What do you do when…?

Hi Faith,

Just a hodge-podge of thoughts: I think part of the answer needs to be determined by the ages of your children and how active you want your family to be. For us, we let many ‘great opportunities’ go by simply because to do them it would create chaos in our home (we have 8 kiddos). I cannot say exactly what Charlotte would say, but I do know that there is a ‘feel’ to our education that is peaceful – that is part of the atmosphere that Charlotte talks about. It is hard to stay peaceful when we’re running around town constantly. If I have children that have been everywhere there is to go but do not have the habits of diligence, truthfulness…you name it, then I have failed them. It is so easy for us to get into the roll of ‘going’ versus ‘being.’ In order to teach our children, we must create a balance. Our goal is to raise up a mighty seed for the Lord; it takes time at home to train them.

As far as how we deal with schoolwork when we do go out, I usually plan that we will continue in the books when we get home. Realistically, we do not because just the ‘getting home well’ part takes up a big chunk of time in and of itself :).

I am forever trying to be more diligent to take each opportunity, no matter how small, to the Lord and my husband. Also learning to stop and think (and look around the house at the level of orderliness and the character of the children) has been helpful to me as I come across these wonderful opportunities.

Blessings,

Cindy