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When to Know It Is Ok to Be Late

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One overcast Pacific Northwest morning, I bent down to help a 3.5 year old put his shoes on his small, adorable feet.

Then it struck me.

“Hey, D, you put your shoes on your own body last week, right? I saw you do it. What a great moment that was. I remember.”

He looked up at me, a bit confused but nodded slowly and with a smile, then explained, “Mommy and Daddy help me all the time at home.”

Ah, ha. Yes. I get it. It happens.

Montessori at Home be late

Isn’t that amazing? After two days at home a child somehow loses the ability to confidently do what he was able to do for himself?

When It Is Ok to Be Late

I am not pointing fingers, or trying to make any parent feel inadequate. Believe me, I am there right with you, every step of the way. It is easier to help the child.

In the short term at least.

When I am struggling to get out the door, the last thing I want to do is observe my child meticulously put his shoes on by himself, taking ten times longer than if I did it for him.

Here is the thing, though: that is exactly what I want to do. Those moments are beautiful and precious. The pure joy of a child doing something for himself is a feeling I wish I could bottle up and sniff in on those more impatient moments.

We can wait those few moments. We can. Say it with me. Breathe. We can wait just a moment. Be late. At least just this one time.

Montessori is a lifestyle. Montessori is not an educational philosophy that begins and ends at the classroom doors. Extend it. Bring it into your home. Here are are a few ways to Integrate Montessori into Your Home. If you need more, check out this FREE SAMPLE CHAPTER from my Montessori at Home Guide for Parents.

Listen to this post on my blog Distilled Parenting!

Already know you want to download the guide? Check it out in my shop!

Marnie


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