Looking Past the Fear

Hi Jessica!  I think we have all probably been where you are at some point in our homeschooling careers.  I wandered away at the beginning of this year in the direction of some more text type science.  My kids enjoyed it at first because it was easy.  Read this, now answer these questions…but then I began to get some rather distant looks and a few quiet groans when it was science time.  Realizing that I had never had these issues when we were using living books, or even when we were using Apologia and narrating for that matter, I put the science text on the shelf and opened up a Jean Craighead George book that had been on the shelf awhile just begging to be read.  It was called The Moon of the Deer.  

I few days later I overheard my very expressive and excited 6 year old telling a lady at church about a spike deer, ten point buck and the hurricane that sucked all of the water out of the canal!  The lady came over to me and said, “Wow!  All I did was ask her how school was going and she couldn’t stop talking about it.  I guess that means things are going well!”  

That’s how I knew we were back!

As you said, I think I’ve been CM my whole life too. However, my public school experience as a student was certainly not. As a teacher in public schools, I used living books, poetry, art, music, and a more “gentle” approach to learning with my students without knowing anything about CM or her principles. So when I was pregnant with our first child and researching homeschooling, I also had that “ah-ha!” moment you mentioned. So we have used many CM aspects along the way with dd7, ds(5 next week), ds2.5, and dd (due Jan.). Yet our homeschool journey is still a learning process for me. And it is difficult to explain to others – unless they are truly interested. I don’t know any other CM families in this area although there are lots of homeschooling families. Trust your heart! CM methods are wonderful and I think that pulling “curriculum” together is exciting. I feel like I can choose the best of the best for each child as well as for our family as a whole. And those choices are not always expensive options, as many boxed curriculum sets are. One thing that I appreciate more and more about this CM homeschool path is that it is so much more than “doing school” from 8 to 3. It is a beautiful way of life. Hope my rambling thoughts helped a little. Welcome to SCM! It’s a great place with wonderful people!

Yes, consider yourself blessed to have found CM so early. Like simple home, one of my ds started out this method/way of life a bit late, and I completely regret that. He seems to be on board with what we do/how we do it so all is well, but I feel the regrets daily.

The other day I was at the park with my dc and had a nice conversation with a gentleman whose son is in the same sport as my middle boy. He and his wife have one child (adopted, I believe). They are both educators of some sort, she is a principal at a very special charter, rated #1 in our state or something like that. Well he knows we homeschool and has always supported and encouraged us. He seems to see a “difference” in our oldest boy. Anyway, he has always made comments about how he feels his son should be homeschooled, etc., so we got to talking (at the park) about what we do/how we do it and I explaine the CM method as best I could. He was impressed. He agreed with all of what I explained and told me that our dc are getting a well-rounded education and would not be getting “poetry/shakespeare/art appreciation, etc.” even at the school his son is in. Which only accept 60 kids and has hundreds apply, btw.

Now, I don’t usually need confirmation, affirmation, or whatever, but I do feel blessed with encouragement when I do. That was huge for me (I’ve had other experiences like this but it seems the Good Lord dishes them out at the exact moment I need it or didn’t realize I needed it!).

And, I love the picking/choosing of curriculum..it’s really not that hard once you get used to it. Plus, you do eventually come to a place that makes you wonder why you would ever have others choose these resources for you. It’s so individual and that is so important.

HTH

Have you seen Sonya’s resource, Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education?  It walked me through, step by step, how to do it.  I recommend it to everyone I see.  lol  It was very helpful in breaking down the subjects, dividing it all out, etc.  I think you will be less overwhelmed if you invest in this resource.  

I have found commentaries and the like to be forced and useless.  As you watch your child thrive and grow, a little at a time, and as conversations natually develop out of your little lessons, you will feel more confident.  I have a 6 year old who reads everything she can about Harriet Tubman right now. She has developed her own relationship with a noble historical character.  A commentary can’t do that.