Living Without School: Thankful Thursday

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Thankful Thursday

Yeah, I know it is not Thursday yet but I'm getting in ahead! Thursday's gonna be busy for me.

And I like Ruth's idea, from way-back-when, of hosting the occasional Thankful Thursday blog.

Today ( Wednesday posing as Thursday), I am thankful that I am an unschooler.

Why? Read Genevieve's post and smile at children learning and enjoying learning, at choices in education, at collaborative learning.

At unschooling.

I was feeling guilty about our Easter Octave - work stuff for me, for the kids a little bit of writing and lots of Guitar Hero, Singstar, some reading, friends over. But an unschooler shouldn't feel this guilty for not doing-school!

Genevieve's blog post reminds me that joy is important, too - something I can forget when I am busy...

We are seeking joy and thus, a school week of a bit of reading, a bit of writing, French class, work, lots of fun and play and friends, is cool.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...: Thanks for linking to this article! What a nice reminder!; 11:11 am
Anonymous said...: Genevieve's post really spoke to me as well, Leonie. I'm considering what becoming a Yes Mom would look like for me at this time...; 12:26 am
Leonie said...: Yeah - I've been wondering about myself, too. Dh said last night, that I tend tyo be a bit abrut sometimes with the kids - busyness? cos they are older now? Anyway, those are just excuses. Can I be more of a yes, joyful mother?; 7:29 am
Genevieve said...: Leonie, so glad you found the post inspiring. Honestly, the 'yes' mom shift was inspired by something you said many years ago... how you would have focused time with your children. I think the determination came from not knowing what it would be like to go from two children to four. That coupled with too many baby photo slideshows. They grow up too fast. Anyhow it is a fascinating to see how the happy 'yes' mom affects not only our relationships but also our learning environment. What happens if I move more with their rhythm with regards to time and interests? Much to ponder.; 9:30 am
Leonie said...: Sorry about the typos above - but, yes, Genevieve, something to ponder. As is dh's co0mment last night, Ouch. Maybe a blog post will help me sort it out...; 1:46 pm
Genevieve said...: *laughs* I think people (as in me) who ponder about patience and abruptness are people who struggle with these attributes. So you are in good company. :) I love efficiency especially with regards to things I have already mastered. But I find with my children they love the journey as much as the goal. For example, I love Ruth Beechick's idea of cooking as a way of exploring math but it took me a long time to understand it can't be applied to stir-fry when everything is executed lightening fast. *laughs* So I talk math while I cook easy things like making breads, baked beans and stews. Time is not the essences and I can discuss how many quarters go into 2 cups. *grinz* Of course that means I have to accept that preparing the meal goes from 15 minutes to one or two hour. *grinz* I think shortness within me usually stems from expectations not being met. I've had to question and re-question my expectations. There have been times when I even threw out curricula because having the 'answers' or 'appropriate' responses before me set expectations. Anyhow those are just my obervations of myself. :p Looking forward to your post.; 7:39 am
Leonie said...: I think some of us are ponder-ers, iykwim? And blogging is a form of pondering. So, I am thinking and praying about my responses to my kis, but I am also just plain busy, so that finding time to blog and ponder is dfficult. Perhaps that is the soruce of my abruptness? My busynes, my need to go-go-go, my doing things fast? Ugh.; 8:06 am

Prayer of Consecration of St. Maximilian Kolbe

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to thee. I, N___, a repentant sinner, cast myself at thy feet humbly imploring thee to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to thyself as thy possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases thee. If it pleases thee, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of thee: "She will crush your head," and, "Thou alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world."

Let me be a fit instrument in thine Immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed Kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever thou enters, one obtains the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through thy hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise thee O Sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thy enemies.

Prayer of St Bonaventure

Pierce, O most Sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, with true, serene, and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for Thee, that it may yearn for Thee and faint for Thy courts, and long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the bread of angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and supersubstantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delight of taste; let my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, upon whom the angels desire to look, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst after Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the richness of the house of God.May it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, attain Thee, meditate upon Thee, speak of Thee, and do all things to the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, and with perseverance unto the end.May Thou alone be ever my hope, my entire assurance, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my sweet savor, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession and my treasure, in whom may my mind and my heart be fixed and firmly rooted immovably henceforth and for ever. Amen.