Today we’d like to introduce you to Pamela Green

Hi Pamela, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

Part of my story begins in 1981 when I first visited a Montessori Children’s House, or an environment for children from ages 2.5 – 6 years. I was visiting this school as part of my University studies, with my major in Early Childhood education. I had not been familiar with Dr. Maria Montessori or her life, yet as I entered this environment I was immersed in a place centered on the child and the principles of Montessori. In essence, I discovered through this visit an answer to a longing I had been holding and hoping for, which was to find a place that expressed respect for the child and the adult, as individuals with personalities that were revealing themselves through their exploration and discovery.

I began teaching in Montessori in 1984 in another state and school, then returned to the school I first visited where I served as a teacher (Guide) and administrator until 2013. As well, I began working with parents, grandparents, and those with children, through monthly adult groups, classes, and workshops, in 1989.

The second part of my story begins in 1983 when I was first introduced to the service of assisting women during births. I met a number of homebirth midwives, I attended my first homebirth in 1986 and began attending births in 1989, and continue now. My initiation into birth work was similar to an answering to what I had been searching for, and attending births has become part of what I do as a Montessorian. Assisting families in pregnancy, during labor, birth, and for the first 40 days following birth.

Along with attending births I now own a school called Ananda Montessori, which is an environment for adults and children to learn alongside one another. Classes begin in pregnancy and continue through Adult-Infant, Adult-Toddler, and Adult-Child classes. I am also a Montessori consultant, a teacher and parenting mentor, and I offer courses and trainings online and in person.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

The road or path, to me, is as smooth or rough as I make it. There have been transitions, leaving my first school after so many decades in 2013, and entering into a spacious and creative time to discover how to bring together my own visions and intentions as a Montessorian to support children and families. I found that walking this path, which was unknown, involved my opening up to a process of discovery, creativity, and a releasing of what had defined me, to beginning a new (and fluid) defining of myself.

I found, and continue to, that finding a network of others was essential in this process. Through my family and through the support of other Montessorians, what I was envisioning began to emerge, in concrete ways.

When I began Ananda Montessori my husband and I created an environment in the room where I am sitting now. We painted, sanded the flooring, creating a beautiful space that was ready and waiting. I did not have a child enrolled yet…..but I could imagine this person and family. Intention is powerful and alive and I held this, strongly. I also opened my home for people to visit, to come explore and play. I spoke at groups, to newspapers, wrote articles…..began in social media. This all began in the fall of 2013, and then we had our first family, and Ananda continues to grow.

In 2017 I moved Ananda Montessori to a storefront in the center of my town, where it continues to thrive. I was closed during COVID for five months, while continuing to pay my lease, which was a challenge. I have not been closed since and Ananda Montessori is open all day, everyday.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

As discussed previously, my work as a Montessorian attending births for 35 years is unique, as there are very few who do this work, which is talked about in training or in theory.
Maria Montessori wrote extensively about the life of the unborn child, of how to assist the mother and child during birth and afterwards. As I attend mothers, babies, and co-parents, I carry within me my understanding that she spoke about, through my observations, my guidance, and by assisting only when necessary, for this is the process of the mother and baby, and not our own. I have been invited many times to speak at conferences, through interviews, and through offering courses with this focus of Montessori from the Beginning, and I continue to do so.

Because Montessori Parent-Infant and Child classes and programs are not well-known, this is another area which I am asked to talk about. How to guide adults in class, what these classes are and what happens? I began consulting with others who had interest in starting their own classes, sometimes called Montessori Playgroups, in 2013, and for the last ten years I have been offering an international 8-week online training for those who would like to become Montessori Parent-Infant and Child Facilitators. I have since had over 300 students take this course, and the next one begins in just two days!

I am grateful to bring myself as much as I can to others who are searching for support, and I do this through the courses I offer and through consulting, mentorship, and everyday at Ananda Montessori. I have observed and experienced the transformation that happens as adults move into a deeper understanding of themselves as they are with children. It is profound and humbling to witness and guide each family.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?

For me I have always been drawn to creating spaces for community and collaboration. To answer the universal longing that each person holds to find places of belonging.

To be within community answered my own longing to join, and to not isolate. I remember this and realize that each moment when I am with others there is that choosing to join and to also be supported through by others.

People can work with me through attending classes at Ananda Montessori, through the collaborative process of consulting, through my mentoring work, and as I attend births. They can also find me through the courses I offer.

I receive so much support from my family, my husband, children, and grandchildren. I receive support from the families at Ananda Montessori. What is essential in receiving support is for me to be open to it and to ask for help when I am in need. This is something I continue to work on.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.anandamontessori.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anandamontessori/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anandamontessorichildrenshouse

Image Credits

Permission was given, no image credits needed