A new born child
"child who has grown in a place where it was protected from all assaults, from every change o f temperature, in a fluid created for its rest. And in an instant it has changed this dark and silent home for the hostile air. "
(Montessori,1966, p.21)
Zu Yan was placed on my chest right after he was born, strange! I don't feel like how i feel for watching a child is born in TV. I noticed his hands and feet are blue, very very pinky face and no words...
"... clothes are no necessary for a new born child, nor even during the first month of its existence."(Montessori,1966, p.22)
Zu Yan was swaddled and placed in this nursery room after taken from mama. According to dada Zu Yan opened his eyes and look around the room, then closed and be silent again.
"Its tender body is exposed to the harsh contact of solid objects and is roughly handled by thoughless adults" (Montessori,1966, p.21)
Posing with the Consultant Paediatrician Datuk Dr. S.C.E. Abraham.
Twenty-second day of life
Fifth day of life
An alien environment
“At birth a child does not enter into a natural environment but into one that has already been extensively modified by men. It is an alien environment …”
(Montessori,1966, p.21)
And that has explains the reason why ZuYan was frowning whenever he was awake in his first month of life. He was looking at us as “alien” and he is in an “alien” environment.
"Far better for a child would be a room shut off from the noises of the street, where there is peace and quiet, and where light and heat can be tempered a nd controlled." (Montessori,1966, p.21)
Feel so sorry that did not set up a proper place for Zu Yan to rest until early of this month. He was napping in our living room which expose to noises, light, heat for his first two to three months.
I read the book 4 years ago, by now I have forget most of the details. Re-read the book now, it makes more sense to me.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Montessori, M., (1966), The Secrete of Childhood, Ballatine books, New York.
