We were lucky to catch up with Laura Delgado recently and have shared our conversation below.

Laura, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I love running my own business, but I definitely wonder/fantasize about having a “regular job” on occasion. Last week, I had one of those moments, mainly triggered by an intense week of managing finances. I felt completely incompetent and seriously wondered if I should just quit! So many times, what I’m really wondering is, “Am I CAPABLE of doing this? Do I have what it takes?” And, I’ll be honest, the thought of not having to hold all of the pieces sounds SO appealing at times.

Those moments are typically pretty short-lived however. I shared my feelings with a friend at the time and she asked, “Well, what would you do?” Good question. I could always go back to teaching. I could go work for someone else. But, truthfully, that doesn’t sound appealing to me anymore, at least not at this moment in time.

Despite my moments of overwhelm, ultimately, I LOVE what I’m doing! Running my own business brings me so much fulfillment and I am much happier overall. Now, there are days and weeks when I’m in the flow and don’t give it a second thought. I’ve learned so much about myself through this journey, and I love being my own boss. I love setting my own schedule and being able to share this journey with my daughter. Above all, I love having the freedom to dream and create on a daily basis!

Laura, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been working with young children and their families for over 20 years, with 13 of those years spent as a toddler teacher and administrator in a local Montessori school. While I was there, I received my Masters in Educational Psychology and my Infant Toddler teaching certification. More significantly, it was there that I discovered my passion for working with toddlers and their parents inspired by the Montessori philosophy of respect.

For those who aren’t familiar with Montessori, it is, in short, a methodology and philosophy developed by Dr. Maria Montessori more than a hundred years ago rooted in a deep reverence and respect for the developing child. While most people are familiar with the academic curriculum and some believe Montessori is a method of education accessible only to a select few, Montessori is truly a “way of life” and Montessori’s principles can be implemented in any environment!

This passion and my desire to make Montessori accessible to more families eventually led me to co-create The Montessori Tree, a business providing support and services for both children and adults guided by the Montessori philosophy of respect. Since becoming a parent myself, I have become even more passionate about supporting families through their child’s first years of life, a truly significant time for both parent and child!

In line with that mission, I currently run a part-time, Montessori toddler program called The Nest out of my home. The Nest is essentially designed to serve as a stepping stone to ease the child’s transition from home to school by providing socialization and opportunities for increased independence in a nurturing environment with a strong emphasis on nature and art. Although we renovated our garage to serve as a classroom, I am especially proud of our outdoor classroom which has evolved immensely since Covid hit and our program moved outdoors. I love integrating my Montessori experience with my passion for art and nature, and I was honored to host our very first Outdoor Art Show last spring showcasing the children’s work!

I also offer regular workshops for parents and other educators in the community on a wide-range of topics, from toileting and tantrums to milestones and transitions. In addition, I offer occasional consultations and am thrilled to share that I recently launched my first Writing Circle for Mothers this month, designed to provide a safe space for mothers to connect and grow through the medium of writing. Ultimately, I am passionate about providing nurturing spaces where both children and adults can grow and feel empowered!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Being a relatively new business, our very first test was the pandemic! I realized early on I wasn’t going to make it through those first few months unless I got clear about what was most important to me. I knew taking care of my family and providing continuity for the children I served were at the top of the list, so I made a list of “action” steps. As challenging as that time was, I needed something to DO and while I wasn’t able to do everything on the list, having something on paper gave me some direction and, bit by bit, I began to feel more settled.

Because we were mandated to close our program at the time, my co-teacher and I offered our time via Zoom. It wasn’t ideal for young children, but it worked! We met regularly with our children to talk, read stories, and sing. We also invited parents to meet with us regularly in the evenings. Mostly, it was a safe space for all of us to process and feel connected with one another. Other action steps included sending the children mail and care packages with projects they could do at home and sharing videos with lessons and stories via YouTube. Again, it wasn’t ideal, but it got us through a challenging time and, fortunately, I was able to open up again later that summer.

I’m grateful that this set the tone for future challenges. When we were later hit with a winter storm that essentially caused the whole city to shut down, I went back into brainstorming mode. I asked myself, what can I control? And, what can’t I control? With the support of my husband, we made an action plan for reopening, despite the fact that we didn’t have any running water. We assessed our resources, made a list of action items, enlisted help from the families and made it work!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

My number one source for new clients/families is WORD OF MOUTH!! Because the work I do is so personal, I figure the best thing I can do is to take good care of the families I serve. It feels especially good when someone calls and says, “I was just at the playground and overheard some other parents talking about how great your program is and I’d love to come tour.” I mean, it’s a really great feeling to know that parents are talking about The Nest at the playground. How awesome is that?!

Even with word of mouth, it helps to ensure that new families are always being made aware of my program. The year we opened I relied heavily on Facebook to market our program. We had a business page, but I found it more successful to post within mom groups on Facebook, particularly in response to parent’s inquiries about childcare options in the local community. Before we opened, I also hosted several Open Houses which we marketed via Facebook.

Finally, I did a lot of research and reached out directly to others doing similar work in the community to build a support network. Since then, I have utilized Instagram to build and maintain connections with families and with other educators and providers in the area and beyond. They have been a great source of support and are wonderful at sending referrals my way and, of course, I’m always happy to return the favor!

Contact Info:

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

Image Credits
Cassie Curtin.