and suddenly it all fell into place

Such a dramatic title, but here is what happened. For weeks I had this idea sitting in my head, taking up too much space. I wanted to create a new method for my class, something short and simple to help the children move from free play to more focused activities without losing their calm. Nothing complicated. Just something that works and feels natural.

Until now, I’d been using the Méthode Félicitée. It’s meant to help children transition from one activity to another, using a mix of movement and calm moments. In theory, it’s great. In practice, I never felt trained enough in it, so I kept improvising my way through. I used it for two years and always felt slightly off, like I was following a map drawn by someone who had never met my class. And this year’s group is different again. They are more lively, more sensitive, and they don’t respond well to routines that feel too strict. So I decided to make my own version.

In my head, it was all very clear. I could see the flow, the order, the balance between calm and movement. It made perfect sense in theory. But when I finally started creating it last week, it was a complete mess. The cards didn’t look right, the activities didn’t connect, and the whole thing felt flat. I got frustrated. I started doubting the idea. I almost convinced myself to give up and just use the old method again.

And then today it happened. Out of nowhere. I sat down, started from scratch, and somehow it all came together. I worked for hours without a break, completely focused. Ten small exercises, a mix of relaxation and movement, about fifteen minutes in total. I called it Vague d’équilibre, the wave of balance. It felt right immediately. Like something clicked into place.

To anyone else, it’s just a bunch of cards. But to me, it’s so much more than that. It’s the relief of finally making something that matches the idea in my head. It’s the quiet joy of not giving up. I showed it to a few people and tried to explain how happy I was, but no one really understood. Someone even made fun of me for being so invested in “school stuff.” I just laughed it off, but still. They don’t know how much this meant to me.

I hope these cards actually help. Maybe not just me, but someone else too. Maybe another teacher will use them one day and it’ll make their mornings easier. That would be nice.

Today was also the last day of a French training I’d been following. It was about how children learn new languages, and it turned out to be much harder than I expected. I thought it would be about songs, stories, and playful activities. Instead, it went deep into language acquisition, how children build meaning from tone, rhythm, and context long before they can speak properly. It made me rethink how much learning happens between the lines, how much depends on how we talk and not just what we say.

It was all in French, which is fine for me, but it still took a lot of focus. Reading theory in another language is one thing. Writing reflections about it and trying to sound intelligent is another. I caught myself rereading the same lines over and over because my brain refused to cooperate. But I got through it. Slowly. One cup of coffee at a time.

By the end of the day, I realised I’d been working for nine hours straight. No lunch, no breaks, just me trying to finish everything before my brain shut down. It’s been one of those days where exhaustion and satisfaction walk hand in hand. I’m proud. Quietly proud.

There’s no applause for this kind of thing. No one is going to give me a certificate for making flashcards or finishing a training module. But still, it feels good. I did it.

Now I can rest. Or at least try to. Because knowing myself, it won’t be long before my overthinking mind wants to convince me that it is time for something new again.

By the way, I can’t remember if I mentioned it here on the blog: last July I was convinced that I would write a new novel in November (for NaNoWriMo) – I don’t think that will happen.

It’s midnight 🙂 Goodnight