Classical Education...

“Because the classical educator believes in a real world that gives up ordered knowledge of itself, he teaches the student how to get that knowledge. The seven liberal arts were quite deliberately developed for precisely that reason. Believing that we can know truth, and believing that truth sets us free, classical educators spent thousands of years refining the tools of truth-seeking that were used from the beginning of time, but were first codified by Aristotle."

- Andrew Kern, in "What is the Difference Between Classical and Conventional Education”

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Long Day

"Ultimately time is all you have and the idea isn't to save it, but to savor it"
-- Ellen Goodman


It has been another long, but rewarding, day leading my children.  The morning began with discussions of God, pets we hope to see again in Heaven, cinnamon sprinkled oatmeal, followed by hours of homeschool lesson modifications online as the children faithfully worked through their assignments for the day.


by Sanctus Real

I truly love spending time with my children focused on God's mysteries, lessons of life, educational hurdles and insights as well as planning and organizing the upcoming lessons to explore with my children, but before I know it, public school buses are rumbling down our neighborhood streets, dropping off their precious cargo, and I wonder what dinner will be and whether it will be ready in the next two hours.

Where does the time go?  There never seems to be enough time to do everything.  When I write "everything," I don't mean our homeschool assignments.  I mean everything else: laundry, dishes, food preparation, home repairs, group activities, and so on.  It has seemed lately that even though we spend quality time together, it is not always relaxing with my thoughts on the next chore I have to complete.
Figure 1 - Simple fun with the family, laughing, playing, and learning together.


While reflecting on this today (after playing a grammar game of DISORDER with my family before dinner), I had to remind myself that many of the 'other' things on my mind are really not as important as quality time with my family: my happy family (Figure 1).  After all, that is why we homeschool...to LEAD our children.  Priorities, right?  My priorities are not dishes and laundry...they are God, family, and education.  Therefore, I guess I do have enough time to do everything...that is, everything of true importance...since my top three priorities are being accomplished.

"Enjoy your children for they will be grown one day, and there will plenty of time (maybe too much time) for the other things of life."  --J.D.

Links to other writings about homeschooling and a messy house:
What Normal Looks Like
The Messy Truth About Homeschooling
Homeschooling and a Messy House


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