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Here’s a “blast from the past” that I just ran across, and thought you might like it, too. It’s Ann Lahrson Fisher’s contribution to What the Rest of Us Can Learn from Homeschooling, published by Three Rivers Press in 2003, when I asked if she could provide a bit of advice to parents whose children are in school but who want to benefit from the homeschooling lifestyle. It’s titled, “Strong Families,” and a big thank you to Ann, again.
The learning approach to family life strengthens the family in its role as a stalwart and respected institution in the community.
Families with children in traditional schools can enjoy many benefits of the homeschooling life. Why? Because living and learning with kids is amazingly natural for most of us, almost instinctive. After all, isn’t this exactly how our ancestors lived, parents guiding children, learning together as families and using whatever methods and approaches were at hand?
The learning approach to family life strengthens the family in its natural – and rightful – role as a stalwart and respected institution in the community. The requirements are few, and most of what you’ll do is a natural part of the normal parenting package, if parents only believe it. Parents who love to loearn, who enjoy spending time with their children, and, most of all, who themselves brighten when the aha! light comes on in their children’s eyes – these are the parents who find the learning approach to family life most satisfying and successful. As a stay-at-home parent, I found my life enormously satisfying because of our learning lifestyle, no matter what educational option we were using at the moment.
Launching a learning approach to family life in today’s hectic world can begin with a simple change of priorities. You will learn to put the needs of family and family members first. Next, encourage everyone to get to know each other and their interests. Explore and learn together. You as parents will learn to slow down and listen to your children. Your children will know exactly who to turn to: mom and dad.
My advice is to start today. Talk with your family. Share music. Play games. Explore. Question. Follow your heart’s desire and share it with your children, thereby showing them how to follow theirs. As you help your children discover their hearts’ desires, you stand to learn more from them than they will ever learn from you.
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