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.

Confessions

I'm starting to feel the squeeze.

Up until now, I've (kept up appearances that I've) been able to work full-time, go to class online, rear two children under two, keep a clean house - and my sanity. And up until the past couple of weeks that's been mostly true. In just a few days, though, I've had several new projects pop up at work, to the point that they keep interrupting each other and therefore nothing gets done. I've got a book report due at the end of the week and am praying a Cliff's Notes will get published before then. The laundry is piling up and (according to Matt) the kitchen floor is sticky (although I haven't noticed, so does it really matter?). Patrick needs to be sleep trained badly. He's getting more ornery every night. I'm sure I'm malnourishing Karol in some way, because if it requires more cooking than the microwave I pretty much don't have the energy or the time.

And on top of all that, I can't remember the last time I posted pictures, let alone printed any, which means Patrick's going to have a big gap in future family photo albums where he'll probably think I sent him away to baby boarding school.

Maybe I'm not maintaining my to-do lists and that's why I can't think straight. Maybe if I could stop thinking about work at home and home at work I'd accomplish something. Maybe I need to start working out again. Maybe I need a real vacation. Maybe I need a Mother's Helper. Maybe I need uppers!

Luckily, my sister is coming to my rescue in just a few days. My hope is that she'll bring some Mary Poppins magic with her and my apartment will be clean and my children will behave perfectly at the snap of her fingers. But mostly, it will just be nice to have a companion for a change. 

Self Medicating

With chocolate, that is. I had two handfuls of peanut M&Ms and a Snicker's today - and a giant Coke (I asked for a medium but I didn't realize today's 'medium' is yesterday's 'large'). I've gone off the deep end!

Actually, I've just hit the wall of sleep deprivation. I haven't gotten much lately, since I haven't gone to bed before midnight most nights (my fault) and since Patty-poo wakes me up a couple of times a night. And last night, Karol had a night terror again, for a solid half hour, and I always stay up and feel awful that I can't do anything to help her the whole time. I'm having a hard time distinguishing 'night terror' from 'demon possession,' so I say a few prayers just in case. Invariably, she woke up this morning much more pleasant than usual!

So, all that left me feeling more than a little run-down today. I'm planning to go to bed with the kids tonight, I think. I'd really like to take advantage of the sun and go to the playground with them, but I don't know if I have that kind of energy right now.

Only four days til the weekend...