Dear Mom Who is Feeling Overwhelmed

Your soul aches from the secret doubts and fears. 
You lie awake at night allowing fear to gnaw at your insides

In those moments questions flood your soul

• Why does it feel like this?
• Why is it so hard?
• Why do I feel like a constant failure?
• Why is it that every choice feels like one that is wrong?
• Why does it feel like somehow I will NEVER measure up and be successful at this journey of MOTHERHOOD?
• Why do I constantly feel overwhelmed?

I too wrestle with these haunting questions that feel like a millstone of agony around my heart.
Oh Lord I've cried out in my heart, "Your word says Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him." so why does this feel so deeply painful and bone wearying?  


And then His gentle voice whispers to my heart ...
                                                    
                    ... Be True to Yourself
 
WHAT do you mean Lord ?

And once again I feel His presence ...
                       
                              ... Be True to Yourself

The echo of this statement hangs in the air with breathless anticipation. I can feel it's the key to set me FREE...

I ponder these words:  Be TRUE to YOURSELF


As I contemplate my feelings it became clearer. When I started my journey first as a new Mother then as a  homeschooling Mom I was full of excitement and anticipation. I attended any and all meetings, listened avidly to all the conversations, diligently sought advice on different issues, carefully looked over anything new on the market, attended all the trips that fit our very tight budget and constantly strived to grow. It was all new and exhilarating. I looked forward to each monthly meeting, any conference and the fortnightly co-op meetings.

Each time I heard what someone was doing that sounded wonderful I added it to my list of what we were doing. After all what I could see them doing seemed to add to their success so if I did it too I would be successful ... I loved the results of what each of these families were doing and wanted that fruit for my family. As the years went by I began to become bone weary.

“Oh Lord I am sooo very tired, I just can’t anymore….” I slowed down, carefully chose what we did do and slowly over time my strength returned but my heart still ached with inadequacy and His voice keeps whispering to my soul

 “Be true to YOURSELF”

I have spent some time meditating on His words to my spirit and looking back it has become clearer. I now know what He is saying to my heart.

Each time I had attended a meeting I would watch all the Mom's there, comparing what we did with what they were doing.  After all they were further along this journey then me they must know what to do. I would then take note of what each of these Mom’s (who in my eyes were successful) were doing and I would take their way of doing things and try to add it to mine. I thought that if I somehow could do it the way they were I would be successful.  It never occurred to me to take the new idea to the Lord in prayer and seek Him to see if it was for us.

I now realise that if the Lord wanted ALL those things for my children He would have placed my children in their families. He did not. He chose my family and I had not been TRUE to myself and who HE had made me. I had added all these carbon copies and the burden was too heavy for me and for my children.

I had been trying to mold myself to look like these super successful Mothers.

In Colossians 3:1 it says: Set your hearts on things above. This is the key to setting you free and healing your heart. We need to focus on Him and His design for our families and not strive in the flesh to perform or become what someone else is.  

I had been trying to do all these things to be successful in the worlds eyes and had taken my eyes off HIM. He has been reminding me to ask Him and He will show me. I need to Trust in Him with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding. As I acknowledge Him in ALL my ways He will make my path straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6).

My encouragement to you is to take your eyes off your friends (especially the super successful ones),  and place them firmly on your Lord.

He has a plan for you and it is a good plan. Your children, your home and your husband are a good and perfect gift from Him to YOU.  His word in in James 1:17 reminds us that 'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.' He makes no mistakes. 

In His word this week He reminded me: 'Come to me all you who are heavy laden and find rest for your souls' (Matthew 11:28-30). If you are exhausted or feeling overwhelmed take some time. STOP what you are doing. Prayerfully take it before your Heavenly Father and seek His heart for your family. Be TRUE to yourself and who He has made you. When He formed you He placed within you all you would need through Him to succeed (Philippians4:13) at the task He has placed before you.

He is the good Shepherd and He gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:11) Dear Mother that is YOU! His yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and His burden is light and easy to be borne. He calls out to you to take His yoke upon you and to learn from Him, for he is gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief) and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls (paraphrase of Matthew 11:28-30).

This rest is found in being TRUE TO YOURSELF and whom He has created you to be.

