Under Construction: Benedictine Monastery, 12 Steps to Humility & 12 Tips to Transform Terrible Twos
We were at the new Benedictine Monastery of St Joseph outside Ava, MO on the Solemnity of St Joseph!
Take a 5-minute break and watch my video for a quick tour of the Monastery that also includes St. Benedict's 12 Steps to Humility & 12 Parenting Tips to transform the terrible twos!
At this point, the Benedictine Sisters are expecting to move in around the middle of July. Let us know if you can help move them!
Take a 5-minute break and watch my video for a quick tour of the Monastery that also includes St. Benedict's 12 Steps to Humility & 12 Parenting Tips to transform the terrible twos!
At this point, the Benedictine Sisters are expecting to move in around the middle of July. Let us know if you can help move them!
Links mentioned in the video:
The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles (see the Sisters, additional construction photos, ways to help ...)
Find their music here
(I have their song "My Mercy" from Lent At Ephesus as by Angelus alarms on my phone!)
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links are affiliate links.
“In the United States today, according to recent statistics, only about 15% of children raised in Catholic households grow up to be faithful Catholic adults.”
The noise and distractions aren’t going away, my friends, and I think we can all agree that we need to be able to focus to enter into prayer, to enter into the Mass and to fall more deeply in love with Our Lord … including our young children ...
Incorporating the Beatitudes and specific Montessori phrases directly into your home can profoundly impact your family's daily interactions, fostering an environment where spiritual growth and personal development are intertwined.
To help us know the Beatitudes better and live them in our family, along with alternative phrases to use with your children, here's a snippet of how to weave this into your family life:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: Encourage humility and appreciation for simplicity. Instead of saying to your child that you see sitting on a table, “Don’t sit on the table!”, consider the phrase, "Chairs are for sitting," teaching respect and proper use of household items. (check out the video to see this in action!)
Blessed are they who mourn: Foster empathy and understanding. Phrase to use: "I bet that really upset you. What can we do so it doesn't happen again?" to validate feelings and encourage problem-solving.
Blessed are the meek: Promote gentleness and appreciation of effort. Phrase to use: "Tell me about your drawing," to encourage expressing thoughts and valuing process over praise. (check out the video to see this expanded & in action!)
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness: Encourage responsibility and care for the common good. Phrase to use: "Oh look, there's water on the floor. Would you like to help me care for our home and wipe it up?" to teach the value of stewardship. (check out the video to see this in action!)
Blessed are the merciful: Teach respect and care for materials. When you see your child throw the materials he/she is working with across the room, you may be inclined to say, “Why did you do that?!” Here’s an alternative phrase to use: "We do not throw materials. We respect our materials. Please put this away. You may try again tomorrow," to instill a sense of respect for items in our home.
Blessed are the clean of heart: Foster perseverance and faith in one's abilities. Phrase to use: "I have faith in you," to support focus and dedication.
Blessed are the peacemakers: Encourage respect and peaceful interactions. Phrase to use: "We do not hit in our home. Our hands are for praying, working, loving, and serving," to guide towards positive actions and away from harm. (check out the video to see this expanded & in action!)
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness: Support resilience and confidence. Phrase to use: "You are very capable. I am confident that you can figure it out," to empower problem-solving and independence.
Each Beatitude paired with a Montessori phrase offers a practical approach to nurturing your spiritual life and interpersonal relationships within the framework of your family’s daily routine. This is an invitation to pray and act, not a theological correlation.
To integrate this seamlessly into your routine, download the 1-page PDF "Pray the Beatitudes & Apply these Montessori Phrases in Family Life" today! It's designed for easy reference, offering the entire Beatitude, expanding on the Montessori phrases, and including examples of what not to say, helping you to foster a nurturing and spiritually rich home environment.
Let us continue to strive for Heaven, my friends. May we always remain in His Love and walk in the Light of Christ!
Are you curious about Montessori parenting but not sure where to start?
Let's dive into a beginner's guide, tailored just for you, to bring the mystery of Montessori into your home.
Imagine creating a space where your little ones can thrive, learn, and grow in a way that aligns beautifully with your values and their natural curiosity. That's Montessori in a nutshell!
Montessori parenting is all about respect, independence, and love of learning. It's seeing your child as a capable individual, eager to explore the world.
The goal? To nurture their potential in a prepared environment that meets their developmental needs.
First up, your home setup. Think accessible, child-sized furniture and materials. This doesn't mean a complete overhaul—start small! A low shelf with a few carefully chosen activities can do wonders. It's about creating an inviting space where your children can reach for what they need, fostering independence and confidence.
Then, there's the Montessori approach to learning. It's hands-on, engaging, and grounded in real-life activities. From pouring beans to watering plants, these activities are not just play; they're the building blocks of responsibility, concentration, and skills.
