Spotlight The Kavanaugh Report

Spotlights

We’re so excited to Spotlight Nicole from The Kavanaugh Report. The mother of two young children, she blogs and Instagrams moments of life with honesty, care, and joy. We were delighted to learn more about this neighbor (she’s from Minnesota!), and we think you’re going to like her story.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Your background, your interests, your dreams?

Hi! I’m Nicole, mom to nearly 5-year-old Henry and 20-month-old Nora. I’m also blog at The Kavanaugh Report and I’m a co-admin of the Facebook group Montessori 101. Believe it or not, I actually went to school to be an attorney. I never studied children, childhood development, or Montessori until my son was around 1-year-old.

Henry was a very difficult, colicy baby with severe reflux. Out of desperation, I turned to the internet (like so many parents today) to try to find something to keep us busy during the day. I stumbled into the concept of tot school and all these cute little trays of work for toddlers and eventually into Montessori. The more I read about Montessori, the more it appealed to me and I’ve never stopped studying and learning. I cannot get enough!

Outside of Montessori, I enjoy life in the Twin Cities and all the cultural opportunities that this region affords! I’m also an avid crafter, dabble in photography and am totally addicted to social media.

Q: Now that the hardest question is out of the way: What’s your favorite color?

Ha! My favorite color is red!

Q: Do you have a favorite book? How about a film?

My favorite book is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I’m not sure I have a favorite film, I tend not to have the patience or time for movies. But, I can binge watch television shows like a pro!

Q: When you close your eyes late at night, and imagine waking up and starting a new adventure: what is that adventure?

My dream is to go back to school to be officially take 0-3 training! I have a heart for babies and toddlers, and I would love to work with them well after my children have grown. Evenally, I imagine opening up my own Montessori toddler and parent program. It is my absolute dream is to work with parents to spread this beautiful lifestyle to more families and children.

Q: What first appealed to you about Montessori?

I think the thing that first appealed to me about Montessori was the beautiful environments. There is so much beauty in a prepared environment, and that beauty is very eye-catching. The more I have studied Montessori, the more I’m impressed with what’s happening in the environment.

Q: What advice do you have for new Montessori adults?

Montessori goes beyond the classroom, it is a lifestyle. It is not just about these perfect little rooms, expensive materials or quiet busy children. It is about respecting children as capable and independent individuals. About seeing their ability and meeting the children where they are at, accepting that and loving that. It’s shifting your world view from your agenda, to the interests and abilities of the child. So, forget what you want to do or teach and follow the child!

Q: What’s your favorite Montessori quote?

Oh, there are so many! It’s hard to pick just one. But, I’ll say “A child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.” And, “The child who concentrates is immensely happy.”

Q: What inspired you to share your Montessori story on your blog?

Well, I had a hard time finding concrete examples of how Montessori looked at home. And, I felt compelled to share what Montessori at home looked like for us to fill in that gap. We aren’t necessarily homeschooling full time, but Montessori is still deeply ingrained in our lifestyle choices. And, the more I wrote, the more I’ve realize there is a real need for this type of information in our community. Plus, it really is a journey for us and documenting those changes has been immensely fun!

Q: What advice do you have for new parents trying to incorporate Montessori at home?

Changes don’t have to happen all at once and they don’t have to cost a fortune. You can start with something as simple as allowing your child to pick their own outfit. People need to understand that changing the environment, and the things in it, is only one small part of incorporating Montessori at home. But, really it’s a shift in how you see and treat a child — and that’s not always easy! But, it’s so worth it.

Q: What do you think is the best introduction to Montessori?

Just read everything you can get your hands on! There are so many amazing Montessori resources both online and in print. Read blogs, hop on Instagram and check out the #montessori or #montessoriathome. Read Montessori books! There are books explaining both the lifestyle and the educational experience. Watch videos or observe in a classroom. And, don’t skip Maria Montessori’s own books, there is so much wisdom there.

Q: What continues to inspire you about Montessori?

Hands down, my children! There is an incredible moment when you step back and let children do something by themselves, if you watch closely. Once they finish whatever it is they are trying to accomplish, they get this look of absolute joy and pride. They just beam. It’s that joy and confidence that I want to give them and it’s that look that I live for!

Q: In what ways do you envision the future of education?

I’ve been thinking about education a lot recently, as we are right on the cusp of Henry starting kindergarten. I hope the future of education opens up a host of choices for every student and family. I would love to see a shift away from testing both students and teachers in favor of a more active and engaging educational system. Let’s get back to nature, stop rushing our children to reach adult-led and arbitrary goals and allow for individual differences.

Q: Where do you see Montessori in the next 100 years?

One of the amazing things about Montessori is that the classroom looks a lot like it looked 100 years ago when Maria Montessori was observing children. But, I think access to Montessori since that time has often been tightened to a very small group of people who can afford the { private} schools and childcare centers. We are very fortunate to have public Montessori programs in the Twin Cities and even in my neighborhood. But, that’s not the reality for many students. My hope is that Montessori permeates public education and becomes more accessible for every child and every family.