Here's a wonderful link to learn about Charlotte Mason's wonderful motto, "I am, I can, I ought, I will."
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/BeeME1/motto.html?mtbrand=AOL_US
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!!!
Habit of Attention is the description Charlotte Mason used to describe self-discipline or consistency. The main concerns during the day in regards to helping our children at home (according to TM interest inventory results) focussed on getting them to get all their "stuff" done. The following will hopefully be helpful:
-Habit of Attention starts with MOM! ""And let us not be weary in well doing: for in DUE SEASON we will reap, if we faint not!" Galatians 6:9
-consistency
Chapter 9 of A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola tells us:
1/3 of education is discipline
"Let a mother discipline herself to establish a particular habit in her children that would be to her favor and theirs."
work on one good habit at at time (read about "Inconstant Kitty" in Ch. 11)
be faithfully consistent
don't get lazy
"Sow and act, reap a habit, sow a habit, reap a character, sow a character, reap a destiny!"
Habits include attention, obedience, manners, truthfulness, thoroughness, puctuality, taking turns, doing our best, PRAYER, gratitude.
Example is the best sermon, SO DON'T NAG!
-from 173 of Parents and Children (from the Original Series by Charlotte Mason):
"Good Habits the best Schoolmasters.-Not mere spurts of occassional punishment, but the incessant watchfulness and endeavour which go to the forming and preserving of the habits of the good life, is what we mean by discipline; and, from the point of view, never were there such disciplinarians as the parents who labour on the lines we would indicate. Every habit of courtesy, consideration, order, neatness, punctuality, truthfulness, is itself a schoolmaster, and orders life with the most unfailing diligence."
"A habit is so easily formed, so strong to compel. There are few parents who would not labour diligently if for every month's labour they were able to endow one of their children with a large sum of money. But, in a month, a parent may begin to form a habit in his child of such value that money is a bagatelle by comparison. We have often urged that the great discovery which modern science has brought to the aid of the educator is, that every habit of the life sets up, as it were, a material record in the brain tissues. We all know that we think as we are used to think and act as we are used to act. Ever since man began to notice the ways of his own mind, this law of habit has been matter of common knowledge, and has been more or less aacted upon by parents and other trainers of children. The well-brought-up child has always been a chlid carefully trained in good habits. But it is only within our own day that it has been possible to lay down definite laws for the formation of habits. Until now, the mother who wished to train her children in such and such a good habit has found herself hindered by a certain sense of casualty."
-from 175 of Parents of Children (from the Original Series by Charlotte Mason).
"Some Practical Counsels.-Let me offer a few definite practical counsels to a parent who wishes to deal seriously with a bad habit. FIRST-Let us remember that this bad habit has made its record in the brain. SECOND-There is only one way of obliterating such record; the absolute cessation of the habit for a considerable space of time, say some six or eight weeks. THIRD-During this interval new growth, new cell connections, are somehow or other taking place, and the physical seat of the evil is undergoing a natural healing. FOURTH-But the only way to secure this pause is to introduce some new habit as attractive to the child as is the wrong habit you set yourself to cure. FIFTH-As the bad habit usually arises from the defect of some quality in the child it should not be difficult for the parent who knows his child's character to introduce the contrary good habit. SIXTH-Take a moment to happy confidence between parent and child; introduce, by tale or example, the stimulating idea; get the child's will with you. SEVENTH-Do not tell him to do the new thing, but quietly and cheerfully SEE THAT HE DOES IT on all possible occasions, for weeks if need be, all the time stimulating the new idea, until it takes great hold of the child's imagination. EIGHTH-Watch most carefully against any recurrence of the bad habit. NINTH-Should the old fault recur, do not condone it. Let the punishment, chiefly the sense of your estrangement, be acutely felt. Let the child feel the shame not only of having done wrong, but of having done wrong when it was perfectly easy to avoid the wrong and do the right. Above all, watch unto prayer and tach your child dependence upon divine aid in this warfare of the spirit; but, also, the absolute necessity for his own efforts."
This link will take you to an article called "How to Replace Dawdling with Good Habits" by Catherine Levison.
http://www.homeschoolnewslink.com/articles/vol4iss1/habits.htm
If you need to "reeducate" yourself on what real learning is and how it happens, you'll find encouragement from Marilyn Howshall and Barb Shelton at this link.
http://www.homeschooloasis.com/art_decide_to_be_a_hsd_mom.htm
"Moms mistakenly think they have no time for their own reading or study program. I suggest that we have more time to study for our own preparation than we have time to fix the mistakes we will eventually (and surely) make out of ignorance. We will suffer tremendously for lack of knowledge. The knowledge I am speaking of for these purposes is as follows:
-deeper values
-stronger character ideals for self and children
-relevant application of God's Word walked out in our lives
-deeper relationships with the Lord demonstarted in personal lives
-understanding of God's providence
-a few principles that will help us to train our children properly in several areas of need; for example: principles of the Christian faith, principles of hearing God's leading, principles of relationships, or purpose, of individuality, etc."...
...What do it profit a child if he gains a world of unrelated, unapplied information, facts, and skills, but loses his soul to boredom and dullness of mind and heart?"
"I will walk within my house with a perfect heart." Psalm 101:2
"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." I Peter 5:2-3
Jesus served, He didn't nag. He didn't just talk, He was a man of action.
"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:9
"Do all things without murmurings and disputings." Philippians 2:14
"And whatever you, do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance." Colosians 3:23-24
"But the hand of the diligent makes one rich." Proverbs 10:4
(RICH DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MONEY!)
"The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slotful will be put to forced labor." Proverbs 12:24
"Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings...." Proverbs 22:29
Basically, we have to make a choice. We can keep trudging on, which is what we, as homeschoolers, sometimes accuse the schools of doing. Or, we can stop, reeducate ourselves as to how we should think about our children's education and change our attitudes. This means consistency, child training, organization, doing things decently and in order, and deciding to be a homeschooled mom....which means we need to LEARN, too! 
Because our priorities will change, THEN, our habits of attention become our children's habits of attention. This will create the environment/mood we desire in our homes. This equals "PEACE ON EARTH AND GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN!"
It's our job to start the proces (pour the water in the jar). It is Jesus' job to complete the work (turn the water into wine). "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
Here's a nice poem....I'm not sure who wrote it, or where it can be found. I did not write it. If you know the author, please send me a note so that I can give him or her full credit. Candace shared it with us at the March '02 Tailor Made meeting.
Just leave it with the Lord,
The One you most adore,
He will bless and give sweet rest,
Just leave it with the Lord.
Just place it at His feet,
You know that He'll complete,
The work you've done has just begun,
Place your burden at His feet.
O Lord, I do delight in You,
And on Your care depend,
And know that as my trouble flees
You'll always be my Friend.
A really encouraging song to keep in mind when you're having a day where is feels as if homeschooling is a lot like a battle:
"When You Are A Soldier" by Steven Curtis Chapman | 