In this week’s podcast, episode 178, I’m sharing and discussing two stories about strewing:
Time For Some Strewing
Unschooling When Charlotte Mason Also Appeals to Our Hearts
I’m also talking about overwhelming times, how we don’t have to be perfect, and looking for the delights in our days.
Show Notes
A Blog Post
Unschooling When Charlotte Mason Also Appeals to Our Hearts
Podcasts
Episode 151: All About Strewing
Episode 30: Why Classical Music Is Not Enough
A Book
The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
Where You Can Find Me
My Stories of an Unschooling Family community
Youtube
Blogs
Stories of an Unschooling Family
Something Extra
If you listen, I hope you enjoy this episode!
This post was just what I needed to read!! I’ve been trying to take my kid’s lead and open ourselves up for new learning, adventures, and discoveries. I do feel the pressure of doing school and having them complete worksheets and following a curriculum; it’s my insecurity driving this.
They do love nature, paintings, music, and animals. Yesterday we went for a nature walk with my husband and we were finally able to make it down to the creek; too wonky for me to lead two kids down by myself. They were hypothesizing reasons why the rocks (we love rocks and had just taken a Zoom geology class!) had spiral prints on them. It made my heart proud that they appreciate nature and can have a conversation about it. (eeek, I think this sounds like humble bragging. But it’s an example of those good homeschooling moments.)
It is true that kids are drawn to what is beautiful, good, and true.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging post!! Charlotte Mason philosophy sounds intriguing.
Esther,
Oh yes, we should share our good homeschooling moments! It’s encouraging and we get to share your joy. It sounds like you had a fabulous nature walk. I love rocks too. We live in an area of sandstone. In the bush, there are huge rocks as well as smaller pieces of sandstone. The colours are beautiful: pinks, browns, greys, white… Sometimes I collect stones while we’re walking the dogs. There is always one more stone that I can’t resist picking up!
You are right: worksheets do give us security. But nothing beats going on learning adventures and making new discoveries with our kids!
You must find some cool rocks around your place! Like you, I can’t resist unique rocks even though we have too many at home. Sandstone is beautiful, and it must be more so in various colors. I saw a YouTube video about this guy named Ra Paulette built living spaces in New Mexico on sandstone cliffs. He has a documentary too. Check him out…his work is amazing.
Nature walks never cease to amaze and raise new questions about how the world works. There’s a lot of insecurity when you homeschool, especially for the main person who does the homeschooling. It’s worth it though for everyone involved.
I hope you have a good Tuesday and the summer vacation is going well!
Esther,
Thank you so much for telling me about Ra Paulette. Oh yes, his work is amazing! I’ve bookmarked his documentary which I’m looking forward to watching.
Oh yes, we can feel insecure about homeschooling. Will our kids really learn all they need to know? It’s hard to travel the less-populated path, isn’t it? It could feel safer to stick with the crowd, except at the moment, because of the pandemic, lots of people are homeschooling! But if we look at our kids and listen to them, we can see they’re learning. They are curious people!
At the moment, here in Australia, it’s winter. But spring isn’t very far away. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Oh, I didn’t know you were in Australia nor that it’s winter there right now. Hope you’re doing well.
We are gearing up towards starting school and I’m getting things ready. Homeschooling is hard because of the pressure. I’m not sounding very positive today. it’s been a rough few days with kids and dealing with personality clashes. I could just be tired from all this quarantine and being on call with the kids.
But I know deep down that homeschooling is a worthwhile endeavor, not only in academics but how to think and live life.
Hoping to get into a better state of mind soon!
Stay well and talk to you later.
Thank you! I really appreciated this podcast, as I needed the encouragement this morning. Interestingly, I heard your calming voice and knew “I am not alone!” and after your podcast began listening to a one from another favorite speaker of mine, whose topic today is overcoming self-pity. So God threw me a lifeline, as He so often does!!
I agree with what you’re saying about the problem of perfectionism. Not long ago, my husband read an article in which the author discussed how the quote: “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well” often paralyzes us. We want to do something, but we tell ourselves that we can’t do it UNTIL… Until I have the time to do it right… Until I have the right tools… Until I order that how-to book… etc. And we find ourselves not doing ANYTHING at all. So he said, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing as is.” (I am most likely misquoting, as this was what my husband got from the guy. But you get the idea. “Just do it!” As the Nike corporation says.)
Also… much of what you discussed about having a more positive, thankful mindset and even Charlotte Mason’s “truth, beauty and goodness,” reminded me of a verse I am keeping in mind during this COVID-19 Season. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
Another book you might like is “One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully RIGHT Where You Are” by Ann Voscamp, a Canadian author. I got a lot out of her book, but I had a hard time reading it. She has a very poetic writing style– creating visceral, emotional images. I found it very hard to READ it, but enjoyed listening to the author read it as an audiobook. Our church had a ladies’ bookstudy on this book and it was a very rich study. Learning to look for God’s gifts EVERYWHERE– looking at life through the lens of Gratitude.
Now I have to look for that Book of Delights!!
mamabear,
I’m so sorry it has taken me a long time to reply to your very welcome comment. I took a break from most things online, but now I’m catching up!
Oh yes, just do it! I’ve been thinking a lot about this recently. We don’t make a start because we’re afraid we won’t do a good job. But we won’t improve our skills unless we use them. We will miss out on so many enjoyable experiences if we keep procrastinating. And we could fail to use our gifts to make a difference to other people.
One Thousand Gifts? That was one of the first Kindle books I ever bought! I agree: the language is a bit complicated. I never thought of listening to an audiobook version. Yes, that would bring the poetic words alive.
Thank you for the Bible verses. Yes, God’s gifts are everywhere. I need to use my lens of gratitude more often so that I see them!
It’s been good to chat. Thank you so much for stopping by!