Take some time to write a list of all the good things and meditate upon these and when life becomes overwhelming take some time to read your list and remind yourself to be TRUE to whom He created YOU to be. 

Blessings
Chareen

Mother's Day is right around the corner and I've gotten together with a group of bloggers to bring you a giveaway and blog hop that we are hoping will bless your socks off!

We not only hope to bless several moms with some pretty awesome giveaway prizes, but we also hope to bless many more moms through the Letters to Moms Blog Hop, where each participating blogger is writing a 'Dear Mom' letter.

These letters will be anything from a letter to our own moms, a letter to ourselves, a letter to a mother figure, or a generalized letter to a group of moms, such as weary moms, hopeless moms, expecting moms, single moms....... Maybe one of these letters will speak to you!

So please, hop around to the many other bloggers above, and of course enter to win the giveaway too - there will be 4 winners with the total prize value over $1000!

An InLinkz Link-up

Do you value "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle ... "

"The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world."  How often do we hear these words?  Often enough for them to totally loose their impact. As a full time stay at home Mom it's so easy to loose sight of the true value of our positions.

Last night I joined a group of five mom's for a night out to see Mom's Night Out. It was a gentle nudging reminder that "I am His master piece and that is enough."

"You all spend so much time beating yourselves up it must be exhausting. Let me tell you something Girl.  I doubt the good Lord made a mistake giving your kiddo's the Mama He did. So you just be you, He'll take care of the rest." - Bones (Mom's Night Out)

The movie scene of Ally & Bones was the scene of the movie that hit home the truth of the depth of the Father's love for us Mom's and just how much time we loose each day in beating ourselves up.  He finishes up saying "It's a beautiful thing to watch one of God's creation just doing what He made it to do. Just being ... and that's enough." - Bones.

Think about it.  It's a beautiful thing to watch something just being what it was created to be and do.  We do not need to be like the Mom next door or on the next blog.  We need to be who we are.  Just be. It's only hard work to be something you're not ...

Mama take some time to really BE who you are.  Rest in who you are and who He created you to BE.  Stop striving to BE someone else you will never succeed.

You can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you.  In Him you live and move and have your being.

Be blessed and enjoy BEING who He made you Mama and the children whom He blessed you with.



After the movie last night we looked up the words for The Hand That Rocks The Cradle and were impressed with the poem it's from.

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

Cradle Song
Artist Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpana

The Hand that rocks the Cradle
Is The Hand That Rules The World
Blessings on the hand of women!
Angels guard its strength and grace,
In the palace, cottage, hovel,
Oh, no matter where the place;
Would that never storms assailed it,
Rainbows ever gently curled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy's the tender fountain,
Power may with beauty flow,
Mother's first to guide the streamlets,
From them souls unresting grow--
Grow on for the good or evil,
Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.


Woman, how divine your mission
Here upon our natal sod!
Keep, oh, keep the young heart open
Always to the breath of God!
All true trophies of the ages
Are from mother-love impearled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!
Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,
And the sacred song is mingled
With the worship in the sky--
Mingles where no tempest darkens,
Rainbows evermore are hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

--William Ross Wallace

Mother Culture - Time Out {Homeschooling Essentials}

Welcome to day five of this weeks 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials posts brought to you by the Homeschool Review Crew.  We have 89 homeschool Mom's like you sharing their top homeschool essential lists with you.  Today I would like to share about the most important ingredient in successfully home educating long term: time out for Mom.  In some homeschooling circles it is called Mother Culture which is a term brought back into our modern vocabulary thanks to Karen Andreola and her book A Charlotte Mason Companion.

This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart.  Why ? Because over the years I have experienced burn out, exhaustion, feelings of being overwhelmed and discouraged and each and every time the source was the same.  A lack of Mother Culture.  Karen Andreola paints this picture and I agree with her wholeheartedly.   "Is it a wonder she feels overspent? She wears herself out. In her efforts to be dietitian, laundress, nurse, hostess, teacher, taxi driver, wife, mother, and mistress, she forgets that she needs a little time for herself. And it is then that she stops growing spiritually and mentally, Physically she feels ragged and drags through the day until without being able to mark the hour it befan, she lives with depression. Her mind is in a drifting fog when she wants it to think clearly and efficiently. With the distractions of her multi-faceted duties she is unable to follow a train of thought. She considers herself hopelessly behind in everything. Her feet are in the quagmire. It takes an incredible amount of effort to keep up appearances, to wear a winsome countenance. The last straw is the guilt she feels that she is "lukewarm" in the Lord. If I hadn't experienced these symptoms myself I wouldn't be writing this chapter. Therefore I can validate the need for Mother Culture." - Karen Andreola.

