A Journey of Trust: Manifesting the Right School for My Child

Growing up, my emotional needs were often overlooked. On top of that, the traumatic experiences and challenging home environment of my childhood gave me a clear understanding of what I didn’t want for my future child and the kind of healthy and nurturing environment I wanted to create.

Later in life, even before becoming a parent, I often found myself giving parenting advice to friends—helping them navigate challenges, understand different perspectives, strike a balance between being too strict or too lenient or gentle, and regulate their own emotions. They often wondered how I had such insight despite not having children of my own. 

When I finally became a mother — after the painful loss of two newborn twins and navigating the emotional and physical toll of infertility treatments — I was excited to begin my parenting journey. But I quickly realized that I was unprepared for the unique challenges that lay ahead.

My son, Dev, experienced developmental delays and exhibited possible signs of being on autism spectrum and ADHD, which were further worsen by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teaching him basic skills that other children seemed to grasp naturally was both challenging and emotionally exhausting. As a mother, I felt confused, frustrated, and worried while consulting various doctors and therapists, only to realize there was no clear solution or guaranteed path forward. As a mother, I felt deeply hurt and helpless whenever I faced harsh judgments about Dev’s behavior or development.

However, the spiritual counselor in me remained deeply aware. I understood why this was happening—not just as a struggle, but as part of a greater purpose. I recognized our soul contract, my role in Dev’s life, his role in mine, and how it all connected to his overall life journey. I have been applying manifestation, spiritual, and healing techniques—not only to support Dev’s development but also to keep myself sane, centered, and aligned. This helped me stay motivated, not to give up and keep taking efforts.

When it was time to decide on Dev's schooling, I opted for a safer option, as he lacked the basic skills needed to navigate a traditional school environment. Enrolling him at Paper Planes School turned out to be a true blessing. The universe had already aligned things in our favor—I had connected with Deepti Mendiratta, the founder of Paper Planes Preschool, through a social group long before we needed the school. We quickly became friends, and her genuine guidance and support were truly invaluable. Watching Dev settle in brought immense relief and gratitude.

But soon, new worries emerged. As playgroup came to an end, all the parents began discussing school admissions for nursery. I felt completely lost in the sea of information and overwhelmed with concerns about Dev. How would he adjust to a larger school with more children, less personal attention, and greater expectations? He hadn’t even started speaking yet—would he be able to understand instructions? How would he communicate? Which school would provide the right environment for his growth? Should we choose ICSE, CBSE, or the state board? Would a regular school be suitable for him, or would he need a special school? Would he be able to make friends? The endless unanswered questions weighed heavily on me.

Even before Dev was born, Mayur and I had a clear vision of the kind of school we wanted—a humble, grounded institution that prioritized quality education over flashy facilities. We had heard countless disappointing stories from friends about schools with high attrition ratio of teachers and children struggling to adjust with new teachers, poor management and other issues. The prospect of navigating this complex landscape, especially with Dev’s unique needs, felt overwhelming.

We had narrowed down our options to Singhania and Vasant Vihar School, but the timing of his transition remained uncertain. Should we let him finish pre-school at Paper Planes and directly enroll him in first grade, or shift him earlier? Other parents were highly informed about admission timelines and requirements, while we had not kept track of any of it. It felt like the pressure of college admissions. I kept praying for clarity — for the right school to present itself effortlessly, for Dev to be accepted and supported, and for guidance at the right time.

Finally we decided to continue with The Paper Planes School for nursery and decided to go with the flow.

When you let go and trust the flow, it often leads you exactly where you need to be. A few months later, the Universe answered through Dr. Smriti Sorate, a physiotherapist I knew from a social group—she had even helped me with my shoulder pain. In October 2022, while Dev was in nursery at Paper Planes, she called with unexpected news: Vasant Vihar School was accepting mid-term nursery admissions. Remembering that I had once mentioned it as a preferred option, she had already spoken to the principal and arranged a meeting for us.

I felt overwhelmed. The very next day, we met the principal, who suggested that Dev start school within three days, as the second term was about to begin. I asked if they could hold his seat until Junior KG since he was already settled at Paper Planes, but she explained that they couldn’t reserve spots or guarantee admission for the next year. Then, she said something that struck a deep chord—almost as if it were a message from the Universe or my angels:
"You’ve arrived at exactly the right place at the right time. Other parents often struggle to get admission at Vasant Vihar as they don’t approach us at right time. So just take this opportunity and send him to school on Monday."

At that moment, I knew I had to trust the journey.

Emotionally, it was a difficult decision—moving Dev from the protective environment of Paper Planes to a big school almost overnight. My mind raced with uncertainty, but deep down, there was a quiet sense of assurance in my heart.

Like an angel, Dr. Smriti helped me process my thoughts, easing my fears and giving me the clarity I needed. In the end, we took the leap. I’m deeply grateful to her—without her support, we wouldn’t have secured the admission or found the courage to make this decision.

Today, Dev has graduated from preschool, and his growth has been nothing short of incredible. This journey wasn’t easy—we continued with occupational therapy and sought guidance from school counselors, teachers, and supervisors. At every step, the right help or guidance came through right people.

I am deeply grateful to the Principal, teachers, supervisors, counselor, as well as all Mavshis and bus staff for their showering their love, support and guidance.

• Meenaksha Nair - PRINCIPAL

• Noreen Shetty – Supervisor

• Parinaz Gandhi – Supervisor

• Swagata – Counselor

• Manjusha Mam

• Netra Mam – Nursery

• Vidya Mam and Arti Mam – Junior KG

• Padmaja Mam and Nisha Mam – Senior KG

Today, as I flip through my old diary, I feel a great sense of gratitude. Everything I had been asking the Universe for and writing down since 2021 has been unfolding—manifesting into reality. This is what I had been writing since 2022

Dear Universe and Angels you pls intervene and you please create a situation where -

·       We just know which is the right school for Dev
·       We are available at right time at right place
·       We are being guided at every step
·       Ease and smooth admission process
·       A perfect school for Dev
·       We prefer Vasant Vihar or Singhania but what is right for Dev let it pls unfold with ease
·       We want a school a humble school with experienced teachers and a low attrition rate
·       A school that upholds strong ethics and isn’t driven by parental demands—unlike many schools today that treat parents as clients and prioritize pleasing them over genuine education
·       Teachers who genuinely care for and nurture my child
·       A non-judgmental approach toward Dev, fostering his confidence and development
·       Dev making good friends with ease
·       Dev settling in that school with ease
·       Dev is happily going to school and coming back home with smiling face
·       Every day I get to see positive shifts in his behavior
·       Every day I get to notice overall development

One important milestone achieved! The journey continues, bringing new challenges at every stage. But I am grateful, knowing that solutions and support will always be there when needed.