May Garden
• Apr. 23, 2008 - Some Blessed Articles and links
If anyone reading this blog or getting to know me as a friend hasn't noticed yet I am a mom that has been exploring what works for our family. I look back at this last year and see that much of the work the Holy Spirit has been doing on me has been in this area.
Who's in charge - who makes the plans - who gives the power to follow them - where is our family heading?
These and many more questions have been flooding my heart and mind.
With a new baby on the way I am exploring once again "what does the future hold."
I am who I am at this point.
I am not a naturally organized personality I grew up in a home of creative/artistic frustration. My mother is a very interesting person that always has a lot of projects going on at once. This is what I lived in and learned under for 20 plus years of my life! I was her right hand gal in most everything! I left my formal education at 16 ( before that if you include the 'falling away' period of the prior year).
I can see this all as a curse leaving me unprepared and 'lost' in the sea of normal life or I can see it as a blessing and run with it!
I choose the blessing and with tears of joy!
The Lord has a purpose for all things the things we had/ have no control over parentage, upbringing, natural tendencies, gifts etc... before and after salvation.
I have one dear friend that is a very well educated and naturally academically gifted woman - she is also a mother of 6 young children - she whole heartedly chooses to have a relaxed homeschool. She has little to no fear that her children are bright and learning daily what they need to be as individuals.
She has been such an encouragement to me in accepting the way we seem to be going in a similar direction. I don't want to worry and fear. Mentally wringing my hands with guilt that *I* am not doing enough with the kids or providing enough for them is so exhausting and non productive - far more so than taking each day at a time under the control of the Spirit of God. Trusting Him daily for direction is so refreshing and enriches life beyond measure.
These are some of the articles I have been reading and links to groups I have been exploring. I don't really recommend any groups in particular as I have not gotten to know any well.
I was particularly touched by this article! And this one as well.
Unschooling - Delight Driven Learning
Christ Centered Unschooling-group
Sonlight Unschoolers - group |
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• Apr. 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment
I agree, it's so important to find what works for your family! It sounds like you do a lot with your children as you sound like a wonderful mother!
I will say that as for unschooling the only impression I get from that group of teaching is doing almost nothing? Have you not gotten that impression? I have said that I really can't see us ever doing unschooling because it seems very disorderly (which is something you are saying you don't want) and to let the children pretty much just learn through play and next to no instruction? I know we have to sign a paper stating we're going to give at least 4 hrs of education a day. I guess that depends on what we want to call education, which can be varied, thankfully :) But I find that having a loose schedule to work from, we get a lot more done even with interruptions (that always come with little ones) rather than just letting the day pass and wishing I had done more. I am sure that we all have a style that works for us and the main thing is to teach them about the Lord isn't it? :)