"You're great at this homeschooling thing because you're a teacher... I don't think I could do it because I don't know much about anything."

I can't tell you how many times I've heard this phrase since we started homeschooling two months ago, coming from the most capable and well-prepared mothers in my circle of friends.  So here's a little secret... I don't know everything.  Heck, I don't know most things!  But I don't let that hold me back from learning and sharing with my children. 

Seven-year-old Zachary learned how to build a popscicle-stick catapult at a free library workshop last week.  Over dinner that night, I "casually" asked my engineer husband if he knew the difference between a catapult and a trebuchet.  A brief but interesting discussion ensued, and my son hung on to every word.

Zachary, age 7, asked me how Valentine's Day started.  I told him we could research that at the library, but later that night I got curious and went online.  I found conflicting information, so I decided to put together a Cosmic Education story to tell him the tale of the origins of Valentine's day.  I shared it with him and it inspired us to make care packages for the people experiencing homelessness in our area.  I hope it can inspire acts of kindness, or at least get some conversations started, among the children in your life.

Note from Pilar: I wrote this blog post almost seven years ago; about four weeks before I quit my teaching career, pulled my kids out of Montessori school, and started homeschooling. If you’re wondering why I decided to homeschool - read this blog post and you’ll understand why. If you see yourself in this post, please know that you don’t have to live this way. And if you need support or encouragement to make the shift to a different kind of lifestyle, please reach out. I’m always happy to chat.

This week, one of our focus areas was sentence development and expansion. We started by discussing the main reason for practicing writing: It allows us to organize our thoughts clearly so that we can share them effectively. (It’s valuable to have these discussions with children, because buy-in and self-discipline can only arise if they know how the activity is benefiting them in the short- and long-term.)

During my first years of motherhood, when I couldn’t even keep a houseplant alive due to the overwhelm of raising babies, I envied my mother-in-law’s garden. In her front yard she grew luscious berries and vegetables, and the most stunning flowers.  During a visit to her house, while bouncing a baby on one hip and keeping a sleep-deprived eye on a clumsy toddler, I bemoaned my inability to grow basil in a pot - let alone nurture a thriving garden.

A recent visitor from Russia gifted our classroom with a truly exquisite set of nesting dolls, the smallest of which was no larger than the fingernail on my pinky.  All the children were curious about the dolls, but Annie, a nine-year-old who was new to our classroom, was truly enamored by the set.  Between academic activities, she would spend time lining up the dolls and then nesting them again.

When I decided that screen time would no longer be a part of my 4-year-old's life, I knew I would have to deal with screen detox.  The first day of Spring Break was also the first day of the "No More Screens" rule.  Almost immediately after waking up, Zach asked to watch videos.  I said no and reminded him of the new rule.  He got very angry and cried.  I acknowledged his feelings and stood my ground firmly and with love.  When he calmed down, we had breakfast and played trains while the baby napped.

Dear caregiver,

I know you have the best intentions.  When you take me to the park and "walk" me by the arms, sit me on the teeter-totter, or send me down the slide, you're doing it because you want me to have fun.

"At what point do you burst the Montessori bubble?" a friend recently asked.  She has two young children in Montessori, but is considering taking the traditional education route once they finish Primary. My first thought was, Why would you want to burst it?

Why leave Montessori if you don't have to?

All right, fellow mom, put down that glue gun. Step away from that laminator. I have some news for you:

Montessori happens.

You can spend all your time making adorable "Montessori-inspired" activities that you found on Pinterest. But do you know what's going to give your child the concentration, self-discipline, and self-esteem that you ardently desire for them?

When I was pregnant, people who knew I was a Montessori guide would say: "Wow, you're going to be such an amazing mom!"

My standard, humble reply was: "I'll be a mom, like any other mom."

But deep down inside, I had my list of things I was sure I would NEVER do, buy or use as a parent. That list was long and it was judgemental.

When you're new to Montessori, it's easy - and quite common - to get sidetracked by the concept of the Montessori materials.  They are certainly fascinating objects, and parents often spend lots of time and money either buying authentic Montessori materials for the home or creating "Montessori-inspired" activities in hopes that their child will be transformed into a focused, self-controlled, and creative little person.

Welcome!  Come on in... I'm Zach and this is my home.  I was born in my parents' bedroom upstairs and have spent my entire life - a whopping 16 months - living here.  I love what my parents have done with the place and I want to share my favorite spots with you.