At Harmony Family Preschool, two of
the teachers' aides are furry and occasionally bark, while another
whistles and sports colorful feathers. The two dogs, Chief and Blue,
and the bird, a parakeet named Squankie, belong to the family of the
school's owner and director, Holly Lambert. A mom of five who is also
one of the school's two teachers, Holly enlists her furry and feathery
friends to help the 25 students-ages 2 to 4-learn about responsibility,
make strides in their emotional development and even get through a bad
day.
the teachers' aides are furry and occasionally bark, while another
whistles and sports colorful feathers. The two dogs, Chief and Blue,
and the bird, a parakeet named Squankie, belong to the family of the
school's owner and director, Holly Lambert. A mom of five who is also
one of the school's two teachers, Holly enlists her furry and feathery
friends to help the 25 students-ages 2 to 4-learn about responsibility,
make strides in their emotional development and even get through a bad
day.
Kids who have "Squankie duty," for
example, put the bird on a perch stick and take him out of his cage
when it's time for him to join the class. Usually they take turns at
this coveted task, but when a child is having a bad morning or feeling
out of sorts, she gets to do it-after the teachers okay it with the
child whose turn it would have been. This sense of community and
cooperation is a constant at Harmony Family Preschool.
example, put the bird on a perch stick and take him out of his cage
when it's time for him to join the class. Usually they take turns at
this coveted task, but when a child is having a bad morning or feeling
out of sorts, she gets to do it-after the teachers okay it with the
child whose turn it would have been. This sense of community and
cooperation is a constant at Harmony Family Preschool.
Holly became certified to teach
preschool in 2003, and that same year she opened her school in the
basement of her house. Although she'd earned a management degree and
had also gone to law school, she knew after the birth of her second
child, Sydney, that what she really wanted to do was teach. "I loved
watching my children explore their world and was thrilled that I could
help facilitate their discovery and growth," she says. So after the
birth of her third child, Coleman, Holly quit her job as an assistant
controller at a video production company, and after John, her fourth,
was born, she went for her teaching certification.
preschool in 2003, and that same year she opened her school in the
basement of her house. Although she'd earned a management degree and
had also gone to law school, she knew after the birth of her second
child, Sydney, that what she really wanted to do was teach. "I loved
watching my children explore their world and was thrilled that I could
help facilitate their discovery and growth," she says. So after the
birth of her third child, Coleman, Holly quit her job as an assistant
controller at a video production company, and after John, her fourth,
was born, she went for her teaching certification.
Why her own school? "I wanted to
teach, but I was a little bit afraid that my personality was too
controlling to follow someone else's curriculum," says Holly. She does
incorporate guidelines from organizations like the National Association
for the Education of Young Children and the Massachusetts Department of
Early Education and Care, but also relies on her instincts and her
experiences raising her children, who range in age from 10 to 4.
teach, but I was a little bit afraid that my personality was too
controlling to follow someone else's curriculum," says Holly. She does
incorporate guidelines from organizations like the National Association
for the Education of Young Children and the Massachusetts Department of
Early Education and Care, but also relies on her instincts and her
experiences raising her children, who range in age from 10 to 4.
"I know not many moms with such large
families work," she admits. "And sometimes I feel guilty because of it.
Am I meeting their needs? Have I bitten off more than I can chew?" But
Holly also says that what she feels most is lucky-to have five kids who
are great with one another and "an awesome partner to experience them
with."
families work," she admits. "And sometimes I feel guilty because of it.
Am I meeting their needs? Have I bitten off more than I can chew?" But
Holly also says that what she feels most is lucky-to have five kids who
are great with one another and "an awesome partner to experience them
with."
An unstoppable force, Holly starts
her day at 5:00 a.m. with an hour-long workout before charging into her
roles as mother, wife and educator. Her high school sweetheart and
husband of 14 years, Nino, is co-owner of his family's three
groceries/New York?style delis, Lambert's Rainbow Fruit. This means he
works seven days a week and is out the door at 5:30 a.m. On the plus
side, he can flex his schedule, finishing work at noon at least once a
week. "I make time to work out, and I encourage my husband to do the
same," says Holly. "And we reserve Saturday nights for dates."
her day at 5:00 a.m. with an hour-long workout before charging into her
roles as mother, wife and educator. Her high school sweetheart and
husband of 14 years, Nino, is co-owner of his family's three
groceries/New York?style delis, Lambert's Rainbow Fruit. This means he
works seven days a week and is out the door at 5:30 a.m. On the plus
side, he can flex his schedule, finishing work at noon at least once a
week. "I make time to work out, and I encourage my husband to do the
same," says Holly. "And we reserve Saturday nights for dates."
