Montessori Mommy?

I'm back to reading Montessori from the Start: The Child at Home, from Birth to Age Three and back on a Montessori kick again.  I think I wrote in an earlier post that we found exactly the right school for our kids - it's a Catholic Montessori preschool - and last month we were finally able to go there for observation.

I'm even more convinced that this is where I want Karol to be next year, but alas, there's no space available.  Well, Sister Lucy, the lady that runs the place, said they may have an opening depending on if one family moves...so we're keeping our fingers crossed, but won't be surprised if it doesn't happen until the 2011-12 school year.

So what do we do until then?  I really don't see the point in sticking her in a different preschool for a year and then switching.  That just seems like it would cause undue stress for all of us.  So I'm seriously considering teaching her (as best I can) from home, in the Montessori Method.

Of course, it doesn't seem fair at all to put that kind of time and effort into Karol and not Patrick, who's nipping at Karol's heels right now, developmentally speaking.  But he's in a totally different sensitive period, so the work he should be doing is totally different from what Karol is on.

Oh, and let's not forget little Max (that's Fetus Plomin's new name, now that we know he's a boy for sure)!  I have the chance to start from the very beginning with him.  But just taking care of the basic needs of an infant is enough work for one mom.  I'm already depriving the poor little guy of much needed sleep (for mommy) most nights in order to research Montessori homeschooling, apartments in NYC and preschool options.  Do I really think I'm going to be able to teach all my kids at the same time all by myself?

Well, yes.  I guess I do.  My plan?  Be prepared well in advance.  I'm going to have to tackle this 'stay at home mom' thing (makes me cringe to type that) with a strategic campaign plan.  That's why I'm so glad I discovered this awesome blog, Wanting What You Have.  It's written by a professional 'housewife' (cringe) who's come up with what she calls a Home Management Guide.  It is the greatest idea ever.  Not that its a new one.  Basically, it's a business plan for the home.  I've already started building mine.  I've got two whole sections done, and I'm totally stoked about it.

I'm doing mine a little differently, though, since, well, every household is a little different, and in our case, a lot different.  I'm planning for all my Montessori tools and research to be a huge section of this binder.  I think I'm going to come up with a different name for mine though.  Something like, 'Jillian's World Domination Strategic Campaign Plan.'  So far I've got all my work schedules done, pretty similar to how Heather does it, and a cleaning section.  I'm going to add a food section, but I still don't really know enough about cooking yet to put it together, and Matt's in charge of the groceries right now, so I'm at a loss for a price book (I'm just going to take over his).  The Montessori section I'm going to start building tonight right after I write this post.  As for the World Domination-specific sections, that's classified, sorry.

First Library Trip

Monday evening Karol, Patrick and I had a fantastic time shopping at Costco. We renewed our annual membership, took back some tea Matt decided he didn't want, restocked all our reserves, and had pizza for dinner!

On Tuesday, I was feeling pretty sick, so we stayed in. Yesterday I really wanted to take the kids out because I think it helps pass the time for them. It's better than being cooped up in the house. I wanted to take them to Chuck E. Cheese on Lori's suggestion (I thought maybe Karol was still too young for it, but apparently Sarah thinks it's awesome) but the closest one in the GPS was seven miles away, and it was rush hour. I'd been meaning to check out the library, and it was less than 2 miles away, so I decided this was our opportunity.

We headed to the Arlington County Central Library. It was an exciting adventure full of Dr. Seuss, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George, and a variety of characters I've never heard of. We got four books, all due back on August 12th. I know that's not really pertinent, but if I write it enough maybe I'll actually get them back by then. Karol picked them out and ironically two of them are more on Patrick's level than hers (I'm sure she was thinking of him when she picked them). One book, Wiggle & Move, is a lyrical rhyme that tells us to wiggle and tickle the baby! Karol and I enjoy that very much, as you might imagine. I think Patrick gets a kick out of being the center of attention (for a moment) too.

When I was little and I visited the children's room of the Anderson Public Library, there was an older lady there who always seemed ticked off about being there. She was witchy looking, which didn't help her reputation any. I guess maybe there's a librarian like that at every library because there was one here too. I don't understand why these women work in the children's room! They are curt, at best, and never seem happy to be there, or to be around children. If I was able to have a cheery disposition serving fries at Wendy's for 3 years, they should darn well be able to be sweet to my kids!

So there's my little rant.

I wish I could have taken pictures of the occasion, but Matt has the only SD card for the camera. We have more, I just don't know where. So unfortunately the images of the children's first trip will forever be in my mind alone. So far, Karol's favorite thing to do at the library is to climb up on the footstool that's just over half her size and just sit there. She thinks its awesome. But they wouldn't let me check that out on my new library card.