Hello my friend!
I’m Markëta. Wife to Rashad and mother to our two children.
This space is for YOU. I’m here to help you raise great kids. To give you the knowledge and tools you need to instill a love of learning in your children and to create an atmosphere in your home that encourages your kids to explore, be creative, and think deeply. In this space I share Montessori homeschool insight and activities, tips on how we maintain organization, our favorite books and learning materials, how I thrive in motherhood, and a peek into our homeschool lifestyle!
Our Homeschool Story
“You can’t go to Duke, you have to be smart to get into that school.” My husband still recounts this statement made by a white, racist teacher who assumed he “wouldn’t make it” because he is Black. That’s just one of the many racist statements he heard growing up — from teachers and students, alike — and he remembers them all. These false statements are still a part of his psyche. He can’t erase them. As Henry Brooks Adams said, “A teacher affects eternity. He can never tell where his influence stops.”
Before giving birth to my son I never thought I’d homeschool. Like many, whenever I heard the term “homeschool” I thought it meant my kids might not turn out “normal” that they’d lack socialization, wouldn’t have any friends, and wouldn’t be able to have fun experiences like attending high school sporting events or senior prom. Then I gave birth to my son and everything changed. At that moment my husband and I were flooded with emotions about what it means to be Black in America.
We knew our son might face challenges unique to being a Black boy. And we also knew we wanted him to freely experience childhood without restraint. We wanted him to learn and grow without arbitrary limitations placed on him. We wanted him to be able to talk loudly when he felt excited without being seen as disruptive. When he felt angry we wanted him to be able to communicate his frustration without being perceived as aggressive. We wanted him to be free. For us this meant taking drastic measures. We decided to homeschool.
When I began considering homeschooling I was excited about the opportunity to provide my children with a loving and vibrant educational environment.
After all, teachers help children better understand themselves and the world. They help shape the minds and souls of our little ones —the future of society! “Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.” (Japanese proverb). I also knew it was important for my children to be educated in an accepting environment rather than one where they might be subjected to stigma and judgment.
Being Black in America’s educational system comes with a set of hurdles I didn’t want my kids to experience. I didn’t want my son to be singled out by teachers. I didn’t want him to be seen as not smart, or disruptive, or a problem student, or too aggressive. My husband and I are deeply concerned about the psychological safety of our young Black boy, especially given the precarious state of race relations in modern-day America. In homeschooling, we strive to preserve African-based cultural standards and self-esteem for both of our children.
“Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life.” – Naeem Callaway
Thank you for being here with us!
We are excited for this treasured opportunity to share our homeschool journey with you! And congratulations on making the decision to enhance your child’s education at home! I’m so glad you have taken the step to be in this space with us!
Markëta