Homeschool Burnout is a very real companion of many mothers and the sad thing is that many keep it a secret because they feel as though they are failing. Home schooling is no small undertaking and in order to keep at it for the long haul you need to take care of yourself. Without you there is no home or home school. You are the most important ingredient on this journey and you are the one that is responsible to keep yourself properly cared for or it won't be long and you will be burned out. I have come to realize that many mothers feel guilty taking a few minutes a day to recharge. For these mothers I point to scriptures and how Jesus often withdrew to lonely places (Luke 5:16) If HE needed time on His own then how much more do we ? 

Self care or Me Time out of balance can be a bad thing too. It can become a self serving, self worship time which is not edifying to you or your family. Today I read a great article that helps to put Me Time in perspective over at Raising Arrows called: Caring for Yourself {The Me Time Myth Revisited.} Please know that I am not advocating a self centered form of self where we actively seek time to be away from our family at all costs.  What I am talking about is finding time to grow and become all that you can be in order to care for your family well.

Think seasonally. One interest per season, coupled with thirty minutes of reading a day, may be all that is needed to keep up the Mother Culture and regain any lost enthusiasm for living - Karen Andreola



Read more
Each of these posts is full of links to other posts on Mother Culture.

• Be true to yourself This is a message to you homeschool Mom who feels inadequate come read and be encouraged how to Be True to Yourself over at Princess Warrior Lessons.
• Are you getting filled up because you are pouring out ....
• Last year I hit that familiar brick wall: exhaustion and shared my thoughts on How Important is Alone Time and Home Schooling ? 
• If you are a mom who likes reading and are looking for some excellent books to encourage and support you take a look at my Books to Support New Homeschool Mom's post. 
• A few years back I faced that familiar feeling of being overwhelmed and shared some of my initial thoughts on Mother Culture.
• Encouraging and Helpful Homeschool Books  over at Ben and Me. 
• A special collection of Encouragement for Homeschool Mothers 
• Homeschool Mom's Bible 
• Are you a Strong Woman or a Woman of Strength ?  
• Cultivate your Soul 
• Today I was encouraged this post contains an list of links to encouraging words for when you are feeling burnt out and need encouragement as well as a couple of lists for Mums to read.

What do you do to indulge in Mother Culture ?

Blessings
Chareen

Charlotte Mason advised the teacher to replenish her soul with a continual supply of ideas. ...stimulates your educational thought in many directions and keeps you from drifting into mere routine... Do not think this is a selfish thing to do, because the advantage does not end with yourself."
 

Don't forget to check out and see what my fellow Homeschool Review Crew mates are sharing this week. Here are some to get you started. Some of these links will not be live until tomorrow due to time zone differences as these bloggers are from across the globe.  Here are some from the crew to get you started

• Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool Quiet Time with God
• Jennifer @ Royal Little Lambs Let Go
• Sarah @  My Joy-Filled Life A HUGE List of Christian Resources for the Whole Family
• Debbie @ Debbie’s Homeschool Corner
• Lisa Marie @ The Canadian Homeschooler Never stop learning
• Laura @ Four Little Pengins Essentials for Kids
• Dinah @ The Traveling Classroom Teacher Friends
• Dawn @ Guiding Light Homeschool
• Erin @ Water on the Floor  Successful Homeschool Days Require a Housekeeping Plan

How Important is Alone Time and Home Schooling ?

Daily time alone is very near and dear to my heart and is something I encourage all mothers in all walks of life to partake of regularly. Why ? You need to fill up because you are pouring out.  Over the years I have come to realize that many mothers feel guilty taking a few minutes a day to recharge. For these mothers I point to scriptures and how Jesus often withdrew to lonely places (Luke 5:16) If HE needed time on His own then how much more do we ?

