Author: Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

So, I Guess This Is Growing Up: The Growth Spurt

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Time is a thief, and nothing proves it more than realizing the tiny child who once tugged at your pant leg is suddenly standing at eye level. This isn’t the usual “they grow up so fast” sentiment. They are literally growing up fast and outgrowing everything they own.

Growth spurts are short, intense bursts of height and weight gain that happen throughout childhood. Every kid goes through them, but they’re often far more dramatic than parents expect. From the sudden appetite jumps, to the extra sleep, to the highwater pants, these spikes in growth are completely normal.

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Ultimate Mom Date/Girls’ Trip Review

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

I don’t know about you, but we’re obsessed with Real Housewives on vacation. Patti and I have even joked about recreating a few of them ourselves (minus the chaos, of course).

We’ve traveled together plenty over the years, but we had never taken a true girls’ trip. Not with a spouse, or other couples, or families; a real girl’s trip with 3+ adult women. This year, we finally made it happen with a getaway to Salem, MA, joined by Patti’s SIL and her best friend.

But honestly, the number of people doesn’t define a girls’ trip. It’s any intentional getaway shared between women, created for connection, fun, and a break from the everyday. Decidedly NOT a bachelorette. And for women in their midlife season, girls’ trips carry even more meaning because it meets the psychological, social, and biological needs that become more apparent in midlife.

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Millennial Midlife

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

It’s nearing the end of the third quarter (standing on business, over here) and we wanted to do one last goal check-in with our Child(ish) Advice Bingo card. So far, we are on the precipice of multiple bingos!!

-GIRLS’ TRIP, done 8/27-31
-Mary has an in-budget spending month!
-Joint Weight Loss Challenge: 15 lbs. (Thanks to Mary)
-Joint Book Goal: 47 books read (Thanks to Patti)
-Annual Mammograms: Booked for this month
-Third race done in the ATL Beltline Series

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M is for Montessori

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

When I was 5, my parents enrolled me in a Montessori program. At that age, you obviously don’t grasp the difference between that and a typical classroom, but I remember the long reading periods and the one‑on‑one lessons. Teachers used hands‑on materials, games, and toys to introduce academic concepts.

Once I entered elementary school, my learning experience shifted dramatically. Classes became structured, centering around worksheets, whole‑group instruction, and a set schedule. Independent, self‑paced learning was rare, and the day revolved around the teacher directing the entire class at once.

As a parent, I’ve chosen the traditional route for my own kids, but several friends have opted for Montessori programs instead and have had a wide range of experiences. It made me curious: What exactly defines Montessori education today, and why do some families swear by it while others move on?

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Same But Different: Finding a K-5 School

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

When our then‑zoned elementary school closed a little over a year ago, the ripple effect was immediate. Our parent group began exploring every possible alternative, from moving to another county to researching private schools to digging into charter and magnet options. Watching that scramble unfold made me realize just how many educational paths families navigate today. It raised a bigger question about why so many different school models exist and whether choosing one during the elementary years truly shapes a child’s long‑term experience; ergo, this post.

In our metro area, there is an overabundance of school options; which for a parent isn’t a bad problem to have. When parents choose a school, they’re choosing more than just a building. It’s a community, a childhood environment, and the place where our kids will spend more than 1,000 hours each year.

Public, private, charter, and magnet schools all function differently, and knowing what sets them apart makes it easier for parents to determine the best fit for their kids.

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