The GATES’ POST: Burning Questions for Parents

“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, ‘Do it again’; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, ‘do it again’ to the sun; and every evening, ‘Do it again’ to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”

- G.K. Chesterton, in Orthodoxy

... from Charlotte Mason’s Home Education Volume 6: “a well-educated man with cultivated imagination, trained judgment, wide interests…is prepared to master the intricacies of any profession; while he knows at the same time how to make use of himself, of the powers with which nature and education have endowed him for his own happiness; the delightful employment of his leisure; for the increased happiness of his neighbours and the well-being of the community; thst is, such a man is able, not only to earn his living but to live.

If you teach a child to learn; if their minds are cultivated to enjoy learning, reading, the humanities; if their spirit has not been neglected, but rather good character has been nurtured and duty to others made important, they will excel in whatever profession they find, and enjoy life too."

re: Home Education....In the first place, there is a time-table, written out fairly, so that the child knows what he has to do and how long each lesson is to last. The idea of definite work to be finished in a given time is valuable to the child, not only as training him in habits of order, but in diligence; he learns that one time is not 'as good as another'; that there is no right time left for what is not done in its own time; and this knowledge alone does a great deal to secure the child's attention to his work.

...I suppose we are all ready to admit that it is not the things we do, but the things we fail to do, which fatigue us, with the sense of omission, with the worry of hurry in overtaking our tasks. ~Charlotte Mason (from her book, Home Education, bold-faced print my own highlight)

Make a memory with your children,
Spend some time to show you care;
Toys and trinkets can't replace those
Precious moments that you share.
Money doesn't buy real pleasure,
It doesn't matter where you live;
Children need your own attention,
Something only you can give.
Childhood's days pass all too quickly,
Happy memories all too few;
Plan to do that special something,
Take the time to go or do.
Make a memory with your children,
Take the time in busy days;
Have some fun while they are growing,
Show your love in gentle ways.

Elaine Hardt, 1977

SMILE!

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Burning Questions for Parents

"How do we know everyday what is a worthwhile investment of our time and what will burn up, straw at the end of time? How do we cultivate not simply well-trained minds, but nurture holistic, well-lived lives? How do we work everyday towards raising up children, who are not merely academic automatons, but exuberant, soul-healthy, worshipers of God, committed to meaningful, eternal Kingdom work? How do we set our ladders against the right wall, and make the opportunity of today count for eternity?" (From A Holy Experience).

If YOU grapple with these questions, won't you set aside a few quiet minutes to go to this post and enjoy the pictures first - then read, think and pray! Let me know your response to these "Seven Rungs".

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The Old-Fashioned Homemaker. . .

~Does her best, and leaves the rest to God.
~Does not indulge in self-pity, but loses her life in the service of her fellow man.
~Dresses to please her Lord and family.
~Guards her health as her greatest wealth.
~Knows that an apron is a girl's best friend.
~Knows that home-making is an art and a science, and is always learning something new.
~Lets her joy bubble out in song, all day long.
~Lives in His light, not her own.
~Loves Nature, and teaches her children to respect its Creator.
~Never gives up.
~Strives to be self-sufficient.

A Prayer for our Children's CHoice of Spouse

Heavenly Father, we ask You to guide our children in the choice of spouse. Don't let them be carried away by false charms or be fascinated by mere outward glamour, but guide their minds to look beneath and beyond all external attractiveness for the deeper things which alone are worth while.

Especially let the choice be of one who is a fervent (Christian) Catholic, true in thought and word and deed to those ideals which are Yours, especially the value of their purity.

Dear Father of us all, give Your guiding help to our children, who are Your children, too. We will be letting them go soon, but please don't ever let our children go from you. Amen

Taken from a Catholic (obviously) prayer to St. Valentine. I have no idea why it is so labeled when the Father is clearly addressed....