You are absolutely right about compliant children not necessarily having stronger wills. I am the youngest of five children and I was the compliant one. To this day my mother brags about what an easy child I was. I was eager to avoid causing any sort of burden or strife in the household, so I did not express my needs or desires and went along with everyone else's decisions. Now as an adult I still struggle with decision making. I was never able to decide on a college degree or career path when I was single, and even lesser decisions like what restaurant to choose were incredibly difficult. Now I am a wife and I have to use every tool in the book to keep myself on track with managing our household, and even so I struggle to decide what meals to put on the table. I am spending this time learning everything I can about Charlotte Mason before we even have children (though I am hoping the Lord will bless us soon), so I will not be paralyzed by the decisions I will face when educating them. I am considering educating myself with the Charlotte Mason methods so I can perhaps fill in the educational gaps left from my childhood.
Thank you for joining us and sharing your experience! It is never too late for any of us to learn habits, even as adults! I think that a good many people in our homeschooling community can relate to your experience and to realizing their own struggles with habits as they start to think about or to teach their own children! Here are some more resources that you may find helpful: simplycharlottemason.com/store/habit-training-yourself-workshop-video/ simplycharlottemason.com/store/laying-down-the-rails-for-yourself/
I guess what I struggle with is how to incorporate these topics in life…. Like I need examples. Specific details. I grew up with very intense parents… I don’t have examples to pull from to understand how to explain these things to my kids… example like you mentioned the boy homeschooled. How do you explain focus and effort to a young child? My son is 6 and this is actually our issue. He has no peers in our homeschool, just babies. So getting him to truly try isn’t something he understands. He often says well it’s just not for me… I can’t do it. It’s the opposite of my personality. I just say that he is capable of doing anything he decides he can, he just needs to decide he wants to do it. And that all things in life take practice and time, and the best things in life take even more time and practice… I don’t know what else to ignite a competitive spirit in him…. We are trying to start sports… but that’s tricky to find a good sport that isn’t all consuming in our area… so examples and recommendations would really help❤️
Hi, Thank you so much for reaching out with your questions! For more information on the will specifically you may enjoy reading the free e-book "The Way of the Will" linked below. simplycharlottemason.com/blog/the-way-of-the-will-free-e-book/ Are you using the "Laying Down the Rails" resources from Simply Charlotte Mason with your children? Specifically "Laying Down the Rails for Children" has some great practical ways to help you implement habit training especially the idea of "feeding the mind with great ideas" that they can understand. This book uses a combination of stories from the Bible, other stories, poems, and activities as part of how to teach children new habits. You can find out more here: simplycharlottemason.com/store/laying-down-the-rails-for-children-a-habit-training-companion/
This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing this wisdom. Do you have any suggestions for a mom with ADHD? Will my will be strengthened enough to overcome it or at least mitigate it to some degree? Do you have any stories of moms with ADHD implementing habit training for themselves and being successful? I'm 34 years old and only diagnosed in the last few years. I'm having to take myself in hand while simultaneously rearing my own children, and I'm finding consistency nearly impossible, partly because some times I simply forget what we're working on because I'm so overwhelmed in the first place. I've finally started medication, something I swore I'd never do, to give me a hand in keeping my brain in line. I'm hoping habit training myself will enable me to come back off the medication when my boys are older. Sorry for the long post, and thank you for taking the time to read it all the way through if you made it this far.
Hi Ashley! Your question would be an excellent question for our homeschooling group on Facebook! There are some Mommas on there who have discussed how to navigate ADHD as a homeschooling parent. facebook.com/groups/simplycm
Thank you so much for your knowledge and wisdom!! 🙏 I have to requests: Could you share more material 1.about tantrums and how to bring a child to regulation and 2. about decision making. Possible?
