22. Back-to-School Tips for Middle Childhood That You Won’t See on Social Media
Back-to-school season can make parents feel like we should be doing more—more prep, more activities, more troubleshooting, more communication. But what if what our elementary kids actually need is a little more breathing room?
In this episode, we’re bringing both the parent and teacher perspective to the starting school transition. We talk about building a buffer instead of a frantic end-of-summer ramp-up, why it can take weeks for kids to truly settle into a new academic year, and how to support them through friendship bloopers, big feelings, and the growing pains of independence without treating every hard moment like a problem we need to fix on their behalf.
We also get the teacher’s take on what actually matters at the start of the year—from supplies and building a strong parent-teacher relationship to taking the pressure off standardized testing and meeting kids where they are. Plus, we unpack the changing social landscape of elementary school and the increasing threat of "busy" on the downtime and play they still need.
Consider this your permission slip to worry a little less about engineering the perfect start and focus instead on giving kids the relationships, scaffolding, and space they need to find their footing.
Show Notes
We are two moms who met on Instagram years ago and quickly bonded over our love of the Montessori philosophy applied to parenting and over nerdy child development research. We decided to take the leap by finally taking our chats out of our DMs and inviting you to listen along as we chat about all things motherhood.
Gloria is a former 1st grade public school teacher turned SAHM and now Montessori homeschooling mom to her 6 and 4.5 year old. She mentors parents on Montessori homeschooling online and has created multiple masterclasses for parents and educators on how to teach children to read at a foundational level. You can find more about her mentorship program by clicking here (http://patreon.com/montessorimamalife)and more about her masterclasses and other printables she has created for homeschoolers by clicking here. (https://www.patreon.com/cw/MontessoriMamaLife/shop)You can find her on Instagram @MontessoriMamaLife (https://www.instagram.com/montessorimamalife/)
Jenna is a mom of three, communications strategist and child development writer. With a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a specialization in sociology, she began her career in newsrooms and nonprofits before discovering her true calling in education. She partners with Montessori school teams to strengthen their outreach, refine family communications, and foster deeper connections between parents and educators. You can follow her musings on Instagram @holdingspacemontessori. (https://www.instagram.com/holdingspacemontessori/)
16 Aug 2026
21: Why Ages 3-4 Can Feel like a Preview of Adolescence: Understanding the Brain of Your “Threenager” with Sarah Piel, Ms.Ed, PMH-C
There's plenty of advice and support for the magical, challenging year of two—but what about year three?
We sat down with Early Years Expert Sarah Piel, M.S.Ed., PMH-C, to explore what's really happening in the "threenager brain." Together, we unpack the emotional and developmental shifts behind this stage, and why it can feel like a preview of adolescence with huge surges of independence and plenty of volatility.
Grab a coffee and lean in with this chat, where Sarah beautifully takes us through everything from whining, frustration tolerance, ways to play, to the precursor skills that actually work for desirable traits like sharing and empathetic apologies that are not just performative.
Find Sarah at sarahpiel.com (https://www.sarahpiel.com/) and learn about all the ways you can work with her! As the founder of Piel Developmental Consulting, she can work with:
Babies, toddlers, and young children — one-to-one and in playgroups.
Parents and caregivers — one-to-one, in parenting groups, and with their child in playgroups.
Schools and organizations — consulting, evaluating, and leading workshops.
Be sure to also follow her bite-size tips on Instagram @theearliestyears (https://www.instagram.com/theearliestyears/) and also TikTok @theearliestyears. (https://www.tiktok.com/@theearliestyears?lang=en)
About the Show
We are two moms who met on Instagram years ago and quickly bonded over our love of the Montessori philosophy applied to parenting and over nerdy child development research. We decided to take the leap by finally taking our chats out of our DMs and inviting you to listen along as we chat about all things motherhood.
Gloria is a former 1st grade public school teacher turned SAHM and now Montessori homeschooling mom to her 6 and 4.5 year old. She mentors parents on Montessori homeschooling online and has created multiple masterclasses for parents and educators on how to teach children to read at a foundational level. You can find more about her mentorship program by clicking here (http://patreon.com/montessorimamalife)and more about her masterclasses and other printables she has created for homeschoolers by clicking here. (https://www.patreon.com/cw/MontessoriMamaLife/shop)You can find her on Instagram @MontessoriMamaLife (https://www.instagram.com/montessorimamalife/)
Jenna is a mom of three, communications strategist and child development writer. With a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a specialization in sociology, she began her career in newsrooms and nonprofits before discovering her true calling in education. She partners with Montessori school teams to strengthen their outreach, refine family communications, and foster deeper connections between parents and educators. You can follow her musings on Instagram @holdingspacemontessori. (https://www.instagram.com/holdingspacemontessori/)
2 Aug 2026
20: When Safety Makes Our Kids Less Safe – The Case for Risky Play
Safety is critical in our children's play and learning experiences, but part of prioritizing this is also learning to let them take safe risks.
Children naturally seek experiences that challenge their bodies and minds. They need opportunities to test their limits, develop planning and problem-solving skills, and build confidence in what they're capable of. Whether it's climbing a rock wall, helping prepare food with a child-safe knife, or engaging in rough-and-tumble play with peers, these experiences help them navigate the world with greater precision, awareness, and self-confidence. This kind of play—often called risky play—is also a key ingredient in developing resilience.
In this episode, we have a short conversation about how we came to embrace risky play in our own motherhood journeys and how we navigated what can feel like the hardest stage: the early years, when our children are just beginning to develop coordination and confidence, and we're learning to trust their abilities (and our own instincts) right alongside them.
About the Show
We are two moms who met on Instagram years ago and quickly bonded over our love of the Montessori philosophy applied to parenting and over nerdy child development research. We decided to take the leap by finally taking our chats out of our DMs and inviting you to listen along as we chat about all things motherhood.
Gloria is a former 1st grade public school teacher turned SAHM and now Montessori homeschooling mom to her 6 and 4.5 year old. She mentors parents on Montessori homeschooling online and has created multiple masterclasses for parents and educators on how to teach children to read at a foundational level. You can find more about her mentorship program by clicking here (http://patreon.com/montessorimamalife)and more about her masterclasses and other printables she has created for homeschoolers by clicking here. (https://www.patreon.com/cw/MontessoriMamaLife/shop)You can find her on Instagram @MontessoriMamaLife (https://www.instagram.com/montessorimamalife/)
Jenna is a mom of three, communications strategist and child development writer. With a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a specialization in sociology, she began her career in newsrooms and nonprofits before discovering her true calling in education. She partners with Montessori school teams to strengthen their outreach, refine family communications, and foster deeper connections between parents and educators. You can follow her musings on Instagram @holdingspacemontessori. (https://www.instagram.com/holdingspacemontessori/)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
10 ratings
Contact Between the Chaos & Calm: In the Middle of Motherhood
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Between the Chaos & Calm: In the Middle of Motherhood?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