Need we add that there's some serious
juggling going on in the Lambert household? Because her husband leaves
so early and sometimes gets home so late, Holly usually does school
drop-offs and pickups. To manage, she's taught her kids to handle
chores like folding laundry and picking up toys. And there's lots of
give-and-take. "The kids know that sometimes they have to take turns,
such as missing an activity because a sibling needs to be somewhere at
the same time."
juggling going on in the Lambert household? Because her husband leaves
so early and sometimes gets home so late, Holly usually does school
drop-offs and pickups. To manage, she's taught her kids to handle
chores like folding laundry and picking up toys. And there's lots of
give-and-take. "The kids know that sometimes they have to take turns,
such as missing an activity because a sibling needs to be somewhere at
the same time."
As busy as her life gets, Holly tries
to make sure each of her five children has one-on-one time with her.
Every Tuesday she rides horseback with 9-year-old Sydney, her only
daughter. And recently, Holly and young Nino shared a New York City
sightseeing expedition for his tenth birthday. Ever the educator, Holly
bravely used the trip as an opportunity to help Nino overcome his fear
of things not going as planned. "I had us get on the wrong subway on
purpose because I knew Nino would get worked up," Holly recounts. "We
sat until he pulled himself together, and I said, 'Is it the end of the
world that we're lost? What should we do?' He calmed down and we found
our way. Later, I told him I did it on purpose and that I was so proud
of the way he handled it. He was proud of himself, too."
to make sure each of her five children has one-on-one time with her.
Every Tuesday she rides horseback with 9-year-old Sydney, her only
daughter. And recently, Holly and young Nino shared a New York City
sightseeing expedition for his tenth birthday. Ever the educator, Holly
bravely used the trip as an opportunity to help Nino overcome his fear
of things not going as planned. "I had us get on the wrong subway on
purpose because I knew Nino would get worked up," Holly recounts. "We
sat until he pulled himself together, and I said, 'Is it the end of the
world that we're lost? What should we do?' He calmed down and we found
our way. Later, I told him I did it on purpose and that I was so proud
of the way he handled it. He was proud of himself, too."
One of many ways that Holly honors
what's unique in her children is by keeping a journal for each, noting
her pride and their progress. And she wrote Nino a letter for his grade
school graduation. "I told him how exciting it's been to watch him
become a kind and sensitive person," says Holly, her voice quivering
with emotion, "and that I think he's one of the coolest ten-year-olds
on the planet."
what's unique in her children is by keeping a journal for each, noting
her pride and their progress. And she wrote Nino a letter for his grade
school graduation. "I told him how exciting it's been to watch him
become a kind and sensitive person," says Holly, her voice quivering
with emotion, "and that I think he's one of the coolest ten-year-olds
on the planet."
The respect and love are mutual. In
fact, Holly's children strive to earn the right to help her. Nino and
Sydney get to take off two days during the school year to assist with
the preschoolers. Coleman, who's 7, can't wait until he's old enough to
help, and the same goes for John, 5, and Max, 4, who attend a different
preschool so they can get used to being independent and not always with
their mother.
fact, Holly's children strive to earn the right to help her. Nino and
Sydney get to take off two days during the school year to assist with
the preschoolers. Coleman, who's 7, can't wait until he's old enough to
help, and the same goes for John, 5, and Max, 4, who attend a different
preschool so they can get used to being independent and not always with
their mother.
As with her family, Holly nurtures
the growth of her young students. The 3-year-olds begin to learn
colors, numbers and the alphabet. The 4-year-olds are encouraged to
help the younger children. "I've developed a curriculum that engages
the children physically and cognitively through their senses," says
Holly. "For instance, I have them jump and clap while they recite
numbers and letters. We also learn about nutrition and do yoga to
promote fitness and calmness.
the growth of her young students. The 3-year-olds begin to learn
colors, numbers and the alphabet. The 4-year-olds are encouraged to
help the younger children. "I've developed a curriculum that engages
the children physically and cognitively through their senses," says
Holly. "For instance, I have them jump and clap while they recite
numbers and letters. We also learn about nutrition and do yoga to
promote fitness and calmness.
"One of our dads recently asked me what namaste [a yoga salutation]
means," she says, chuckling. "He said their three-year-old goes around
the house encouraging everyone to breathe when they're rushed." It's
Holly's way to offer both her students and her children experiences
that help them find what makes them happy—and understand the value of their own individuality. Says Holly, "I'm honored to be a part of their journey.
HOLLY TELLS ALL
Her Greatest Challenge
What really trips me up in daily life is my persanal struggle to leave
tings unfinished. When I'm extremely busy, I slip into type-A
get-things-done-now mode—and I don't like that feeling. But I'm working
in feeling happy even when I'm not ciaght up.
Her Best Solution
My children! I couldn't do what I do without them. Thye help out—a lot!
They're very much a part of our team in pulling things together every
morning. They're also very respectful of my limits. Sicne I say yes
often, my no is more meaningful.
At this global consulting and
make strides in their
make strides in their
Why her own school? "I wanted
Always paint yourself in a