u/Zealousideal-Row79

I recently toured two different Montessori programs/schools in our area that are 16 mos-6 years. My daughter is approaching 2 years old this fall. They both are really incredible programs, AMS accredited, low teacher turnover (one school has teachers that have been there for 10,15,20,30 years), and have really great reputations.

For those who are highly experienced as a Montessori educator or as a parent who started your child at 2 years old - did it/does it typically go well? I’m sure this is child-dependent, but there’s a lot of pressure/some valid research to keep your child home until 3 years old, but some people say starting Montessori at 2 is a great thing as set up for 3-6 primary years. My daughter is 21 months is mostly day trained for potty, can follow 2-step directions, has experienced group care (smaller size), enjoys and prefers participating in daily routines (dressing, using fork/spoon, handwashing, potty), can engage in an activity for 5-10 mins (sometimes longer) depending on the activity, and can speak in 2-4 word phrases/sentences currently. We try to follow a Montessori-philosophy at home and encourage her independence as much as possible. I’m a pediatric OT so I feel like the philosophies parallel quite nicely :)

My next question is about ratios- both of the programs said they have 2 full-time teachers and then one float that comes for part of the day. One program has a class size of 8, but may go up to 12. The other program has a class size of 12. Does a ratio this large really work for younger toddlers? Is it total chaos? Both classrooms have a lot of space, great outdoor space, and area for the children to learn and explore, but that number sounds so high to me.

I am new to this world so I appreciate any and all thoughts!

Hey Madisonian parents! If you enrolled your child or currently have your child enrolled in an accredited Montessori program, which one did you choose and would you recommend? My daughter will be turning 2 soon and am contemplating enrolling her (if available space). I would prefer a half day situation to start.

Thanks!!

Okay so I was a working mom outside of the home from when my baby was 5ish months-12 months. I work in healthcare and spent a lot of my day traveling (locally) to provide in home health care services. I loved what I did but I got so burnt out by balancing motherhood and my career.

My husband and I decided that me shifting to SAHM but running a daycare could be a way to help manage finances and be home with our girl. My childcare has been open for 6 months and is open Monday-Thursday. While I adore being home with my daughter I am struggling so hard. I take care of her (18 mos) another toddler (18 mos) and a 7 month old baby. It’s very small but it’s SO taxing given the ages. The children are thriving and there are a lot of benefits but I am feeling more and more ready to go back out to the working world outside of the home - but feeling tremendous guilt. My husband is behind me 100% whatever I want to do, just wants me to be well. It’s pretty much my husband and I in terms of support - we have some family and friends that can help here and there but we don’t have consistent support.

I have a doctorate degree with years of clinical experience behind me and adjunct teaching at a university. I just feel like I’m not mentally and emotionally well no matter how much therapy/coping/environmental changes I do as I’m SAHM while running this business - I am desperate for a break from this grind. Did anyone else go back to work shortly after baby was born, and then SAH for a while and then go back?? I’m feeling guilty for even feeling this way, I was struggling so much when I was working outside of the home, but I was traveling daily so much and just was constantly on the run. There’s a teaching position at my local university that I’d love to apply for - it’s mostly remote so part of me thinking that balancing being a working mom being remote will be easier than what I was doing? Ugh I’m just not sure..

Any guidance/shared personal experience navigating this would be so appreciated.

I am looking for any thoughts/tips or suggestions in how you support your mental health/overall well being when working in this field. I run a very small in home daycare (my 18 mos old toddler, another 18 mos old toddler, and a 7 mos old baby). I left my job to stay home with my daughter & then started this daycare.

The families and kids are so great. I have such a great group, the toddlers are so sweet to the baby and to each other - obviously I mediate to support sharing, taking turns, emotional regulation. But overall they all do really well. I struggle with feeling so overwhelmed at various times and then at the end of the day I am so depleted. The mixed ages can feel really hard. I have a really nice indoor and outdoor space, a wagon stroller where we go out 1-2x/day for walks, and my hours are 7:30-4:30, Mon-Thursday. My husband is around to help a lot and I am so grateful. I feel so awful that I even feel this way, I feel like I have a lot of great structures in place, but I end each day feeling like I can’t do this anymore. My background is in occupational therapy and I’ve worked with pediatrics and kids in general for 10 years. I feel like I have all the tools to succeed but I’m not? What are your expectations for yourself? How do you have the capacity for other things in life? Did I just pick a hard age group to care for? Am I overreacting?

How do you do it?

Has anyone experienced a reality of after having a child - realizing you suffered from C-PTSD? And then that contributing to being OAD/hesitant on having another? I feel like it’s all-consuming trying to heal/navigate this all.

Pre-baby, I was such a people-pleaser, engaged in friendships with high-conflict people/energy drainers, overextended myself to everyone at the expense of my health, tons of guilt/shame, perfectionism, etc. This is no longer me and it’s coming at a cost - I’m disappointing people, lost friends, placing boundaries with people that aren’t used to them, releasing years of intense shame, etc.

I know that there’s this phenomenon that all of your unhealed traumas surface after having a child. I’m currently in therapy and work with an amazing therapist. I was dx with PPD around 12 weeks PP, so I’ve been working on a lot of general coping, but now I’ve realized the deeper layer is trauma. Going to try EMDR next session. I truly think I’ve been given an opportunity to heal and break generational trauma that was never addressed. Due to it being so consuming alone with raising a child, I cannot fathom the thought of my nervous system being able to mother another child, and do it well. My baby is 18 mos old now and i absolutely love our family of 3. I genuinely have so much peace with the thought of her being our one and only.

If you experienced this, what do you feel like helped you navigate this decision?

Has anyone experienced a reality of after having a child - realizing you suffered from C-PTSD? And then that contributing to being OAD? I feel like it’s all-consuming trying to heal/navigate this all.

Pre-baby, I was such a people-pleaser, engaged in friendships with high-conflict people/energy drainers, overextended myself to everyone at the expense of my health, tons of guilt/shame, perfectionism, etc. This is no longer me and it’s coming at a cost - I’m disappointing people, lost friends, placing boundaries with people that aren’t used to them, releasing years of intense shame, etc.

I know that there’s this phenomenon that all of your unhealed traumas surface after having a child. I’m currently in therapy and work with an amazing therapist. I was dx with PPD around 12 weeks PP, so I’ve been working on a lot of general coping, but now I’ve realized the deeper layer is trauma. Going to try EMDR next session. I truly think I’ve been given an opportunity to heal and break generational trauma that was never addressed. Due to it being so consuming alone with raising a child, I cannot fathom the thought of my nervous system being able to mother another child, and do it well. My baby is 18 mos old now and i absolutely love our family of 3. I genuinely have so much peace with the thought of her being our one and only.

If you experienced this, what do you feel like helped you the most?

Hello, I just opened up a single member LLC for a business structure of my small in-home daycare that launched this January. I’m wondering if anyone has guidance in how to navigate taxes in the first year? I don’t have previous year income to go off of and I’m not sure if I need to pay quarterly taxes or not. I only have 3 kids enrolled currently (1 is mine). Any guidance is super appreciated!

Hello! I recently opened up a small in home childcare. I opened an LLC and wanting to work with someone to help manage taxes, etc. Does anyone have recommendations for local CPA’s that support new business owners? Thanks!