The third chapter of
Mitten Strings For God is titled
Peace. What a perfect topic for this
peaceful morning! It is currently snowing outside--please note, we
never have snow in March!--the boys have gone to Mass & work with daddy, the girls are sitting here coloring nicely while Snuggles plays with a few toys.
Dinner is in the crock pot, and playing softly in the background is Triumph of the Cross, Music for Easter, a CD from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. I wish all mornings were as peaceful as this! :)
Peace is something I struggle constantly to find and create in our home. Like the author of
Mitten Strings said,
"I am forever seeking a balance in our family life between activity and stillness, sound and silence, society and solitude. For now, I still have a measure of control over the tenor of my children's days, but as the actual amount of time we spend alone together inevitably shrinks, maintaining this balance becomes more important--and more challenging. "I use to thrive on being overly busy, constantly on the run, and having "something to
do"... Lately, it seems, through our current circumstances (gas prices, the distance to town, and five young home educated children), that God is telling me to slow down, cut back on our activities outside the home, and
enjoy the stillness and this
Ordinary Time!
As I was reflecting upon the combination of peace and home schooling, I remembered a line I highlighted in an
article by Father Hardon, "
Catholic home schooling is the planned and organized teaching and training of children at home, for their peaceful and effective life in this world, and for their eternal salvation in the world to come."
Peace and Home schooling... Can those two words work together???
I am so blessed to be able to home school my children. However, there has been many times, especially the past four months, in which I have considered putting my children into school. I don't think that I have mentioned it here, but I have been discussing it with hubby and friends.
Growing up I was home-schooled from grade 5 on. Being the social girl that I am, I resented home-schooling, and would beg and beg my parents to let me go back to school. I was determined that when I was a parent, "I would NEVER home school my kids." However, looking back, I am so grateful to my parents for persevering, and making the sacrifice to home educate us children.
Moving on, to when I was newly married, a friend of my mothers (who was considering home schooling her children) asked me, "What would be your reason for NOT home schooling?" I thought about it for 2 seconds and answered, "Laziness."
It would be
easy to send my children to school... and
hard to teach them at home.
Now, don't get me wrong... I
love home schooling! I love being able to pick out all the books we use! I love knowing that my children are receiving an authentically Catholic education! I love being able to have the time to do crafts with my children and read lots and lots of books to them! I love not having to worry about whether someone is hurting them or bullying them. And most of all, I get to have the reassurance that I am fulfilling God's will for my children's lives and upbringing.
What I don't love, is not knowing what to do when one of my children is struggling with learning, having a messy unorganized home, and having very little quite time for myself.
Now, if I am honest with myself, I don't think I would actually put my children into school. A friend of mine recently said, "You'll home school at least another year, since you are still planning on going to that
conference." She is right. This was just my cry for help. And help
is coming! In addition to setting out on a major decluttering of our home, since I am finding that an organized home is key to my sanity, I had Captain tested. It turns out that he has a couple learning challenges. They appear to be mild, but it explains my frustration (as well as his!) with teaching him to read. With therapy, they can easily be corrected, and the tutor begins on Monday. I am so relieved to find out that I am not a total failure at home schooling!
Anyhow, I have totally digressed on this post! I am sorry... but these are the thoughts that this chapter brought about! :)
Well, I have spent too much time online this morning. Time for me to get back to enjoying this rare
peaceful morning! I think I am going to go and cuddle on the couch with my girls and read a few more books about
Butterflies!
So, YES, it seems that I can have Peace and still Home School!
Before I go, don't miss
Dawn's post about this chapter. Like usual, she has given a wonderful list of questions to think about! Thank you Dawn! I am going to print it out to re-read and think about while the kids are napping this afternoon!