Resilient Butterfly

Butterflies are often perceived as magical. They are nature’s most perfect example of change, transformation, and growth.

While painting flowers, 17th century hero Maria Sibylla Merian, noticed hanging caterpillars and began documenting their gradual transformation. Maria challenged the misconceptions of her time. Many believed butterflies emerged spontaneously from mud yet Maria's work revealed the true life cycle of these creatures. Maria was a hero committed to truth and most of all was just like a resilient butterfly willing to change her language, location, and life path in service to sharing the truth about butterflies. Maria is the mother to the scientific discovery of metamorphosis.

Our school recently experienced change. We lost beloved learners and one team member. These changes have been hard for everyone and for me I’ve felt as if our magical school’s cocoon was breaking. I am sad, I feel loss, yet I know that magic still exists. I know because in true Acton fashion I look to the learners. They are sad yet they are resilient.

This week I was steadied by a parent. When picking up her daughter from AfterCare at Acton Main I checked in and said “How are you and your family doing with our school’s recent changes?” Her response renewed me. She shared that she was worried that it would be too hard for her daughter, especially since she was a new learner who recently navigated changes of school, gymnastic team, friends, new living and more. I was filled when she shared that it was her daughter who assured her that she was fine. Change she knew how to handle! During the conversation her daughter nonchalantly said “I still have friends and I’m doing great things.” Her mother told me that she realized she had to get out of the way. Instead of projecting her worry she needed to listen and trust her daughter.

I am an Acton parent too and for my daughter change is strange. Her school has been her constant and her friends have felt like cement. Although I have cried for her I also share tears of awe at her resilience. When faced with change she only wanted to send well wishes and remember her friends with the specialness their bond deserves. She is a butterfly and so are all of our children. They are resiliently magical!

I want to be a resilient butterfly for my children and for you. When I struggle I want to learn a new flight path, know the worth of my colors, and feel grounded in knowing that our school’s values guide me. Right now many of you may feel muddy. This week, I and our Guide team feel pretty muddy too. As a reminder of our magic maker Guide role I gifted each Guide with a butterfly pin. Just like Maria’s rally to overcome misconception, I hope our community can rise from the mud and choose to fly.

You have a choice. Will you stay in the mud and dwell on change and live in fear or will you choose to look to the sky and grow? If you choose metamorphosis I invite you to focus on observation. Observe the wonder of your child, observe the joy abounding from our Guide team, observe my commitment to your child and your family. Most importantly, observe your child’s love for learning. Be like Maria, and observe our daily change as we transform into a resilient butterfly community.

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” —John F. Kennedy