The graceful mom life

The Montessori philosophy emphasizes self-directed play  This is because children are seen as naturally eager to learn and well capable of driving their learning process when in a stimulating environment. This understanding is essential to setting up an effective Montessori at home environment. This philosophy was instituted by Maria Montessori, an Italian physician.  So how did we start creating a Montessori at home environment? We first created a child-friendly environment that encouraged exploration. The beauty of creating a Montessori at home environment for me has been to see my toddler grow independently and amass skills while simply playing his favorite games. I've enjoyed flexibly applying these at home. Here are several tangible ways we did this: 1. We organized the home  I've noticed that my toddler likes things to be orderly even though they will not stay that way once he starts playing. He appreciates knowing where to find his favorite toys, his favorite blan...

Raleigh has incredible affordable nature spots, museums for kids, accessible playgrounds, and many more. In this post, I have compiled these local gems so you have them all in one place as you plan your visit.  Having fun in Raleigh with kids Kids can be easy to please without breaking the bank, especially if you're in Raleigh or the general research triangle area. Between beautiful nature spots, children focused museums, seasonal farm activities, playgrounds and many more, your family will be spoiled for choices. Nature Spots in Raleigh The same nature spot can take different looks through the seasons. So whenever you're visiting, here are some nature spots you will not want to miss. The Greenways Address: Varies by greenway trail heads, see trail list here Entry: Free Raleigh boasts over 100 miles of paved greenways that are often frequented by cycling families, runners, and serene walkers. Out of the 28 trails that grace the greenways, they each have their unique character, ...

Lessons from nature  On living effectively, not efficiently As a big Steven Covey fan, I was excited to come across one of his lesser known books called An Effective Life. It was a quick listen on Audible. Here are the main takeaways that I got from the this audiobook as presented on Audible. Chapter 1 - Questions Ask the right questions so that you can keep learning and developing your character. This chapter seemed like an addendum or a prelude to the main book, and it provided some behind the scenes on Dr. Steven Covey. In this chapter I found out that he, sadly passed away back in 2012. Chapter 2 - Storytime This chapter was a fun storytelling of a dad at his young daughter's school game. The dad was fighting off distractions of his phone during the game. For me, the take away point here was to live in the moment, gain perspective and focus on those nearest and dearest to us. Chapter 3 - Nature's laws The book as written by Dr. Steven Covey begins here. In this chapter, the...

Being a mom is a learning experience Today I reflected on what motherhood has taught me. The list is truly endless but here are the topmost contenders. Live in the moment Motherhood has taught me to experience every moment with wonder and joy. My son exudes infectious joy whenever he sees a duck with her babies in the pond, watches fish swimming in the lake, or even looks at the crashing waves by the sea. The ability to be mesmerized by the present moment my son is experiencing has inspired me to live in the moment when experiencing simple yet profound daily moments. Little kids live in a poetic world where everything is fresh and new. Their pure ability to focus on what's in front of them is truly inspiring in our digital age. Have a growth mindset Being a mom gives me a premium seat to the beautiful growth mindset that young kids naturally have. For them, there is no shame in not knowing, and the learning experience is all fun and games. They readily admit to their inexperience a...