Ann Hendrix
Mother of J (almost 5)
Ann is a mother and content creator out of Georgia, sharing inspirational ideas and practical ways to raise independent, self-sufficient children. Her instagram offers everything from educational activities, to setting up child-accessible spaces, and language tips for parents.
Can you give a little background to your family/professional life/and how you ended up posting Montessori inspired content on Instagram?
Hi! I’m Ann, a military wife and a former Radiologic Technologist. I have taken some time off to be home with my (soon to be) 5-year-old son. I had suffered from infertility for over 10 years, so J is definitely my miracle baby. I was working the first 2 years of his life, it felt so rushed and I realized I missed so much of his early years. I am taking it slow and enjoying time with him now. When my son was a toddler, I stumbled upon Montessori by accident on Pinterest (Where else? Right?!) while browsing hands-on toddler activities. I was intrigued and went on to do more research and deepen my understanding or Montessori. I realized we’d already been somewhat Montessori-inspired at home without realizing it. The more I learned about the theory, the more fascinated and intrigued I became. That being said, J is not a Montessori child from birth. I will also say, I enjoy finding inspiration from other methods as well, some REI, Walfdorf, some “unschooling,” forest/outdoor school, etc. But I always keep coming back to Montessori as our main principle. I’m not very strict so I prefer the term “Montessori inspired” and do what works for us as a family in the home.
As a mother and entrepreneur, how are you staying sane and juggling it all? Especially during a pandemic.
I know it has been tough and difficult for many families throughout the pandemic. We are fortunate to be able to rely on my husbands income through his military job and are cognizant in sticking to a budget. I just take one day at a time and am grateful for the tiny little things in life. I am definitely not someone who has mastered the balance of it all. I try to schedule certain things for example, posting on IG 2-3 times a week and only after J goes to bed. In hindsight of it all, I am so appreciative for the time we were given with my husband working at home during the stay-at-home order. It was the most consistent block of time he has been able to spend with my son. While it was hard for my son to be away from his friends, we spent time outside every day as a family and made the most of what was around us.
Tell us something that is bringing you joy as a mother right now.
The opportunity to spend more time with J has been the greatest gift. The toddler years have already passed and he will be in a second plane of development in a less than a year! I can’t believe how fast time files. So I am just enjoying this time and to get to observe him daily and to help grow his independence by preparing an environment at home for him. Often observing your child is about sitting on your hands or holding your tongue. It’s such a wonderful feeling to see pride on his face when he does things on his own.
“Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.”
Any advice for bringing Montessori into the home?
I always tell parents that Montessori at home doesn’t have to be expensive. You don’t need a kitchen tower if you don’t have room or budget for it. Just think on a kid’s perspective. What would help facilitate their independence, keeping safety in mind? Give them a stool so they can wash their hands themselves in the bathroom, a low table for them to prepare snacks, a few choices of clothes for toddlers to choose what to wear, easy shoes to put on by themselves, easy access to clean up tools, etc.
The most important thing is “You!” as a prepared adult. Don’t do anything that will stress you out or if you are not ready for it. But also understand that this takes time, patience and perseverance, but will pay off in the long run. Life is so much easier for everyone when routines are established. Find routines and rhythms that work for you and your family. I would really suggest reading up on “Montessori - 4 planes of development” and “Sensitive Periods.” Learning about these was tremendously helpful to recognize where my child was and how to support his needs.
Where do you draw from for inspiration when coming up with new activities for your son?
As I said on my IG before, “follow the child… but follow him as his leader.” I have content for following the child on my Instagram as well. Observation is key. I don’t mean to observe every single thing they do either. It’s just day-to-day observation. I do get inspired from Pinterest and other IG accounts here and there, but mainly from observing him first.
What does your typical morning routine look like?
During the week, I get up around 7 am and get J up to come downstairs then we make breakfast. He makes most of his breakfast which is something he can handle independently; toast, homemade frozen (or store bought) pancakes, waffles, fruit, and some type of protein. If time is allowed, he will make scrambled eggs with supervision or we cook together. He then goes on to brush teeth and get dressed. Then I take J to his Montessori school which is about a 20-minute drive from home, and back home to finish my breakfast (I would eat just a bit with him) and morning grooming for myself. In addition to normal housework in general, this is my opportunity to use my observations to prepare his environment, to modify or adjust accordingly if I need to and prepare any activity planned for later. I’m also working on my personal blog which has been a time consuming process. I try to squeeze in a quick work out session then it’s time to go pick him again. J only attends school for a half day, then we come home, make lunch and the afternoon is free play time, quiet time, explore time or just cuddle on the couch together!
What do you do for self-care?
My self-care is time for personal enjoyment and I love creating beautiful things. It heals my soul. I love flower arranging, decorating my house and DIY home decor. I’m not so much of a skin care person, I have a fast, easy routine. As long as I have sunscreen moisturizer on in the morning then I’m good (it’s the most important!) A quick morning workout helps to wake me up too. I hope to get back to working out more like I used to. Fun Fact: my Instagram account used to be @befitnotskinny and I posted about health, workouts and inspirational content for health and well-being.
What excites you most about raising your little ones during this time?
Just being able to spend more together as a family. My husband is back to work now but I felt grateful for the time he spent working from home. It allowed for more quality time with our son and being a part of our daily routine.
As a source of inspiration for Montessori activities at home, what are a few that are working for you right now?
We love open ended toys over here (toys he can build) and they last for years! J loves rainbow stackers, wooden blocks, Magnetic tiles, and started to get into Lego when he was about 3.5 years old. For kitchen items, I highly recommend the “Smabit” knife from Ikea, which has been game-changer. We haven’t had a need to move on to anything else yet. He’s been using that knife since he was 3 years old. Also a Woom bike. They are expensive, but worth the price. They are light weight and designed for a small child. Because of the bike, J was able to ride a 2-wheeler right after the balance bike, skipping training wheels altogether. His pride and happiness was worth every penny. Dm me any questions about the bike if you have more.
Any favorite local spots or activities you love to do with your children?
We love nature and spend time in our outdoor surroundings. We love taking 4 mile bike rides on the trails nearby. We also spend time hanging out at a lake and a swamp (yes, swamp!). These place provide the opportunity to experience wild life and different types of animals. He recently asked to join a soccer class so he’s been enjoying that. Many children’s activities and classes are starting to open up more with safe precautions in place so we are hoping to resume a swimming class as the weather gets warmer.
Follow Ann’s Montessori inspired journey at @annhbehappy