Charlotte Mason would have loved my pond. Only a half-mile from our house, the pond has river otter, blue heron, and other fabulous Northwest wildlife. When we moved here, I thought I would spend hours at the pond with my children, doing nature studies. A short distance from Puget Sound, I fantasized about oceanography units and marine biology studies…..I dreamed of examining algae under a microscope and I was positively giddy about the ducklings.Except…..it didn’t happen. It’s one thing to focus on “delight-driven” studies, but what about driving “non-delightful” studies? My boys would whine and complain the whole time we did nature studies. They loved physical exertion, and didn’t mind getting out for a bike ride or a swim, but they didn’t want to just “sit there and look at stuff.” All they wanted was books and bikes. Sigh! What’s a Charlotte-Masony Mom to do?
I finally had to conclude that the “delight” in delight-driven was about them, not me. I had to let go of the fabulous nature studies and focus on the ways my children learned instead. “Let them have books!” I decided.
Now that the kids are in college, my husband and I frequently walk to the pond, and walk to the beach, and enjoy our nature studies together. And he doesn’t whine… usually….
Blessings,
Lee
–
The HomeScholar
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Kristine says:
LOL, Lee, that’s funny. It’s perfectly descriptive of you and your boys! I’m wondering how in the world I will find ANY balance this year, with everything we have going on!
August 28th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
{ jamie } says:
Thanks for sharing! And I, too, would enjoy that pond!
September 21st, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Deb Spradlin says:
You are a life-long learner. The ultimate goal!
Deb Spradlin
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Reda says:
Sometimes it seems to take a little longer for boys to appreciate some of the things we enjoy so much. They may surprise you and want to take you on a walk and look at that beautiful pond one day:)
February 18th, 2010 at 7:27 am
Jennifer Grant says:
This is soooo true. I had weekly outdoor science “field trips” planned when we first started. Not anymore! So nice to know I am not alone!!
February 18th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Paula says:
I appreciate this! It sounds very similar to my story. We’ve been homeschooling 8 years and a lot has changed throughout the years as I’ve learned, along with my kids, what works and what doesn’t in our home.
February 18th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
karen says:
“I finally had to conclude that the “delight” in delight-driven was about them, not me”
Ah Lee were you in my head today?
April 2nd, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Lee says:
I’m right there with you, Karen!
Blessings,
Lee
April 2nd, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Jennifer says:
Thanks for the giggle. I have been homeschooling for 8 years now and have had similar experiences. I have had to learn how to be delighted with what delights my kids. I still show them things that delight me, but they don’t always “buy into it.”
May 22nd, 2010 at 8:29 am
Chronicles of a Blessed Heritage » Blog Archive » Weekly Homeschool Wrap-Up–April 11, 2010 says:
[...] it was “okay.” Speaking of which, there’s a short, but profound article from Lee Binz, the Home Scholar, regarding whose delight is key in delight-directed [...]
May 26th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
J W says:
Hee hee – I have the opposite. My girls want to sit and look at stuff but no way do they want to hike to get there.
If you can get us into The Cove you can borrow them and I’ll help out
June 1st, 2010 at 5:54 am
Terry says:
You’ve struck a chord – “the “delight” in delight-driven is about them, not me”. I have enjoyed homeschooling my children much more than they have enjoyed being homeschooled. I need to discover what rings their bells, instead of focusing so intently on getting it all done. I’m a check the box, finish the book, complete the list kinda’ gal, and, frankly, it’s wearing on us all – even me, the one who considers learning a privilege and loves it all – well, most all! Thank you, Lee.
July 14th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Kai says:
Delight for my boys means skipping the anthropology that I love, and incorporating the history of firearms that they love.
It means I learn what I like on my own time, and they study the language they choose rather the one that I choose.
Although we parents are musical, the children detest instruments. Making them practice was like drawing blood.
Yes, indeed, their delight and not mine! I’ve lived a full life and they are just beginning theirs. To teach them to embrace joy and love of everything means I must trust them to know their own minds and let them be different than me.
Somehow, it works!
February 18th, 2011 at 2:43 am
Dawn says:
Oh my! I loved reading this and all the comments, too. How hard it is for me to let go of my visions of educational joy! It often leaves me disillusioned and basking in a sea of self-doubt! Last night I cried out to the Lord asking him to show me why I feel so defeated and why nothing is working out “right”. He impressed on my heart that I have taken up burdens that I wasn’t meant to bear, that He didn’t mean for me. Somehow that’s all connected with home schooling our sons. I often feel their success is all my responsibility and I must figure out the best way and make it work. Is it really? If I recall I am supposed to be a keeper of my home and encourager of my husband first. I’d love to see someone make a very distinct list of what our responsibilities are (in home schooling) and what our children’s are, maybe our husband’s too. We live with much too much false guilt as women. Lots to pray about here.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:34 am
GinaG says:
The timing of this couldn’t be more perfect! I am currently planning my 13 yo daughter’s CM high school and it’s been a real stretch for me to make sure all the “delight driven” learning is based on her own passions and goals and not mine or Ms.Mason’s. With that in mind my daughter’s CM education is not going to match what you read in the books but it does remain our guiding light when we have doubts or need ideas. And alas, it includes brisk walks in the park but no nature studies.
March 3rd, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Angie says:
I think I just might cry! I only know of 1 person who followed Charlotte Mason’s methods and did so through high school. I’ve been using them ever since I started homeschooling and I often feel like I’ve failed to create the ideal CM education for my kids due to this exact issue! I, too, envisioned all of these things with nature studies and my kids, yet all I get all along are complaints. It was horrible for me and I have since dropped the entire “nature study” portion. My boys also want to run, play, explore, etc. but they definitely do not want to observe and sketch. They truly acted as if they may die! So our “nature studies” have been simply enjoying the outdoors and growing vegetable/flower gardens. They definitely love their gardens, so I know they are getting some exposure there. I am SO pleased to discover that your high school transcript success included a CM style curriculum!! Again…. I think I just might cry! My oldest is 14 so I’m just now delving into the transcript issues but I do feel ready to tackle it. Thanks for all you are doing to help homeschoolers!
June 24th, 2011 at 6:06 am
Lee says:
Dear Angie,
I think all us Charlotte-Mason-WannaBees should stick together
Blessings,
Lee
June 27th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Michelle says:
Oh, I just love the sentiment of this article. Our family of 4 boys & 1 girl had the same experience with our local pond and forest preserve. I had hope to do nature journals filled with all the drawings & fact that we accumulated as we studied our bit of heaven on earth. I even got a hold of a wonderful microscope from a Bell Labs to use as we examined the pond life, but alas, we never did as much pond analysis as I had hoped we would. We did search for many frogs and witnessed many animals move in and out of our lovely pond & forest preserve, but just like literary analysis, my 4 & girl boys never enjoyed dissecting the information we tried to gather. Instead they just enjoyed living in it, hesitating here and there as we walked slowly back from the pond to finish the school work of the day!
October 5th, 2011 at 3:28 pm