My Montessori secret

Last Thursday, I was told I was given a secret. A gift of the "Montessori Secret". 

Last summer I embarked on a path. I packed my car and drove all of 5.5 hours away to the far away land of bathing suits, sun, and Sea World. I walked into a dorm, VERY nervous and apprehensive to meet my room mate and to whom this person would be because of my past horrible experiences of living with other people but it was there that I  met my very special name twin. Our friendship started like this "Hi I'm Lauren" "I'm Lauren!" And that is how it began.

We walked into our class that day and embarked on a path to Independence. My original thoughts were, "I graduated college, this will be easy peasy." If you have sat through a college class, then I can do anything. Well as the saying goes - or my saying, "Anything worth getting doesn't come easily." and also "work hard, play harder".

The first summer was filled with a blind education. No real schedules, long days, hand writing pages and pages and books of notes and reading the same book over and over until something clicked. Everyday was a little bit confusing but mind blowing at the same time. At each moment, I had an "ah hah" moment. I could not wait to come home and share everything with everyone; people with children, people without children, everyone! I wish Silvia told me it was a secret last summer, because sharing secrets with some people piss them off!

The first summer ended and it came back to leave  my beach side dorm, say goodbye to my friends and head home to the real hot world of Arizona. The year was difficult full of ups and downs, stress and binge eating, one of my favorite things to do. Not many tears but just a little bit of begrudging anger and tension. I longed for the days I could go back to my Montessori training and being in bliss. This training felt like look at the prettiest flower or breathing the cleanest air. Sure there were moments filled with nights ending at 2 am of studying, something I NEVER did in college, frustration with having to type and type and type, not understanding certain concepts or why things were the way they were but it was something to hope for!

The second summer came and here I was thrown back into this world wind of a learning process. I came to the conclusion early on, that some come to this course too seek Montessori training and learning for the children and some come for a change within themselves and pick up some Montessori jargon along the way. I was kind of OKAY with it but not really. If you have something to fix in yourself, I personally and in my opinion only do not think you should work with children. But this is solely my opinion. But whatever. Not my place to judge.

This summer was filled with more endless nights, new game plans for not wasting time with useless printing and fixing and perfecting. I spent time, hand sewing, cutting, laminating, searching for materials, everything perfect and beautiful for the children. I spent time fantasizing when I have a baby or a classroom all the great things I would do with the babies etc. I spent time typing, formatting, and beautifying. The other half of the time, I spent time, watching HBOGO, watching fire works from my window, pinning on pinterest and eating candy, hence the jelly belly that had returned...really you are what you eat- so I am a chunky monkey, sour watermelon ring. Oh well it will go away.

I spent a lot of time, getting to know some friends better, and I am sure glad I did. I studied and practiced with the materials. I stripped myself of my hair extensions, wedges, dresses, eyelashes, and acrylics. I stopped worrying about my exterior and started to figure out the interior AS well as figuring out how to pass this class. I spent my nights walking on the treadmill and memorizing the phases of the "girlie time" and how long a zygote is a zygote. 16 days approximately if you were wondering.

The time came to turn in all my work and get ready for my oral exams. 2 hours of question and answer and presentations. Not only did you have to sale yourself, you had to prove you had to know the information and how to present it to a child. I was nervous as heck! part 1, have your materials examined by what I call the AMI Goddess and part 2, speak person to person to the AMI Goddesses, and prove that you not only understand Montessori Philosophy but the physical and metal aspects of development. No prob right?! As I waited I almost threw up. I went in and started flowing, 2 hours came and went, high points and low points, I did it, I was done, now to have fun!!!

I went to my very first farmers market, had a strawberry Popsicle and tamale and walked around with my  friends. I waited all day for the call that I passed. Finally around 5, dressed in my scan-dilly clad pajamas and Ugg boots, I went to get Veronica to get dinner. As we waited and waited for the call and yes or no, pass or fail, we chatted and shared. I love sharing but I love listening too! Finally it was 6:55, we decided to go home but first we had to make a trip to the ladies room. Well low and behold, while in the stall, my phone rings, I had to pick up. I just hoped on the other end of the phone, she would not figure out that of all places I was yes, on the phone, in the bathroom. - We all do it, and logically I am not ashamed but honestly, its one of those things you just don't talk about. Then I heard the most beautiful words you can hear, "Congratulations Lauren! You passed! I did?? Thank you Thank you!!!" Flush! Darn auto flush...but it didn't matter I ran out of the bathroom and jumped around like a happy girl receiving her first special piece of anything. Veronica and I jumped around in the bathroom and hugged. Then I burst through those doors and danced around in the cafeteria!! Gathering stares of course, one because We were in a cafeteria, two because I was in pajamas, and three probably because I was dressed for winter but it was mid July...I'm from Arizona: 66 degrees equals winter! I giggled like a little school girl. Accomplishment!

I thanked Veronica and went back to my dorm room, started texting and posting of course! receiving many congratulations and yahoos! and thinking to myself. "Well this is it, now I get to have fun!"

The next week, my family came in and it was time to shine. Out of the 20 or so girls, I had 17 people there for me. 17 people was sort of jaw dropping, but it was nice. Even though, there was a hole there because one of the most important people, I did this for, was not there physically, it felt special. It hit me, when you feel you have no one, when you feel left behind or left out, or just alone, you have too take a moment and appreciate what is around you. I had an amazing family, who made the trip just for me! It was so special and a great moment. And I know my mom was smiling for me.


So back to this Montessori secret. It shouldn't be one. I have already been lecturing to my lovely family about the perfect environment, boundaries, limits, eating habits, toilet learning and more, and they take it in with a smile. Simply because they know too, it shouldn't be a secret. Montessori is very misconceived, it is more than a philosophy because it follows neuroscience, and overall physical and psychological development from conception through adulthood. It is not an alternative schooling system but a different way to teach children. In my opinion, the way we are being taught now, isn't doing much good, so why not try something different, and even though, it has been around for 100 years, something new, something special.

I am very excited to have this secret and to share it with anyone willing to hear it! I am blessed to have met the girls I have especially my name twin Lauren, Danielle and Katrina. I couldn't have gotten through with out Zoe, and our movie nights! and with out Veronica who let me run over to her dorm room and be like "WHHHAAATTTT is this and WWWHHHATT is going on and I CAAANNNT believe this!" I have been blessed with this experience and am eager to learn more.

Last Thursday, I was also told, " you feel that this is an ending, but it is the beginning" and I am ready for it. So bring it on world, please and thank you!