Burnout is a very real companion of many mothers and the sad thing is that many keep it a secret because they feel as though they are failing. Home schooling is no small undertaking and in order to keep at it for the long haul you need to take care of yourself. Without you there is no home or home school. You are the most important ingredient on this journey and you are the one that is responsible to keep yourself properly cared for or it won't be long and you will be burned out.

Self care or Me Time out of balance can be a bad thing too. It can become a self serving, self worship time which is not edifying to you or your family. Today I read a great article that helps to put Me Time in perspective over at Raising Arrows called: Caring for Yourself {The Me Time Myth Revisited. Please know that I am not advocating a self centered form of self where we actively seek time to be away from our family at all costs.  What I am talking about is finding time to grow and become all that you can be in order to care for your family well.

Early on in my home school journey I was introduced to Karen Andreola's book The Charlotte Mason Companion and fell in love with the chapter on Mother Culture.


How do you start ?
Time management is key to avoiding burn out and part of the solution is a daily time for you. Schedule it in if you don't make it a priority then it will not happen at all. We need persistence to find time for ourselves, especially if our lives are hectic, hurried, and we have learned how to live on adrenaline in place of that highly practical virtue, fortitude. (Page 345**)

Purchase a good kitchen timer with a loud ring that can be heard across the house.  Use the timer every day so the children become confident that Mom will not forget to let them out. (Did that once. Two hours later a little voice piped up: "Mommy is room time finished ?" Ooops everyone was so quiet and happy . . .)It also eliminates the calling out to you "Is room time finished yet ?" for children who can't tell time.

Start with five minutes and add a min a day until you work up to an hour. When Sir N was a baby my friend encouraged me to start with him as soon as he could sit. We borrowed toys from friends and later the toy library.  We also used toy rotation. He was only given these toys during room time. I used a timer so that he learned it was the timer that released him from playpen time and not crying. In the beginning I sat with him put him in there and started the timer when it rang five minutes later I verbally let him know "The timer rang time's up let's pack away the toys" this signaled the end of room/play time. Gradually over a four month period we worked up to an hour playpen time he was a year old by then. It is not advisable to start with a sick child or a tired one. I did playpen/ room time half an hour after he woke up so he was not tired. He looked forward to this part of his day because he could play with his special toys.

The principle is the same with children aged six and younger. When training them to keep themselves occupied start small and build on success. This is a daily thing not a Monday to Friday schedule. If you skip Saturday and Sunday you will need to start from scratch on Monday.  The number one key to success is to have room time every single day at the same time unless circumstance warrants a change.

For intermediate aged children start with a 15 min block of time. Use toys which you have set aside for this purpose only. A pre-room time snack, small drink and toilet stop is important to prevent the calling out Mommy I need the toilet! Mommy I'm thirsty.

Let me warn you of the perils of answering your children's questions during room / playpen time. I made the mistake of answering a question during room time one day and Oh dear from then on for a few weeks they called out to me every day until I finally said if you speak to me during room time then time starts all over again. That happened only once . . .

Teen children can keep themselves busy for an hour a day they are old enough and if they can't then start as you do with intermediate children.

Set Boundaries at the start

• Use a timer to keep time 
• No toilet breaks
• No calling out to Mom
• No talking to other family members
• Quiet play
• Any toys taken out to play with need to be put away at the end of play time.
• And for you: No Housework.  This is an easy trap for you to fall into. It seems like a good idea to clean while no children are present. Do NOT do this mother. The purpose of this hour is to feed your soul!

What can the kids do ?

• Listen to Audio Books
• Rest on their beds
• Lego
• Puzzles
• Special crayons and a colouring in book
• Toy Library toys
• Anything quiet

Benefits

• Character qualities developed: creativity, contentment, obedience, 
• Promotes imagination
• Encourages keeping themselves occupied. 
• Improved Concentration Span
• A love of music
• Independent play improvement

For you
This time is not there for you to clean your house! It's there for you to do something for you without interruption from anyone. That means switch off the phone become unplugged for an hour a day. Be wise with your time and redeem it. You are the only one who knows what's best for you to enable you to be the very best at everything you were created to be.

Charlotte Mason advised the teacher to replenish her soul with a continual supply of ideas. ...stimulates your educational thought in many directions and keeps you from drifting into mere routine... Do not think this is a selfish thing to do, because the advantage does not end with yourself."

