Montessori....Maybe It's Not For Us.

As a parent, I want to do everything "right" for my child. I want her to learn the best way possible, use the most popular most affective methods, and to teach her without making things too complicated or frustrating.

When I first started reading about Montessori schooling, I thought it was just the coolest thing ever. I thought, "this HAS to be for US!". But the more I read, the more overwhelmed I get with it all. I don't know a better way to say it than simply, overwhelmed. But Montessori is supposed to be simple, right? Don't get me wrong here, I still think that it is SUPER cool, and I love the concept...I'm just leaning towards the "maybe it's not 100% for us, after all", thought.

I've made it very clear in other posts that I am a little on the messy side and quite unorganized {Thank God for my organized husband!}, so the thought of keeping shelves in order, switching out trays for tot school {while keeping bins of tot school stuff neatly stored away}, and creating perfectly put together play shelves every month, makes me a little on the twitchy side. lol

I do like to put together "trays" for Sophi to come out to after her nap sometimes, but not every week, and certainly not every day. I do think that setting new things out, showing her once how to do it, and then watching her come up with many many other ways to play with that specific thing, is outrageously fantastic! I love learning from her! She teaches me new things all of the time.

Sophi's toys definitely need a serious overhaul right now.

She is currently taking over the house with her stuff.



This is too much, yes, but I don't think I will ever get her down to just a few shelves and some trays every week. So, my goal now, is to STOP FEELING GUILTY about not being the perfect Montessori mommy. My kid is smart. So smart. She is 28 months old and can identify every letter in the alphabet, sing her ABC's, count to 18 on her own, she knows colors that {I would think} most two year olds do not {gray, gold, etc.} and all of the basic colors, she knows the difference in an airplane and a helicopter, a fire truck and ambulance, and can even tell them apart by sound alone, she has an imagination like I've never seen {she even has an imaginary pet lizard living in her bed}, she is well mannered {most of the time}, well spoken {she can pretty much carry a clear conversation now, forming full sentences!}, adventurous, and she is the sweetest child I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

That said, we may be messy, we may not be Montessori material, but we are perfect for each other. That's what counts at the end of the day, anyway. Right?



What about you? Are you raising or planning to raise your little one in a Montessori style home? What are some things that work best for you?