An Idyllic Childhood

If you want it for them, want it for yourself first

I'm thinking a lot about the craving to provide an idyllic childhood—the notion that we can somehow avoid the slings and arrows of this life on behalf of our children.

• We picture them happily tramping through mud in a forest.

• We imagine them playing without prompting, using hand crafts and art supplies.

• We hope they care more about reading a book than watching TV.

• We dream of contentment and creativity, rather than restlessness and boredom.

• We want natural learning that doesn't require workbooks, that the child values.

To create a childhood that includes nature, the arts, crafts, reading and an appetite to learn requires an involved parent or adult. Kids can't shop for craft supplies. They can't walk in the woods alone (usually). They don't have books unless someone takes them to the library. They aren't aware of all they could learn unless they are exposed to topics unfamiliar.

How do they get these? Some person—someone—has to participate with them on some level.

Lately, the conversation I’m having with parents goes something like this:

I would love my child to have that homeschool life you are describing. But I don't think I can do it. I don't the have (fill in the blank: time, money, patience, creativity) to do it myself!

We all want things for our kids but then we’re timid to become the learners we envision our children becoming!

To homeschool means that you will:

• tramp through the mud in a forest with your children

• play with your children without prompting, pulling out art supplies and craft materials, and exploring them together

• read a book instead of watching TV or listening to a podcast because you value reading

• find contentment for yourself, test your own creativity, rather than giving in to restlessness and boredom and the endless trap of "productivity"

• learn more about children and learning because you want not, not because you have to

The life we want for our children can also be ours.
Homeschooling can be, without a doubt, one of the richest pathways to wholeness and profound learning for you, not just your children.

You really can do this. Millions of us have. And so many parents work while providing this childhood to their kids.

I'm here to help and so is all of Brave Writer!

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