My Eagles have flown the nest. They are living their best lives and I’m now able to look at my Acton parent journey through the rearview mirror.

I’m surprised at what I see. Looking back, it’s clear Acton didn’t just save my children, it saved my family.

All along, the best Acton practices from the studios were organically oozing into our life at home. And they’ve stuck.

This isn’t what I thought was happening when I was in the thick of Eagle Bucks, Honor Codes, Transition Contracts, Exhibitions and Badge Plans.

But the dust has settled and I can breathe and see – deeply and clearly.

My family is knit together with the principles and practices we lived out during our Acton journey. I hope my Top 10 list helps you squeeze the most out of Acton while you can. Your nest will be empty before you know it.

#1: Fresh Eyes.

Inspired by Maria Montessori’s principles of observation and teaching, Acton guides make an intentional practice of seeing every learner with “fresh eyes” each day. This means not carrying into today any frustrations or judgments from yesterday. It means dropping any labels you may project onto a child. According to Montessori, “fresh eyes” also means being fully present with a child. A multi-tasking adult, easily misses the cues a child is giving.

In our home, this was was a freeing perspective for me as a parent and spouse. Each day is new. “Fresh eyes” helped me let go of the mistakes or frustrations from yesterday giving everyone a break from my critiquing self. “Fresh eyes” helped me be fully present and receive the unspoken messages from my children – which undoubtedly were the most important.

(Stay tuned for #2 coming tomorrow.)