I received a text this week that transformed my thinking.
It was so simple: “Anna and Grant give me hope for the future”.
We went on to talk about the insanity in our country right now, and how homeschooled children seem to be more able to discern truth from lies - how our children are being brought up to question who their authority is and learning how to sift through the barrage of information thrown at them each day.
As I further contemplated this exchange, it was impressed upon me that the ONLY way to combat the forces at work in our world right now is to relentlessly pursue BEAUTY for our children.
Before you read this post - please read Repairing the Collapse of Virtue. Professor Carol has so eloquently stated what was on my heart this week.
Someone must teach a child to create, rather than destroy. Someone must teach patience, discipline, and compassion. Someone must plant the magical words of poetry, proverbs, and hymns to teach the values and virtues of our heritage. And if no one is there to do it, what will replace it?
This week’s 5 things are practical ideas you can implement with your children, and also inspirational pieces for you, the home educating parent.
Our job is IMPORTANT. Our children are the hope for the future, and we have a large (but not impossible) task set before us.
It is a privilege to reclaim our own education and invest in repairing the ruins of a country that is now feeling the effects of a public education devoid of truth, beauty, and goodness.
How to Include Beauty in the Upper Grades of Homeschool
We have to dig a bit deeper, invest more in relationships, and actively strive to include things of beauty in our teens’ lives. We have to keep talking about the beauty in our own lives, even if they think it’s “dumb”. We have to model the quest for truth, beauty, and goodness in our own lives. This post from last year might help you.
Politics, Media, and Engaging Our Culture
There is so much wisdom in this post from Veritas Press. We have DAILY conversations about discernment when it comes to news, social media, and all of the other sources of information presented to us.
Strawberry Girl
This is a wonderful book that I remember from my childhood. My daughter works at a strawberry farm, so we have a lot of yummy berries this time of year. As three buckets of berries were staring at me this week, my mind went Lois Lenski’s Strawberry Girl and the wonderful memories I had of my mother reading aloud to me.
If I had a little one right now I would read the book and make jam! There is no easier way to incorporate beauty than through nature and literature.
Virtual Music Hour
This free resource from the Colorado Symphony is a great way to expose your children to beauty. This week, in particular, is of interest to me. The symphony is sharing a performance of Duke Ellington’s Three Black Kings and Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait - along with a discussion about the pieces.
How to Spot Fake News (and teach kids to be media savvy)
I love this article - it gives us basic questions to ask when we are presented with a piece of media. It’s great for EVERYONE in the family as we navigate these strange media times.
“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Here’s to our pursuit of beauty and home education!