On the WWW

• Some of my Thoughts on Mother Culture
• Are you over committed ? over at Above Rubies 
• Mother Culture Original article that appeared in the PNEU Newsletter
• Make the Most of your "Me Time" over at How Stuff Works
• What about Me ? over at Simple Home School
• Why I'm not cut out to be a homeschool Mom over at Growing Home
• Pinterest: Encouragement
• Pinterest: Mother Culture
• Books: More Hours in my Day by Emily Barnes
• Book: Creative Family Times by Hadidian and Wilson
• I want to Home School BUT My kids drive me Crazy This is a rather eye opening article on some of the lies we are fed by common cultural norms
• Mother Culture What It Is and What It Is Not over at Higher Up and Further In
• Let the Mother go Out to Play over at Never a Dull Moment. 
• How Room time builds learning skills for later over at Hodgepodge.

Think seasonally. One interest per season, coupled with thirty minutes of reading a day, may be all that is needed to keep up the Mother Culture and regain any lost enthusiasm for living - Karen Andreola

Blessings
Chareen

This week

• Bernadette gives some insight on how to find time to be alone in a world where it's No Never Alone
• Julie ponders on How can I get some alone time? and has found that an hour of exercise keeps her going.
• Hwee shares some thoughts on how to find some me time when she feels like saying Leave Me Alone!
• Savannah confesses that Keeping My Inner Witch at Bay . . . Me Time means more than the five minutes alone in the shower

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Linking with

Books to Support New Homeschool Mom's

Thinking back over the years I started homeschooling at the best time. The internet was a thing that very few people had and so the only place you could access information was from your neighbor or the homeschool Mother up the road.
If you wanted to home school you had to find the local support group. I miss the days of fellowship over a cup of tea while the children played outside.
The highlight of our time together would be seeing a new book, new home school catalog or curriculum.  Today Mom's ask Google, if you do a search for home school help you will find ten million hits. It's over whelming where do you begin? Today I want to share my top four home school support books.

In no particular order here are My Favorite Four

A Charlotte Mason Companion is Karen Andreola's memoir of implementing A Charlotte Mason education. This beautifully illustrated book is full of encouragement and how to chapters. Karen covers practical topics like: The Art of Narration, Mother Culture, Shakespeare and Dickens. Topics of Art and Music appreciation along with Grammar, History, Nature Study and a few more kernels of wisdom.  A beautiful book full of gorgeous line illustrations.

Purchase this book from Book Depository, Amazon

For online encouragement meet Karen over at Moments with Mother Culture.

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Been on the journey for a few months and needing a little deeper understanding ? This is the book for you.
Bill and Diana Waring have compiled this absolute gem of a little book which is a great reflection of their mission "To serve families by encouraging and  equipping". Things we wish we'd known (232 pages) is divided into five sections covering: The Concepts, The Basics, The Priorities, God's Involvement, Christian Character and The Blessings.
In each section is a number of letters from veteran home school parents to you.  Each write up is started with a photograph and short biography followed by their kernel of wisdom. Each one is concise and well written. This little book is worth it's weight in gold and will answer most of your questions with wisdom and balance.

Purchase this book from Diana Waring Presents, Book Depository, Amazon
For online encouragement Facebook, Twitter, and Diana shares gems on her blog Diana Waring Presents!

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After years of feeling like she was barely hanging on Diana cried out to God and desperately asked to get Beyond Survival (288 pages) and walk in Abundant Life Homeschooling. In her well known conversational style Diana shares the keys that released the joy in her home school journey.
This little gem answered so many of my why is this happening questions. It is full of insight and will broaden your understanding of the way your children learn and do life. Diana shares many funny happenings from her journey along with an honest look at things we struggle  with behind closed doors. I enjoy the honest transparency of this book.

Purchase this book from Diana Waring Presents, Book Depository, Amazon
For online encouragement Facebook, Twitter, and Diana shares gems on her blog Diana Waring Presents!

