Alden came home from school the other day saying that she’d found a six-leaf clover at school. Of course, I took it for kid enthusiasm or kid confusion or kid exaggeration and put it out of mind.

But then, the next day, she came home with the evidence. Leah, one of the teachers at Friendship Montessori School, had taken the time to laminate Alden’s clover finds, which included five four-leaf clovers and, yes, one with six leaves.

Leah told Alden that she had never seen a six-leaf clover before.

Later that night, I was making dinner and noticed that Alden wasn’t in the room and hadn’t been for a while. A few minutes later she emerged, led us into her bedroom, and showed us what she’d been up to.

Our little botanist had used scotch tape to mount her specimens to the wall, and wanting to give FMS credit yet knowing that it is untoward to write directly on one’s bedroom wall, she put another piece of tape on the wall beneath her clovers and wrote “FMS” on it.

I love that my kids’ school encourages exploration, rewards discovery, and takes the time to make them feel special. It makes me sad to think that in less than a month Alden’s time at FMS will draw to a close. She’s gained so much confidence, knowledge, and wisdom in her time there. And so many wonderful friends.

Thanks, Leah, for being such a marvelous teacher. And thanks, FMS, for helping my little girl learn to love and celebrate the large and small wonders of everyday life.