When it comes to discipline, Montessori takes a path of guidance rather than punishment. It's about nurturing an understanding of natural consequences and fostering a space for open communication, helping your child to navigate emotions and the world around them with empathy.
Feeling overwhelmed about where to start? Here’s a pro tip: Instead of diving headfirst into observation, why not cozy up with a good book? Here are three fantastic reads to kickstart your Montessori parenting journey (timesaver alert - click on the title to order):
- "The Montessori Toddler" by Simone Davies: A must-read for parents of toddlers, this book breaks down the Montessori philosophy into bite-sized, practical steps, making it easier to integrate Montessori principles into daily life. (I am so excited to read her new book “The Montessori Child” that comes out next week!)
- "Maria Montessori Speaks to Parents" by Maria Montessori: Offering a direct insight from the founder herself, this book provides a unique perspective on how Montessori principles can be applied in daily parenting, bridging the gap between home and the school environment.
- "How To Raise An Amazing Child the Montessori Way" by Tim Seldin: A comprehensive guide that offers practical activities for fostering independence, respect, and creativity in children from birth to six years, making it a valuable resource for parents embarking on the Montessori journey. And I love that the pictures are so bright and engaging!
To see more examples of activities and setup, check out my corresponding video:
Starting your Montessori parenting adventure is an enriching experience that's not about achieving perfection but about making continuous progress. Montessori isn't merely a methodology; it's a lifestyle that champions the joy of learning, independence, and mutual respect.
But that’s not all! Did you know that you can weave together the beauty of Montessori principles and the depth of the Catholic faith in your home?
Grab your FREE checklist Preparing Your Home for Montessori and Faith Learning today! This essential tool will guide you in creating an environment that nurtures both educational growth and spiritual development.
Click here to get started on a journey that brings Montessori and faith into the heart of your home. Let's make learning a joyful and faith-filled adventure together!
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links are affiliate links.
You know how our days are usually filled with all kinds of noise?
Well, Maria Montessori, our visionary educator, flipped the script and showed us how silence isn't just golden; it's essential for our little ones' growth.
Our world is awash with constant stimulation, making the Montessori emphasis on silence a refreshing counterpoint. This approach does not view silence as merely the absence of sound but as a state of calmness and stillness willed by the child that children genuinely desire and benefit from.
The inception of the silence activity traces back to an occasion when Dr. Montessori introduced a baby into the Children's House, posing a challenge to the children: could they achieve such silence? To her astonishment, not only did the children embrace the quiet, but they also reveled in it, repeatedly requesting to engage in the activity.
Montessori Activities That Cultivate Silence
Embracing silence in a lively home environment might sound challenging, but with strategic activities, it's absolutely feasible and exceptionally beneficial. To learn more, watch my accompanying video which demonstrates the activities below.
- Sitting Still – Invite children to sit comfortably, focusing on different body parts in sequence. This simple act of stillness lays the groundwork for prayer, teaching children that they can control their bodies.
- The Silence Game: Standing on the other side of the room, softly call each child to you in turn. By moving quietly, children learn the value of their actions and presence, mirroring the respectful approach we take at Church.
- Listening for Sounds: Be it indoors or outdoors, invite children to close their eyes and listen to the sounds around them.
- Identifying Prepared Sounds: Prepare a tray with items, such as a bell, pouring water from small pitcher into a small glass, cutting paper, etc., producing various sounds. Invite children to close their eyes and identify each sound while maintaining silence.
- Sand Timers: Using a sand timer, encourage children to engage in silent observation until the sand runs out, reinforcing patience, focus, and calmness.
Silence Isn't About Time-Outs
Here's the kicker: In Montessori, silence isn't a punishment. It's a gift! We're teaching our children that finding quiet moments is not just okay; it's something to look forward to. It's about self-control and the sweet feeling of inner calm, not sitting in a corner because they were too loud.
Silence as Preparation for Contemplation
Silence teaches children—and parents alike—to listen, a skill that is crucial for contemplation. Through the disciplined practice of making silence, we become more attuned to the whispers of the Holy Spirit in our lives, readying our hearts for deeper spiritual engagement.
This attentiveness fosters a prayerful mindset, enhancing our participation in the sacraments, especially the Mass, where we encounter Christ in the most profound silence of the Eucharist.
Going Against the Grain
Embracing silence is kind of revolutionary, right? While the world buzzes with constant activity, we're over here teaching our children that it's cool to “be still and know that I am God.” It's a quiet little rebellion against the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
With these Montessori silence activities, let the wisdom of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta guide your journey:
“We need silence to be alone with God, to speak to him, to listen to him, to ponder his words deep in our hearts. We need to be alone with God in silence to be renewed and transformed. Silence gives us a new outlook on life. In it we are filled with the energy of God himself that makes us do all things with joy.”
*Affiliate links for Montessori Services are used above. As you can see in my video, I only recommend what I use. Any purchase made is a blessing to my family at no extra cost to you!