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Educating the Whole Hearted Child has seen a few revisions over the years and still contains a life time full of information to carry you through any season of homeschooling. Clay and Sally have graduated three students and are passionate homeschool encourager.
This book (384 pages) is divided into four main sections: Home, Learning, Methods and Living.
This book is full of words of encouragement and insight. Sally and Clay have filled this book with practical know how and insight. They use wonderful acronyms to help you implement and formulate your homeschool plan. I love how they give information and then share 'In Our Home'. They take each topic and break it down in to easy to understand bite size pieces backed up with research and scripture.
Purchase this book from: Whole Heart Ministries, Book Depository, Amazon.
For online encouragement Sally Blogs over at I Take Joy, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest.

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Encouragement and support on line

• Pinterest: Encouragement
• Pinterest: Mother Culture
• The Homeschool Village
• Home School Mosaics
• Heart of the Matter On-Line
• Aussie Homeschool Blog  
• Hip Homeschool Moms
• Mom Heart Online
• I Take Joy - Sally Clarkson
• Diana Waring Presents!- Diana Waring
• Merchandise: I homeschool What's Your Superpower?

Final Thoughts

• Many are the things that will take from your energy levels and enthusiasm on the homeschool journey. It is incredibly important for you to invest in your selves or you will find yourselves burnt out and desperate. The art of Mother Culture is something sorely lacking in our sub culture of home education today.  I would encourage you to take some daily minutes for yourselves in order to be the very best you can be. Equip yourself well for the task at hand.
• Charlotte Mason advised the teacher to replenish her soul with a continual supply of ideas. ...stimulates your educational thought in many directions and keeps you from drifting into mere routine... Do not think this is a selfish thing to do, because the advantage does not end with yourself.".  
 

 Blessings
Chareen




This week

• Bernadette says that there are Many Books, Many People and she shares her book recommendations to assist you on your homes education journey
• Julie remembers her journey when Considering Homeschooling and how she read many books and one helped her make the choice to home educate.
• Hwee shares about her Book Recommendations for New Homeschoolers and shares some titles to help you no matter the age of your children.
• Savannah shares Three Great Homeschool Books and talks about her Holy Trinity of Home School Support books.
 ---ooOoo---

Linking with

Be Encouraged A Word from Sally Clarkson

Be encouraged a note from Sally Clarkson to you


Sally shared In Support and Celebration of Motherhood! And My Dream on her blog on Wednesday and I was so deeply touched I wanted to share it with you here and hope you are as encouraged as I was.


Blessings

Some thoughts on Mother Culture

Alarm bells started ringing for me this week when I started feeling overwhelmed and over taxed with the smallest of tasks at hand.  Poor Sir N was struggling to grasp a new math concept and I had no patience to give him or time to explain, I just wanted out.

There's no doubt about it homeschooling full time can be a taxing undertaking and even more so when we as mothers do not commit to care for ourselves in order that we may better care for our families.

This past Monday some of my homeschool friends came over to share and discuss chapter 46 Mother Culture in The Charlotte Mason Companion.  It has been a timely reminder for me that if I want to continue this journey with Sir N I need to dedicate some Mother Culture time in my schedule or burnout will be my constant companion.

"A mother is only a woman, but she needs the love of Jacob, the patience of Job, the wisdom of Moses, the foresight of Joseph, and the firmness of Daniel. But a mother not only has to have all of these things, she must have them all at once, often when she is quite young, and too often when she has had no previous training for the marvelously varied duties she has to perform."

To obtain this high ideal we certainly must never languish in the rut of the daily drudgery of life.  It is up to us to continue to grow and move forward so as to be an example to those in our sphere of influence and care.

My Gleanings for the day:

• Some may say, "I simply have no time for myself." Others, "I don't think it is right to think of myself." Such mothers are stuck in a rut of self-sacrifice to the extent that they are starving themselves spiritually, mentally, and consequently, emotionally. (page 344) It was good to be reminded of this.  I know this from before but had forgotten the implications of starving myself of growth.
• He blesses us with His strength if we are in His Word renewing our minds, if we pray, and if we follow the fourth commandment. (Page 344) Ultimately my salvation and strength are in Him and this was a stark reminder to spend time at His feet and He will lift me up.
• We must also exercise our minds and give ourselves some healthy leisure and diversion in order to be strong (Page 344-345) I think that far too often we as mothers forget that we need leisure in order to be strong.
• We need persistence to find time for ourselves, especially if our lives are hectic, hurried, and we have learned how to live on adrenaline in place of that highly practical virtue, fortitude. (Page 345) Persistence is key to accessing a healthy balance at home when alone with our children. I need to persevere in making it a priority and a happening thing.
• When the time is over, ring the little bell and reward them with time spent outdoors together, or preparing a meal together, giving them attention and kind words. (Page 345-346) I loved these words.  I find that homeschooling an "only" child is far different than homeschooling two.  At the end of room time Sir N is needing to connect and I am needing to get on with the next thing which causes him frustration and conflict between the two of us. These words made me realise that if I schedule room time earlier in the day and factor in a time to reconnect after it is done this will be a better transition into the hum drum of the balance of our day.

