Charlotte Mason and the large family–smooth and easy days?

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  • March 5, 2010 at 11:11 pm
    easybrizy
    Participant

    My husband and I are privileged to be parents to three little boys. We’d really love to see our family grow to include many children. On the days that I’m struggling to parent three, I wonder how I’ll ever manage to run a larger household. On top of that, our “school” is very, very minimal right now since my oldest is only five. We work on reading a bit each day, some simple math, maybe practice some handwriting–but mostly our days are about playing, being outside, reading books, doing chores, etc.

    Is it really possible to experience “smooth and easy days” as a homeschooling mother of many children? I’m not thinking about perfection, but my mental goal is to have a household where peace reigns over chaos, where orderliness is the rule more than the exception, and each child actually receives a great education.

    Is this truly possible? I wholeheartedly believe that while large families make life busier and certainly more work, that God desires for our homes to echo his character with peace and order for the most part. I’ve lived with disaster and chaos–it’s definitely my default–but I’ve learned to slowly live in a much more orderly and peaceful way.

    I simply cannot imagine how I would ever have more children, school them all, live in a decently clean home, eat and have clean clothes.

    March 6, 2010 at 12:07 am
    Sonya Shafer
    Moderator

    You must remember that the children grow older, dear. If you lay the good foundation in their younger years, they will be a help to you in the future. We have four children. During the season when they were all younger, life was rarely smooth and easy. However, I can honestly say that now our household is peaceful, orderly, and we are trying to educate each one according to her abilities and interests. Actually, that’s the only way I can do the SCM site and write the books and all now — because my children get along with each other, obey us, and help with household duties. Those things didn’t just happen. It took a lot of intentional concentrated effort and persistence while they were younger. 

    Perfect? No. Bumps in the road? Absolutely. But I can honestly say that I enjoy being with my children. They are an asset to our household.

    So take heart, pour yourself into training the young ones right and they will become a valuable help as you add more to the mix.

    March 6, 2010 at 1:33 am
    easybrizy
    Participant

    Of course! You’re absolutely right.

    Whew. LOL.

    But is it going to get tougher before it gets easier?

    March 6, 2010 at 1:59 am
    Tristan
    Participant

    I thought I would chime in.  We’re not really a CM family yet, but I’m a homeschool mom of 5 on earth and 3 in heaven so far.  My children are 8, 5, 4, 2, 1.  I promise you, one two and three children are harder/more work that four or five or more.  With # 1 and 2 you are really the playmate, clean up crew, and everything.  When the 3rd comes along you’re still often dealing with pretty young children who play alongside each other, but not together yet much.  But I’m already at the stage where not only are my oldest two helpful, everyone has a playmate or two or three. 

    Please go read this post, I wrote it not too long ago and I really explain it all better there.  It is called God’s Math vs. the World’s Math:

    http://ourbusyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2010/02/gods-math-vs-worlds-math.html

     

     

    March 6, 2010 at 3:13 am
    missceegee
    Participant

    Sonya, thank you for the reminder that “smooth and easy days” are the result of many years of hard work when the kids are small.

    My kids are 9, 6, 2.5, 3 months – they are precious blessings. They have good habits, but they aren’t finished yet (nor am I).

    I sometimes expect all of my days to be smooth and easy because my kids are being well trained. However, it’s that “being” word that I need to remember. They are still young and we still have many years of hard work ahead before we reach the point where most of the journey is “smooth and easy”. For now, I’ll try to appreciate the smooth sections between the occasional speed bumps all the more!

    I love how this forum always reminds me how much I love my kids and want to do what’s best for them. You guys are the best. I vote for a SCM forum reunion party of some kind some day when the majority of our days are smoother and easier.Wink

    Blessings,

    Christie

    March 6, 2010 at 3:28 am
    momto2blessings
    Participant

    I only have 2 blessings, as my username says:)  But had to chime in.  I took a new baby meal to a friend who had her 6th baby in Aug./Sept. (couple years ago). This was also her first year homeschooling her kids—4th/3rd/1st/4yo/2yo (or so:)  I walked into a spotless house and you hardly knew the kids were there.   I was amazed.  She just had her 7th and I’m sure it’s the same:)  

    Her kids are well-trained and she says, as Sonya said, that having 6 kids 10 and younger is easier than 3 ages 5 and younger.  She follows Managers of Their Homes and has the day all planned out with different kids playing with the littles at certain times, and kids know their chores.  With the Lord’s guidance and some planning, others do it and I’m sure you can, too:)  Blessings, Gina

    March 6, 2010 at 1:18 pm
    easybrizy
    Participant

    Thanks for the further encouragement. I still have a lot of work to do on my own habits, actually, but I think we’re heading in the right direction at least with teaching good habits to our children, too. I love the thought of eventually having everyone working together to make a large home run smoothly.

    Tristan, thank you for sharing your post!

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