MASSACHUSETTS, USA: Interview with Courtney Cappallo

by Courtney Cappallo (USA) | Aug 2, 2011 | Communication, Education, Family, Food, Kids, Language, Motherhood, Preschool, USA, World Interviews, World Moms Blog Writer Interview | 12 comments

Where in the world do you live? And, are you from there?

I live on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. I am from Oxford, Pennsylvania (USA).

What language(s) do you speak?

I speak English and am currently learning Spanish as a second language. In college I minored in Japanese but I can barely speak a lick of it anymore.

When did you first become a mother?

I had my first child in June of 2005. I had my second child in September of 2008.

Are you a stay-at-home mom or do you work?

Interesting question… hard for me to answer. You see, I do stay at home but I home-school my two children. My 6-year-old just completed home-school Kindergarten, I am now teaching her 1st grade. My two-year-old sits in with us during our morning home-school schedule, so technically I also teach preschool.

Why do you blog/write?

I blog to share my life experience with others. I am a right-brained individual. I find that I am fascinated with the arts in general, whether it is writing, painting, singing, dancing, whatever. Writing is a good outlet for my creative energy!

How would you say that you are different from other mothers?

I would say that the fact that I am a home-schooling teacher makes me different from most mothers. I suppose I have more in common with mothers from over 100 years ago, like 1st lady, Abigail Adams, who taught their children at home.

What do you view as the challenges of raising a child in today’s world?

I have many concerns about raising my children in our current society. Education is a paramount issue for our family and that is why we choose to home-school our children. The fact that most people are not self sufficient with growing their own food is a major concern. I believe we’ve become so complacent and I think that is so dangerous. Also, in America, reality show celebrities, like the cast from MTV’s Jersey Shore, make me extremely disgusted that these people are role models for our youth. If people like that and other ignorant people like Paris Hilton are being put on a platform of what teenagers should strive for, than I feel society in general is way off track to the path of enlightenment.

How did you find World Moms Blog?

My good friend Jen Burden asked me to contribute to the website!

What do you like best about writing for World Moms Blog?

I love reading about other mother’s thoughts and experiences. It makes me feel connected in a way I know would not be possible without the internet.

This is an original post to World Moms Blog by Courtney Cappallo of Massachusetts, USA. Courtney can be found homeschooling on her blog, Table of Four.

Courtney Cappallo (USA)

Courtney Cappallo is a mom of two girls, ages 7 and 4-years-old. She is living her dream life by residing on Cape Cod and being able to stay at home with her two little beauties. Courtney is currently homeschooling both of her daughters for 2nd grade and preschool, respectively.

Courtney uses a mix of Classical Education and Montessori. She is a strong believer in teaching to the five senses. Courtney’s homeschooling efforts are unique, as she uses the latest technology of the Smartboard. She is also taking on the task of learning Spanish as a second language, as well as, teaching her two children and husband Spanish.

Prior to becoming a homeschooling teacher, Courtney was the Director of Marketing for Simon Property Group, which is the largest U.S. real estate company. Courtney was Simon’s Director of Marketing for the Burlington Mall, Arsenal Mall and Cape Cod Mall. Courtney is a graduate of Villanova University and is proud of her small town roots from growing up in Oxford, Pennsylvania, which only has two traffic lights! She can be found making homeschooling lessons and more at Table of Four !

Polish Mom Photographer on August 2, 2011 at 5:19 pm

I agree with you, Courtney. I feel the same about society. That’s why I want to home-school my kids as well. As for today we are not able to grow our own food but someday we’re planning to do so. I think today’s people totally lost their connection with nature.
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- Courtney Cappallo on August 16, 2011 at 9:51 pm
  
  I agree with you Polish Mom, we’ve lost our connection with nature. I am finding many of my friends are trying to change that. If you end up home-schooling, please let me know. It’s always so helpful to have an open communication with other home-schooling parents!
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maggie on August 3, 2011 at 9:20 am

I think it is great that you passionately follow your heart with everything that you do. You seem like a very dedicated, hard-working, thoughtful person. 🙂
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- Courtney Cappallo on August 16, 2011 at 9:51 pm
  
  Thank you Maggie! Your comment was very sweet! My girls are truly my muses!
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Heather on August 3, 2011 at 3:23 pm

I agree with you! No one really notices the work of moms until moms will be called upon to fix things in society. I appreciate women like yourself doing these things. I personally am focusing on the community attitudes at large. The media is here to stay. I want to see it more respectful of the culture, dedication, intelligence and family that mothers like Courtney create.
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- Courtney Cappallo on August 16, 2011 at 9:54 pm
  
  Heather, I love that you are focusing on community attitudes. Something I started doing two years ago was on Earth Day, I round up the neighborhood kids with trash bags and gloves. We walk the neighborhood picking up trash. I am considering doing it at a main intersection of our town, so many disgusting cigarette butts everywhere. I think I may make up a sign and pin it to my clothes and sweep up the butts. Perhaps that may grab people’s attention!
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Tara B on August 4, 2011 at 10:29 pm

I love how self sufficient your family is!
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- Courtney Cappallo on August 16, 2011 at 9:56 pm
  
  Thanks Tara B.! We are a working on it!
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Jennifer Burden on August 8, 2011 at 11:01 am

Hi Courtney!

Great interview. I’m so glad your Spanish is going well. I need to pick up the pace with our French because I am slacking! Lol

I’m glad you’re a part of World Moms Blog! 🙂

Jen
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- Courtney Cappallo on August 16, 2011 at 10:02 pm
  
  Thanks Jen! Our Spanish is going really well. In addition to Rosetta Stone and our time with our Spanish tutor, I credit our Spanish doing really well by using Silabario Hispano Americano book. This was the book my Spanish tutor used when she was in Kindergarten to teach her how to read and write in Spanish. I swear by it. Sydney is six-years-old and can read in Spanish now. I don’t know if they make something similar to it in French, but the book is only $5.99 on Amazon and may be worth buying so you can look at it and perhaps develop your own French version of it. I am telling you, it is making all the difference!! Here is the link:
  http://www.amazon.com/Silabario-Americano-Adrian-Dufflocq-Galdames/dp/B0012JRNFS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313546360&sr=8-1
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Karyn @ kloppenmum on August 14, 2011 at 8:41 pm

Mums are definitely under-rated and the act of mothering is hugely under-valued. Great to get to know you a little better.
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- Courtney Cappallo on August 16, 2011 at 10:03 pm
  
  Thanks Karyn! I completely agree. Being a mom is the hardest job, yet the most rewarding! We don’t get performance reviews or salary increase for a job well done… we get smiles, hugs and kisses, and frankly I’ll take that any day of the week!!
  Reply