We had the good fortune of connecting with Tracy Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tracy, what matters most to you?
Respect is the value or principle that matters the most to me.

Maria Montessori was one of the first to respect the child enough to let them reveal to her what they needed. She didn’t assume she knew better, despite being the first female doctor in Italy. She was humble and observant. She didn’t impose what she felt children should respond to. Instead she watched and was curious.

Her work led to a pedagogy method that is constantly being reinforced by modern psychological discoveries and the current gentle or respectful parenting practices all echo her original findings. Just the simple idea that children would be more comfortable and independent in furniture that was made for their size and strength was revolutionary at the time and yet it is commonplace today. Even this week a parent on our Montessori at Home course realized that providing a small chair near the front door, really helps children put their shoes on and off. I mean, do you like sitting on the floor or wobbling as you stand to put your shoes on?

If we respect our children, we put ourselves in their shoes (see what I did there?) and from there it is easier to think of how to parent them because we consider how we would like to be treated in all situations.

In Montessori we learn how to respect a child’s choices, abilities, development, personality, emotions and struggles. We also learn how to inspire respect for oneself, the environment, our families, communities and the world we share. Its reciprocal.

Respecting a child in this way was quite a shift change for me from how I was raised in the time I was raised. I would be lying if I said it came naturally to me, even now. Three children in and I’m afraid it doesn’t. When I parent consciously I can manage it but we all have our emotional or reflex moments and I am no different. I mention this so that any families who engage with A Montessori Nest know that I respect any place that they are coming from because I am always learning more myself. What I have learned and experienced so far, I am passionate about sharing.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
A Montessori Nest was founded so that I could work directly with parents and caregivers. I loved working with children in various Montessori classrooms but I found the chats with parents to be so filled with potential to help reassure parents and offer help when asked for.

When we moved to Colorado we were so lucky to find a home that had this amazing, morning light filled room that lends itself naturally to a home classroom and somewhere I could start to envisage holding Montessori at Home courses, at home!

There are many Montessori books and online courses available and there are some in person classroom based classes you can take your child to. The AMI here in Denver runs some wonderful classes.

What is unique about A Montessori Nest is that it is Montessori at Home, in an actual home. The classes on the course include picnics in the garden, a full home tour and working in the kitchen with your child. The homeschool room is set up with a range of Montessori and traditional toys presented in a Montessori way. You get to see how you and your child would respond to practicing the Montessori method and experience the mindset. Creating and maintaining an environment like this has been a delight for me even if its hard to keep as clean and tidy as we need to!

Families also uniquely get a chance to connect to other families and become part of a growing community of like minded caregivers. By having time each class to relax and socialize, you avoid the awkwardness of trying to connect in the car park like I experienced at many other parent and child events.

Uncharacteristically I did not wait until I was ready before setting up the reality of A Montessori Nest and opening up for our first course. I was slightly behind myself and bouyed forward by new friends in a new town and a strange sense of confidence. I frantically reread all my original Montessori qualification materials, threw a flyer together with the help of a friend and learnt how to manage a business page on social media platforms. It was all quite a rush of challenges mixed with heady delight when anyone liked or enquired about anything, let alone actually registering and paying me!

Oh the pressure I felt to deliver a great product and experience with the uncertainty of children included! Also I had my own son with me on the course so our home, family and my skills as a parent and teacher were under the spotlight in a very vulnerable way.

I should never have worried. Despite some normal learning as you go realizations and consequential adjustments here and there, A Montessori Nest has grown over three years into offering workshops and personal coaching as well as our unique Montessori at Home Child and Caregiver Course.. Families are returning now with their second child to take the course again and continue to be part of the A Montessori Nest community. I couldn’t ask for a better compliment.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Colorado is new to me, so I am experiencing still like a tourist might. Fall is certainly my favorite time of year in Colorado. Sitting out on a cool evening and all those fall leaves! Just stunning.

In and around Longmont, we first fell in love with the various community events like music on a Friday night. West End Tavern was our first date spot and we go back frequently. I love fantasy house hunting the homes in the historical parts of Longmont where the tavern is and the cocktails are amazing.

Walking up and down main street in Longmont is always something we do with visitors and to fill a Saturday. Scrumptious has the best ice cream and the second hand bookstores always have amazing finds.

We often drive the peak to peak, stopping in Nederland for the carousal and stopping at Lilly lake to stretch our legs.

We are fortunate to live near Lake Mackintosh in Longmont. Did you know you can rent paddleboards right at the lake now? With two small children we tend to cycle the lake as a family and then enjoy the playgrounds with the view. My other favorite part of fall is watching the geese start to migrate. I’ve never seen a sky full of such long lines of birds. The lake at sunset with the birds flying across the view of Longspeak is postcard perfect.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I teach other parents about the method Maria Montessori developed and so she would be an obvious shout out! However she would be 151 years old today. It was the instructor I had when I was doing my Montessori diploma that I want to dedicate my shout out to. For reasons too complicated to share here I finished the files required for that diploma over late night, me working and her marking my work sessions so that I could attend my exams in time. Despite having six children of her own at home, she took the time to help me then and has taken the time to help me in every possible way a friend and mentor could since. Claudia Gherardelli – Thank you

Website: www.amontessorinest.com

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Image Credits
Jennifer Bridge Photography

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