursery when the child is 3 years old and continues every year. It is the beauty of this circle, this band of mothers, which acts as a shield for the child. As long as trust and love exist side by side, the child will adapt, grow, and flourish.
Here’s wishing all the mothers of H.A.P.S. a very Happy Mother’s Day!
Every child is unique, and so is every mother.
Blog post by Ms.Harshita
Headmistress H.A.P.S
