Sharing My Grandma's Wisdom
I have had starting “home-pre-school” on my mind for my son, but honestly, I wasn’t sure how to level up effectively to meet his needs without forcing it and creating tension. Making it feel “not fun.”
We count cows in feed pickup, look for the beginning letters in his name, point to Ms for Mommy, Ds for Daddy, Hs for his weeny dog named Howdy, sing the ABCs, cut construction paper confetti just for hand-eye coordination, practice looking people in the eye when we shake their hand, and do so many other little things that just fit into our everyday.
But he needed a challenge. He was getting bored. His attention span is expanding, and he can handle more than a spontaneous lesson.
Let me tell you, the struggle is real coming up with things to do that keep him engaged - because let’s be honest, digging a “dirt tank” in the yard or riding around with Dad is just way more fun for a cowboy kid than Mom trying to teach you how to hold a pencil.
*Cue the good guy in the western movie riding in on a white horse to save the day music.*
My grandmother, my son’s 81-year-old great-grandmother, has a bachelor's degree in education and taught at a Montessori school for years before becoming a speech therapist in public schools.
She knew EXACTLY what to do. My son and I were hanging out with her one day just visiting, and she clocked his recent mental growth spurt and longer attention span.
She officially came out of teaching retirement.
The next time we visited, she had lesson plans fit for a four-year-old cowboy.
My son was engaged in her activities without a fight.
Mommy sat in awe, taking mental notes.
I’m starting this blog in complete gratitude. My son is so blessed; I am so blessed to have such an experienced teacher in our family who lives close by.
When this little journey started several weeks ago, it immediately hit me that so many mommas homeschooling don’t have a “Gigi” in their back pocket when she and her kiddo hit a roadblock.
With her permission, it’s going to be my honor to share her little Montessori lessons, tips, tricks, favorite products, and whatever else I can learn along the way.
If you do have a Gigi in your life - someone who loves to teach but no longer has kids in the classroom - reach out. Ask for advice. Ask if they’d like to spend time with your kiddo in a school setting.
In the short time I’ve been taking my son “to school” with his Gigi, it's been as good, if not better, for her than for my son. She’s doing what she loves again, and you can see her joy when she’s hands-on teaching and doing what God created her to do again.
