Saturday, March 7, 2009

Refreshing and Encouraging Weekend

This weekend I attended the Whole Hearted Child Mom’s Retreat.  I am so very encouraged by the retreat and what Sally Clarkson had to share with us as homeschooling Moms.  She is the author of Educating the Whole Hearted Child.  I am inspired and excited about reading her book. 

My family chooses not to enroll in public school so why teach how public school teaches?  And why measure my children’s success based on public school standards?   That is a scary statement but truly what I believe.  I love it when someone has gone before me with this similar belief and is sharing their insights and ideas along with their success story.  Sally Clarkson’s two daughters(age 25 and 13) also shared at the conference. They are amazing, mature and spiritual young women.  Their speech was eloquent and insightful.  It is encouraging to see the adults they have become even though they did not have a traditional public school education.  These two young ladies are so very different than other 13 and 25 year olds that I normally come in contact with. 

After the retreat, I am more confident to continue on the path we are on despite the frequent influence of our culture and public schools.  I know my family is going against the grain but I am excited to see the positive difference made daily in our children’s lives due to the choices we have made. 

I leave you with several quotes that encouraged me from the retreat…

“Before 1865, home was enough to create geniuses”

“In absence of biblical conviction people will go way of the culture”

“Build wisdom one hour at a time”

“Education is not about filling a bucket, it’s about lighting a fire”

“Right is always right even if no one is doing it”

“Foundations Determine the Strength of the Building”

“For this reason we owe it to every child to put him in communication with great minds that he may get at great thoughts; with the minds, that is, of those who have left us great works; and the only vital method of education appears to be that children would read worthy books, many worthy books” Charlotte Mason, A Philosophy of Education, 1925

And my favorite new family quote, “You’re a Dalton…that means something”

Stay tuned for new ramblings as I begin my new book!

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