Stage Management

Pleasant View Schoolhouse quoted this exerpt from the Homemaker's Encyclopedia today:

"Oh, yes . . . and you're a stage manager, too! You set the mood for a child, alternating gay activity with periods of calm. You help a child get to sleep by providing a restful atmosphere, cool air, drawn blinds, and maybe soft music. You see that mealtimes are pleasant and serene with the emphasis on sociability, not manners or punishment. You arrange a child's playroom so he has several different type things to do, seeing that it's bright and sunny and generally appealing. And you change scenes, too. You sense the moment when your child is becoming bored with indoor amusements . . . And then you lose no time is getting him outside for play. And you sense approaching fatigue in time to remove him indoors again . . ."

--Homemaker's Encyclopedia: How to Care for Children (1952)

this reminded me so much of Montessori's directive to observe the child as quoted here:

"The teacher is trained to model kindness and consideration, to observe the child and follow her interests in suggesting work, to give careful, individual lessons, and to refrain from interrupting when the child is concentrating on an activity. " from Montessori Homeschooling

These observations reveal readiness for new challenges as well as fatigue and ennui.  Careful observation allows you to alter the environment proactively, heading off negative behavior and guiding the child to success.  We all know that nothing breeds success like success. Charlotte Mason picked up that theme in her formation of habit passages. Another blogger, The Sparrow's Nest, quoted from a book entitled The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace:

The New Testament Greek word for discipline is gymnazo which means "to exercise or to train." In other words, it means do it over and over until you get it right. We get our English words gymnastics and gymnasium from this Greek word.

So I guess that makes us stage managers and gymnastics coaches. ; )  We observe carefully, we organize the environment, and then we cue them over and over again to repeat the desired behavior until good habits are formed. Sometimes that last part makes me weary to be honest. It always takes a lot more 'over and over' than I expect for a habit to be rock solid. That applies to mom's habits too. And habits once formed have a maddening tendency to vanish once you stop repeating them. My cabinet organization is a case in point...

We had worked hard to get our home super organized last summer and fall. A few weeks spent on my duff after the baby has allowed several trouble spots to form again. We are now working to get back into our good habits, to observe our environment more closely so that they don't get away from us.  The children are being guided back into their regular schedule. The good news is that once a habit is formed it isn't long lost even if it is put aside for a time. It has been much easier to fall back into the routine than it was to establish it initially.

Time to get back to the mats for this coach. Have a wonderful weekend!