In a break from regular programming, I’m sharing some life updates, the biggest of all being my decision to finally do the Montessori diploma that I’ve been contemplating for so long.

It has been an eventful few weeks, with traveling back home after the summer holidays, packing and unpacking, settling the kids back into school and some health scares in the family. I have been struggling with writer’s block so decided to share some life updates instead of my usual Montessori-inspired parenting content.

Getting my Montessori certification

If you have been following my blog or Instagram account for some time, you’ll know how much I love and believe in the Montessori method. I came across the term ‘Montessori’ many times over the years but never really took the time to understand the philosophy better until I was pregnant with my son Ryaan six years ago.

As I started reading about Dr. Maria Montessori’s work and child development theories, I was hooked. The theories made so much sense to me and shared a new light on how children develop; specifically on how much they absorb subconsciously in the first six years of life.

I have applied many of her teachings to the way I raise my children at home, and love sharing my learnings and journey with you on my blog and Instagram account. Everything I have learned so far has been self-taught. For several years I have been contemplating getting an actual certification in Montessori education to take East2WestMama to the next level but it never seemed like the right time until now.

So I finally did it! I signed up for a diploma course and will be studying part-time over the next two years to get my certification. I'm so fortunate that there is a training centre near home that offers diploma courses by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). I don’t know yet what it will be like juggling studies with mom life, but I will find out very soon. The plan is to continue to update my blog and Instagram page while studying, so don’t worry, I’ll still be around.

The Kids’ Schools

I don’t think I’ve actually shared this here before and think it’s about time so you have a better idea of how our days are structured. My older son goes to full-time school, he is now in Year 1 and seems to have settled in well. But it’s only been a week, so we’ll see how things unfold.

My 2-year-old daughter has recently started attending a Montessori nursery school, where she spends her mornings. She took a few days to settle in but now looks forward to going in every morning. She’s attending the same nursery school that Ryaan attended at her age, and I absolutely love the place. The teachers are amazing and it’s the most gentle, nurturing environment for kids that allows them to explore the Montessori materials without any pressure.

I love both my kids to the moon and back, but it has been so liberating to have three completely child-free hours a day! I get to work out, run errands, chill, meet friends, anything I like really… without the guilt. Now that I’m going to be studying part-time, I’ll definitely need those hours to catch up on coursework and assignments.

Focusing on Myself

After so many years of putting my needs aside and instead doing everything for everyone else, I decided this year that I needed to start putting myself first. I’m more intentional about my days, ensuring that I exercise and fuel my body with the right food. I‘ve also strengthened my gratitude practice and gotten back into meditation.

I’ve been amazed at what a difference all of these little changes have made to my life. I’m more present with my kids while I’m with them because my own cup is being filled. I feel like I’m becoming a better mother because I’m putting myself first. I’m sure my kids can sense my changed energy because they seem happier and have fewer tantrums too. It’s so true that our kids’ energy feeds off ours.

I really hope that in sharing some of these updates, you’ve gotten to know me a little better. If anything has resonated with you and inspired you to start putting yourself first or doing that thing you’ve been contemplating for ages, I’d love to hear about it!