Another Post for My Children-The Premier of 2024

To My Beloved Young Adult Children,

I've been thinking and talking with Dad about young children and a few important things to keep in mind.

It has occurred to me that the memorization work involved with classically educating is very important, no matter how you decide to educate your own children one day. There can always be a memory portion added whether you go traditional, note-booking, Charlotte Mason.... Training the young mind to retain will reap rewards throughout your child's life--the importance can hardly be overstated. Your father and I agree it is a game-changer in the development of children for their education, and when the ripest opportunity ends, it is over, and it cannot be regained. No time is as fertile for memorizing facts as the elementary years. Use them well! Be sober-minded in regard to the responsibility to give your child every opportunity that promotes godly character and excellence in learning.

Along this line, remember that as stewards of the children God gives you, you must feed their minds and bodies protein each morning and each meal. The brain grows so rapidly! Strive to not waste a single meal on trash that is essentially empty calories full of fat or sugar. Being entrusted with the lives of young children who are fully dependent on you is the greatest blessing ever, and you want to do all you can in every respect to give them your best for their betterment. Set them up for success! A child does not know what they are missing if you only give them quality and they gain an appetite for what they are fed. How many children would be better behaved or smarter if they were fed wholesome nutritious meals, particularly at breakfast? A child who is never given sweets does not know they are not getting sweets. Live by a good standard and hold your children to a high standard. You want to look back knowing you were thoughtful, careful and loved them well. 

Finally, I've recently solidified a thought that has ruminated around for a while and it is a caution of sorts. This may not be anything more than anecdotal, but it seems to me that those home educators who are drum-beaters for a particular method are most likely to be afflicted with a pride that is woven rather tightly into the fabric of their being. It is a challenge to put into words, but my cautioning will hit the mark by simply stating what I have. As the saying goes, there are many ways to skin a cat and thus, there are many ways to educate. In point 1 above you see that my chief concern is to remind you that memory work is critical. Beyond that, find what you (or your wife) can successfully work with, and what your children respond well to, and do it heartily. No one here expects you to do things exactly as we did. You aren't clones of us and even if you were, your spouses will not be. Your state will have its mandates--Lord willing we will still be free to home educate. 

Keep God as your guide and seek Him. We will be here to cheer you on and love you.

Thankful for each of you, my pride and joy,

Mom