• "Besides my Bible, I always keep three books going that are just for me - a stiff book, a moderately easy book, and a novel, and I always take up the one I feel fit for." That is the secret: always have something "going" to grow by. (Page346) I used to live by this adage and over the years it has gone by the wayside.  I recently have re added reading back into my routine and I do feel better for it.  I have been reading a lot of blog posts and do find that I need to be careful of the fair I choose to meditate on as this has a definite influence over my thoughts and feelings towards those in my care.
• Charlotte Mason advised the teacher to replenish her soul with a continual supply of ideas. ...stimulates your educational thought in many directions and keeps you from drifting into mere routine... Do not think this is a selfish thing to do, because the advantage does not end with yourself.".
• We should continually take our minds out of the "laundry bag" of domestic perplexities, and give it a fragrant soaping, a rainwater rinsing, and a sunny airing in that which keeps it growing. Mother Culture is living the educational life with our children by learning alongside of them. But it is also learning and contemplating off to the side. (Page 347)This is such a timely reminder for me as I seem to consistently have my mind in that "laundry bag of domestic perplexity".

John Ruskin said: "Make for yourselves nests of pleasant thoughts, bright fancies, faithful sayings; treasure-houses of precious restful thoughts, which care cannot disturb nor poverty take away from you, houses built without hands for your souls to live in."

Think seasonally. One interest per season, coupled with thirty minutes of reading a day, may be all that is needed to keep up the Mother Culture and regain any lost enthusiasm for living - Karen Andreola

On the Web

• What is Mother Culture by Karen Andreola
• CM Monday – Mother Culture over at Golden Acorn Homeschool
• Developing a Content Heart over at Golden Acorn Homeschool.
• Let the Mother go out to play! by Trisch over at Never a Dull Moment.
• A Good Airing over at Simply Charlotte Mason a blog Carnival dedicated to Mother Culture.
• Mother Culture - The Ultimate Anti by Susan at The Flexible Homeschooler.
• Mother Culture and You by Karen Andreola over at Homeschool World.
• Mother Culture by Karen Andreola Printed in Practical Homeschooling #29 1999.
• Mother Culture over at Tea Time with Annie Kate
• Blueberry Cottage - Mother Culture a Review.
• The Need for Mother Culture by Texas Homesteader.
• Shh! Quiet time for Mum - a Charlotte Mason Mother Culture Moment.
• Stop Cleaning the Kitchen and Read a book.  For Homeschool mothers, educating themselves is a revolutionary act by Susan Wise Bauer.
• Are you a Thermostat or a Thermometer ? by Simply Charlotte Mason.
• On Pinterest: Every Bed of Roses - Mother Culture 
• Taking the Moments over at Nest of Pleasant Thoughts.
• Mother Culture over at Aut-2B-Home in Carolina.

This foray into thoughts on Mother Culture has encouraged me to invest in looking after myself as a gift to my family.

I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas on this topic of Mother Culture.

Blessings
Chareen
Don't forget to add your link to the list

Are you getting filled up because you are pouring out ....

As some of you may know I have been at a ladies retreat this past weekend.  One of the questions Reba asked us was:  "Are you getting filled up because you are pouring out ?"
This question really impacted me. It was one of those Ah ha moments.
 I have been feeling very 'flat' of late and life was starting to become flatter by the day. I was generally  living in survival mode.  I should know better since I often ask my circle of homeschool mothers "What are you doing daily to recharge yourselves ?" Yet somehow in the busyness of life I had forgotten to apply to myself what I was encouraging my friends to do.  Even my precious Mother had been asking me.  "When are you going to slow down ???"

