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The Overstuffed Suitcase vs. Nurturing My Children
The approach of “stuffing my kids with knowledge” does not go well. I have shifted my mindset and method in my parenting and homeschooling. I have learned to lean into my mom intuition.
I often add a sense of urgency to parenting and education which is not helpful for a learning atmosphere. When I was a teacher in the public school system, I was pushed to have my students perform well on test scores. To fill them up with as much information as I could. The goal was to meet the standards and prove that I “did my job.” I had expectations from parents, school administrators, the state, other schools, and even the kids in my classroom.
This worked for that system. But, as I discovered the hard way, this does not work in my home and in our homeschool.
The approach of “stuffing my kids with knowledge” does not go well.
I have shifted my mindset and method.
My Mom Values and Homeschool-Teacher Mindset
The way that I view homeschooling and what I believe about nurturing my children:
I have time. I get to be here for the long term and see my child as a whole person.
My husband and I love our children more than any other teacher on this planet. We truly want the best for them. This perspective gives us a unique investment into their future.
I see my kids as individuals with different interests, weaknesses, and strengths.
The way that my kids perform on a test is not directly related to my income.
My kids will do better at different subjects at different times in their maturity. And that is okay.
I am working on not being stuck in the outcome mentality. I provide an excellent education for them and they respond in their own way.
When my kids struggle with a subject we can slow down and learn it at their speed.
I can trust my judgment and my “mom intuition”. I know my kids best and I can adjust what we are doing based on that.
Learning is so much more than completed textbooks and curricula.
I want my kids to be well-rounded and to have the skills to learn new things on their own.
My Practical Outlook on Education
I do not want to be led by insecurities or unrealistic expectations of others in my homeschooling. I refuse to let fear be how I make my decisions. I want my teaching to be grounded in sound principles and follow solid methods.
The Charlotte Mason approach has always felt like home to me. It encourages individuality, short lessons, time in nature, and seeing education in a well-rounded way.
One of my favorite principles is: Children are born persons.
This is beautiful. Especially in a world trying to mold, shape, and force our kids into something “useful”.
Gentle growth and nurture are my goals. Guidance and boundaries but with freedom for the kids to make mistakes. Teaching them habits, using rhythms to guide the day, and parenting with logical consequences.
It is our duty as parents to “prepare the vase rather than to fill it”… We are to aim “more at harmoniously developing the faculties than at making use of them.”
- Charlotte Mason (Pestalozzi’s Theory) Vol. II p.30
As a parent, I get to watch them grow from walking, to spelling, to adding fractions, to learning to drive, and being successful in college. I am in this for the long haul (no matter what educational choices we make).
Relighting my passion for parenting and homeschooling meant starting with a different approach.
It began with nurturing and loving my kids. Everything is still a delicate balancing act of many goals and agendas. But, I get to choose what matters in our home. When my kids struggle we can slow down. I can trust my judgment.
I can lean into my “mom intuition”.
I hope sharing a piece of my journey helps you in whatever your parenting or homeschooling looks like in your home this week.
👩🏫– April
Question for you:
How do you balance nurturing your kids' growth and education with all the different stuff life throws at you as a parent?
Please share in the chat. I would love to hear from you!
Check out these blog posts:
Transitions – Start & End Well - Tips for making the most of your teaching time.