In a time when parents face rising pressure to get everything right, this episode offers something rare and essential: a deeply honest, poetic, and practical conversation about the transformative power of self-compassion.

Join Marin Montessori School’s Head of School, Sam Shapiro, and guest Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, celebrated poet and parent educator, as they explore what it means to parent with grace instead of perfection.

Drawing on both research and lived experience, Rosemerry offers a path toward parenting that’s emotionally sustainable—and deeply human.

Together, they discuss:

• What self-compassion really is (and why it’s not indulgent)
• How it benefits our health, motivation, and relationships
• The link between grace for ourselves and connection with our children
• The latest science from Dr. Kristin Neff and the field of self-compassion research
• Why embracing our own imperfections is a powerful parenting act

Whether you’re navigating daily struggles or simply looking to show up with more presence and care, this conversation is a powerful reminder: we teach our children not by being perfect—but by being real.

What if summer wasn’t just time off—but time well used? In this episode of Grounded and Soaring, Marin Montessori Head of School Sam Shapiro talks with Dr. Christina Carroll, an Elementary Guide and educational researcher, about how families can rethink the summer months as a powerful opportunity for curiosity-driven learning.

Drawing from years of Montessori teaching experience and her doctoral research on how teacher beliefs shape student outcomes, Christina shares practical, project-based ideas for summer—from baking and gardening to trip planning and self-reflection.

This episode is ideal for any parent looking to support their child’s growth this summer in a way that’s joyful, intentional, and deeply engaging—without relying on worksheets or screen time.

📝 Download the Montessori Summer Project Guide here.

Netflix’s Adolescence is more than just another teen drama—it’s a window into the risks, contradictions, and hidden struggles of today’s young people. In this special pop culture episode, Terry Dubow and Bill Sneed, Director of the Junior High at Marin Montessori School, explore the show’s emotional accuracy, why it hits a nerve for adults, and what it reveals about how we understand—and often misunderstand—adolescence.

The episode touches on sensitive topics and is intended for adult listeners.