The Spiritual Embryo: Creating the Self

Every time I look at my son, I am reminded of what Dr. Montessori called the "spiritual embryo."  I think to myself that she had it right, he is certainly creating himself.  Everything he does has a purpose and a sense of self.  So remarkable that, from birth, we are makers of our own creation.  It is not me who makes him think, he does that all on his own.  Instead, my role is to enrich his environment with the things he can use in his creation.  What I do and do not put into his world is my affect on his soul.  But what he does with that is all his own.

When Dr. Montessori first coined the phrase, “spiritual embryo,” she was considering the intellectual development of the child.  From birth, the human child is completely dependent upon his caregivers; a phase of dependency that is unusually long and unique to our species. While other mammals walk or communicate within hours of delivery, the human child is helpless.  The delay in maturation of physical development allows the human brain to make connections and develop pathways that ultimately lead to our ability to excel as a species.  A more intelligent brain takes more time, essentially.

Dr. Montessori observed that this period of time was more than physical and intellectual development.  She found it to be one of great spiritual development.  During this time the child is dramatically able to absorb information and begin to categorize it.   Children are hard-wired to learn, both in design and desire.  This predisposition to learning comes out of our species' need for survival.  We were not given tough shells to protect us or rapier claws.  We do not have speed or the ability to fly.  Our senses of sight, hearing, and smell are far inferior to those of other species.  Our special skill, what makes us so amazing a species when we have no natural defenses, lies in our amazing intellect.  Our ability to think makes us the dominant species and amazing survivors.  It only makes sense that we would be wired to do what it takes to develop such an intellect: learn.

So, from birth, children have a very specific job.  They are creators; creators of themselves.  The brain allows for this creation through learning.  It triggers what Dr. Montessori called sensitive periods that allow the child to focus on specific areas of development.  This focus, observed and marked by interest on the part of the child, creates neuro-pathways in the brain dedicated to the abilities the child focuses on.   A child may be working on moving by crawling, or categorizing by showing interest in the order of things.  A child working on and absorbing language shows an interest when people speak or when people move their lips.  Then the child attempts to replicate those sounds.  If you think about how many things children learn to do without you every really showing them, it illustrates the very point that I am making.  Children learn to walk and talk without you really teaching them, they learn because it is what they were meant to do.

But, the spiritual embryo is more than development of movement or ability, it is the development of a psychological self.  The experiences, sensations, and impressions taken in from the outer environment, along with a child's own biological temperament and chemistry, help the child bring together a psychological sense of self.  They develop interests, ideas, and desires unique to their own being.  Their learning experience becomes unique, despite the fact that they start out developing abilities all human develop.  How they do it, when they do it, and to what degree all stems from their own unique self.

The child’s reality is that he must learn; rather than be given information, he needs the support to explore his environment in order to actively acquire information and practice his skills.  Our only job is to enrich that environment with things from which he can absorb information, and give him access to those things.  Our protection from inappropriate or unsafe experiences and our support of positive experiences is our role as parents in shaping our children.  But, we can't forget that they are still unique individuals.  Though they be derived from us and given care by us, they are still their own selves.  They are still responsible for that creation.

Every time I look at my son, I see him become a person: his own person.  And I am continually amazed at how he is driven to become someone.  And every day, I love getting to know who that person is.  And every day, I wonder who he will be and I look forward to loving whoever he becomes.