Charlotte Mason’s counsel on education extends beyond academics to sound parenting advice. It’s wonderful to come to the feast, but what if the learners at the table have such bad attitudes that it spoils the meal? Liz, Emily, and Nicole discuss the reality of facing the challenges of children with bad attitudes and ways of dealing with them.
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“Our part is to remove obstructions and to give stimulus and guidance to the child who is trying to get into touch with the universe of things and thoughts which belongs to him.” (3/188)
“The mind is capable of dealing with only one kind of food; it lives, grows and is nourished upon ideas only; mere information is to it as a meal of sawdust to the body; there are no organs for the assimilation of the one more than of the other.” (6/218)
“There is no way of escape for parents; they must be ‘inspirers’ to their children, because about them hangs, as its atmosphere about a planet, the thought-environment of the child, from which he derives those enduring ideas which express themselves as a life-long ‘appetency’ towards things sordid or things lovely, things earthly or divine.” (2/37)
“They do not give their children the discipline which results in self-compelling power; and by-and-by…the time for training in the art of self-mastery has gone by, and a fine character is spoiled through indolence and willfulness.” (2/64)
“It rests with parents to make low the high places and exalt the valleys, to make straight paths for the feet of their [child].” (2/68)
“To give a child this power over himself — first in response to the will of another, later, in response to his own, is to make a man of him,” (3/20)
“Every day, every hour, the parents are either passively or actively forming those habits in their children upon which, more than upon anything else, future character and conduct depend.” (1/118)
“…it is a mistake to suppose that the greater the number of ‘subjects’ the greater the scholar’s labour; the contrary is the case as the variety in itself affords refreshment.” (6/158)
“Teach them that the Divine Spirit has constant access to their spirits, and is their Continual Helper in all the interests, duties and joys of life.” Point 20 of the Short Synopsis
“It is a happy thing that the ‘difficult’ children who are the readiest to resist a direct command are often the quickest to respond to the stimulus of an idea.” (3/23)
Thank you, ladies. I have so much I need to do better as a parent. I am a good student of my children though, and I can attest how useful that has been in dealing with some of the bad attitudes. One of my daughters is like yours, Emily, and one of my sons is similar as well though it presents itself a little differently. I missed heading him off before he blew on Thursday (because my mom and sister were both there and in order to distract him I would have needed to let him temporarily leave the lesson he was upset about doing and therefore look to them like I was caving to his bad attitude) and we all felt the consequences. I am just glad to know I am not alone in that. Also, thank you, Liz, for the comment about 13-14 year old boys. I needed that confirmation of what I am witnessing before my eyes last year and this one with my oldest. I will say that it is very hard to not beat myself up about all the ways I fail when so much of this is on me. But I’m trying to remember that I can only teach myself to be disciplined at a certain pace. I can’t speed this process up for myself so I have to cling to Jesus and His grace. I have to ask forgiveness a lot. I have to keep trying to strengthen my own will to do what I ought so I can model it better for my children. It’s really hard to teach and mold your children when your will is not strong. I do see growth in myself though and I am encouraged that it will get better if I just keep trying and leaning on Jesus. I may need to revisit this podcast and take notes so I can work one by one on specific things I need to improve upon.
Rachel,
Thank you for sharing. I think someone may have said it on the episode, but don’t grow weary in doing well. Parenting is a hard and most rewarding job.
Liz
Thank you for this very helpful episode. You mention at the end specific teaching from Charlotte Mason on certain character flaws – my ears pricked up at ‘dawdling’ as I have this in my home. I didn’t catch where or in which volume or book this is in – are you able to point me in the right direction?
Thank you
Hi Anna,
We’re so glad the episode was helpful! It is in Volume 5–the first part of that book is individual “case studies” on different character flaws.