This version of Hillel the Elder’s quote had been rolling around in my head for the month of December; ever since my colleague forwarded me the email telling us it was time to renew our Squarespace subscription for another year. That email forced made me reflect on the progress—truthfully the lack of progress—we had made in bringing Project Erdkinder to life in the year since we took the plunge and bought the domain name. 

It didn’t take me long to take stock. Subscription to Squarespace? Check. Website name? Check. Many conference calls and Zoom planning sessions? Check. Doodles of logos? Check. Website launched? Nope. In the year since we decided to put our money where our mouths were and establish an online community for Montessori adolescent practitioners, we had done the cyber equivalent of what thousands of well-intentioned people do every year. We bought a gym membership and then proceeded to never go to the gym...for a WHOLE YEAR. How did it all go so wrong?

Well, the year got unexpectedly busy for sure and we both faced some major life changes in our personal and professional lives, but I think, honestly, we lost our nerve. With so many excellent Montessori practitioners out there, who were we to lay claim to any part of the conversation? Despite our combined years of experience in adolescent programs and at the NAMTA/AMI Orientation to Adolescent Studies, we didn’t feel like we were qualified to create this site. And we were afraid of opening ourselves up to criticism or the accusation that we were usurping the expertise and work of the current leaders in Montessori adolescent work. After a year of “should we?”, “can we?”, and “are we?”, it’s time to focus on the only two questions that really matter If not us, then who? If not now, then when?

Why not us? Why not now?

So welcome!