Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival: Parents and Children

In preparing for this carnival, we were exploring the ideas encompassed in Charlotte Mason's principles #2, 3, and 4:
2. They [children] are not born either good or bad, but with possibilities for either good or evil.
3. The principles of authority on the one hand and obedience on the other, are natural, necessary and fundamental; but
4. These principles are limited by the respect due to the personality of children, which must not be encroached upon, whether by fear or love, suggestion or influence, or undue play upon any one natural desire.

The assigned reading was the text of Volume 2.  Volume 2 applies to children of all ages (some of the other volumes are more age-specific).  This volume lays out principles for parents rather than instructors.  Should you want to discuss this volume with a group online, check out the Ambleside Year 0 Yahoo group, where it is not currently being read but often rotates with Volume 1.  (The CM Series list may read it at times as well.)

Laura at Windy hill Home School discusses Parents & Children.

Nebby at Letters from Nebby wrestles with Charlotte Mason's Second Principle:  Goodness and Badness.

Jimmie at Jimmie's Collage gives us Top Ten Reasons I Chose a Charlotte Mason Homeschool.

Jamie at The Unlikely Homeschool shares 10 Reasons Why I Choose a Living Literature Approach.

Catherine at Grace to Abide inspires us with her homeschooling pilgrimage.

Lanaya at Delightful Education helps us find significance in the "daily".

I point out a penny earned.

Penny Rogers at Our Crazy Adventures in Autismland shows us hands-on artist study.

Gina at My Rubyslippers takes us to Out of door life: a growing time.

Patti at School Days Scrapbook explores Monarch Caterpillars and Butterflies.

Nancy at Sage Parnassus encounters knife wielding strangers.

Barb at Handbook of Nature Study blog shows us summer nature study: something new every day.

Upcoming carnival: @ Where the Blacktop Ends on 7/10
Topic for discussion (optional): Principles #5-8
Submit posts here: charlottemasonblogs (at) gmail (dot) com
To find out more about upcoming & past CM blog carnival schedule,  Click Here!

While You Wait

Recently I visited a local health food store, seeking out a particular employee for advice on choosing a pro-biotic for my youngest child.  A friend recommended this employee for two reasons, both because she is knowledgeable about these products and because she "talks to Papa."  I waited quite awhile to speak with her as she was in conference with other customers, but when I had my turn she listened attentively as I described our issues and what I hoped the pro-biotic could help us avoid.  She asked some questions, spoke to the boys with interest (only the boys were with me), and took us to find an appropriate pro-biotic.  Her advice, however, was not what I expected.

"Here is a pro-biotic, and here are digestive enzymes.  These may help for a time, while you wait.  But I can't tell you what to do.  You will have to ask the Holy Spirit what you need to do.  It may be inconvenient, what He tells you, and it may be very difficult, but that isn't really your issue.  All you have to do is agree up-front to do whatever He asks, and then He will take care of making it possible."

The more I mull this over, the more I realize that this conversation really encapsulates the decision I face with every choice in life.  Am I willing to agree up-front with what the Holy Spirit wants, before I even know what that is, and then plead for His answer and once I have it to turn the implementation over to Him?  Or do I want what I wanted from this woman, a neatly laid-out plan with steps to check off, given to me by some wise person who knows all about how things should work?

I did not like the answer in the health food store, and I don't like that answer in the rest of my life either.  But what am I missing out on when I choose to look for my own solutions rather than seeking out God's?  That doesn't mean I have to be inactive.  I can take the pro-biotic and the enzymes to tide me over while I wait, and I can get wise advice so I'll be prepared for whatever course I'm supposed to take, but am I willing to do those things while waiting, open for a course change whenever the Word comes?  Am I willing to prepare myself while asking for guidance and agreeing to follow in any direction, even where I don't want to go?