Caterpillar

I’ve never seen my kids treated with as much respect, compassion, and kindness as at RVCP. I’ve learned to understand my children better as I’ve watched the teachers guide them through their feelings. What a gift!

My husband and I aren’t sure which part of RVCP we should celebrate the most. The incredible teachers? Their method and how it’s helped our kids? Their method and how it’s helped us be better parents? The community of like-minded families? It really is hard to choose.

After another sleepless night when Gus was a baby I was dropping Sam off at preschool. As a Sunflower Sam was very shy and didn’t want to go into school. It took a lot of coaxing him through the door and waiting. Cassie was home with Gus eagerly awaiting my return so she could get to work on time. I was caught between wanting to be a supportive mom and just getting Sam into school. After we watched a couple kids walk in and start playing immediately, I was starting to lose my patience. The teacher looked at me and gave me a smile and reminded me to breath. That was when it hit me that coop preschool was not only going to be good for my kids but for me too. We both had a refuge and a great education at RVCP.

The RVCP teachers are so deeply engaged in how each kid is feeling and doing, and the interactions between kids. They so genuinely welcome opportunities to sort these things out with the kids (conflict, messages like “mad is okay!” – challenges most of us are at best awkward about, or more likely, dread!).  I know my kids have a deep sense of acceptance and safety at RVCP – and that also extends to me when I’m uncomfortable about the demands of a co-op model.