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Karen Andreola introduced me to: Mother Culture (Trade Marked and Registered to Karen Andreola) Mothers should cultivate their souls so that in turn they may cultivate the souls of their children.

In Chapter 46 Karen expounds on the how's and why's of Mother Culture. Here is a snippet to whet your appetite for this wonderful resource.

"Is it a wonder she feels overspent?  She wears herself out. In her efforts to be dietitian, laundress, nurse, hostess, teacher, taxi driver, wife, mother, and mistress, she forgets that she needs a little time for herself.  And it is then that she stops growing spiritually and mentally,  Physically she feels ragged and drags through the day until without being able to mark the hour it befan, she lives with depression. Her mind is in a drifting fog when she wants it to think clearly and efficiently. With the distractions of her multi-faceted duties she is unable to follow a train of thought. She considers herself hompelessly behind in everything.  Her feet are in the quagmire. It takes an incredible amount of effort to keep up appearances, to wear a winsome countenance.  The last straw is the guilt she feels that she is "lukewarm" in the Lord. If I hadn't experienced these symptoms myself I wouldn't be writing this chapter.  Therefore I can validate the need for Mother Culture." - Karen Andreola

This was the third homeschool book I ever invested in.  It is one of my favourite treasure troves.  I often pick this book up. Whenever I need some clarification on how something works or the practicle application of a certain aspect of homeschooling such as the how and why of Narration this is the book I turn to.  Karen has done such a wonderful job in opening her home and allowing us in to see how to do something and why she is doing it.  The book is full of beautiful line drawings from a bygone era which evokes a feeling and appreciation for the wonderful opportunity I have as a Mother who has the awesome priviledge of staying home full time and educating my children.

You can read more about Mother Culture Here or if you would like to read Karen's blog you can go to http://momentswithmotherculture.blogspot.com/

A Charlotte Mason Companion is available from www.bookdepository.co.uk, www.fishpond.com.au , and for a look inside you can go to www.amazon.com

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A few years into my homeschool journey I met Diana Waring at a homeschool conference in Christchurch, New Zealand. 

Diana has written a wonderful book titled: Beyond Survival.  As you can see from the state of the cover of my book it is a well loved book in my home. 

This book contains many wondeful chapters to equip you on your homeschool journey.  It is divided into three parts: The Preparation, The Journey and The Abundance.  Within these you will find information on learning and teaching styles, Learning together, Creating an atmosphere, The tools, The Materials, to name but a few. 

For a look at the table of Contents go Here

If you would like to read Cathy Duffy's  foreword you can go Here

This book is available from www.dianawaring.com and  www.bookdepository.co.uk .

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I have just received
The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson in the mail.  What a wonderful book.  I am really looking forward to reading this treasure.

Here is what it says on the back:  Because Motherhood Isn't Just a Job. It's a Calling. 

A mother's day is packed with a multitude of tasks that require energy and time: preparing meals, wahsing clothes, straightening and cleaning the house, and carinf for chidlren. These jobs all are necessary and crucially important. But in the dailyness of providing for a child's physical, emotional, and social needs, vital opportunities for spiritual nurturing and training can be overlooked.

Rather than letting the demands of life determine your parenting priorities, you can focus your energy on what matters most. In this encouraging and empowering book you'll learn how to .......

• make life's mundane and nitty-gritty moments work for you and not against you.
• incorporate character-building as a natual part of life
• teach your child in the same way Jesus taught the disciples
• pass on crucial fits that will serve your family for a lifetime.

This book is available from www.koorong.com.au,   www.bookdepository.co.uk,  or www.fishpond.com.au

For those of you wanting to read Sally's blog you can find her at I take Joy and on Facebook.

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Currently Good Morning Girls is using this book for their Book Club  and working their way through it week by week.  You can download a weekly S.O.A.P (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer point) page to use alongside the book from Here.  or you can join the Facebook group Here

I found a wonderful blog page at www.noordinarymomentsblog.com and for those of you who are keen to partake in a forum while reading the book you can find one at  Homeschool Creations Community

I am looking forward to 'getting filled up' over the next few weeks.   :)  Till next time my friends take care

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