Thank you for reaching out to share what you would like to see more of, we value the input of our community and this has been passed along to the content team. In the meantime, here are some additional resources for you. 1. Tantrums: a. This blogpost on replacing bad habits does touch on tantrums. simplycharlottemason.com/blog/habits-q-and-a-breaking-a-bad-habit/ b. “Laying Down the Rails” is a habit training resource that gives you more information on habits. It has a section on how to deal with tantrums and shares Charlotte Mason’s thoughts on this as well. simplycharlottemason.com/store/laying-down-rails-charlotte-mason-habits/ 2. Decision Making a. This blogpost has some practical tips on how to help your child with the decision making process as you work with them to strengthen their will. simplycharlottemason.com/blog/5-ways-strengthen-childs-willpower/ b. “The Way of the Will” is a free e-book that discusses tantrums as well as gives you some practical tips on how to strengthen your child’s will which will prepare them for good decision making. simplycharlottemason.com/blog/the-way-of-the-will-free-e-book/
You are absolutely right about compliant children not necessarily having stronger wills. I am the youngest of five children and I was the compliant one. To this day my mother brags about what an easy child I was. I was eager to avoid causing any sort of burden or strife in the household, so I did not express my needs or desires and went along with everyone else's decisions. Now as an adult I still struggle with decision making. I was never able to decide on a college degree or career path when I was single, and even lesser decisions like what restaurant to choose were incredibly difficult. Now I am a wife and I have to use every tool in the book to keep myself on track with managing our household, and even so I struggle to decide what meals to put on the table. I am spending this time learning everything I can about Charlotte Mason before we even have children (though I am hoping the Lord will bless us soon), so I will not be paralyzed by the decisions I will face when educating them. I am considering educating myself with the Charlotte Mason methods so I can perhaps fill in the educational gaps left from my childhood.
Thank you for joining us and sharing your experience! It is never too late for any of us to learn habits, even as adults! I think that a good many people in our homeschooling community can relate to your experience and to realizing their own struggles with habits as they start to think about or to teach their own children! Here are some more resources that you may find helpful:
simplycharlottemason.com/store/habit-training-yourself-workshop-video/
simplycharlottemason.com/store/laying-down-the-rails-for-yourself/
Your comment is so necessary, an “easy child is what all the parents want and is always being praised for other people “ but is sad what is behind it
Loved seeing you at the Iowa Homeschool conference this weekend! ❤
So glad you were there and enjoyed!
I guess what I struggle with is how to incorporate these topics in life…. Like I need examples. Specific details. I grew up with very intense parents… I don’t have examples to pull from to understand how to explain these things to my kids… example like you mentioned the boy homeschooled. How do you explain focus and effort to a young child? My son is 6 and this is actually our issue. He has no peers in our homeschool, just babies. So getting him to truly try isn’t something he understands. He often says well it’s just not for me… I can’t do it. It’s the opposite of my personality. I just say that he is capable of doing anything he decides he can, he just needs to decide he wants to do it. And that all things in life take practice and time, and the best things in life take even more time and practice… I don’t know what else to ignite a competitive spirit in him…. We are trying to start sports… but that’s tricky to find a good sport that isn’t all consuming in our area… so examples and recommendations would really help❤️
Hi, Thank you so much for reaching out with your questions! For more information on the will specifically you may enjoy reading the free e-book "The Way of the Will" linked below.
simplycharlottemason.com/blog/the-way-of-the-will-free-e-book/
Are you using the "Laying Down the Rails" resources from Simply Charlotte Mason with your children? Specifically "Laying Down the Rails for Children" has some great practical ways to help you implement habit training especially the idea of "feeding the mind with great ideas" that they can understand. This book uses a combination of stories from the Bible, other stories, poems, and activities as part of how to teach children new habits. You can find out more here:
simplycharlottemason.com/store/laying-down-the-rails-for-children-a-habit-training-companion/
This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing this wisdom. Do you have any suggestions for a mom with ADHD? Will my will be strengthened enough to overcome it or at least mitigate it to some degree? Do you have any stories of moms with ADHD implementing habit training for themselves and being successful? I'm 34 years old and only diagnosed in the last few years. I'm having to take myself in hand while simultaneously rearing my own children, and I'm finding consistency nearly impossible, partly because some times I simply forget what we're working on because I'm so overwhelmed in the first place. I've finally started medication, something I swore I'd never do, to give me a hand in keeping my brain in line. I'm hoping habit training myself will enable me to come back off the medication when my boys are older. Sorry for the long post, and thank you for taking the time to read it all the way through if you made it this far.
Hi Ashley! Your question would be an excellent question for our homeschooling group on Facebook! There are some Mommas on there who have discussed how to navigate ADHD as a homeschooling parent. facebook.com/groups/simplycm
Thank you so much for your knowledge and wisdom!! 🙏
I have to requests:
Could you share more material 1.about tantrums and how to bring a child to regulation and 2. about decision making.
Possible?
Thank you for reaching out to share what you would like to see more of, we value the input of our community and this has been passed along to the content team. In the meantime, here are some additional resources for you.
1. Tantrums:
a. This blogpost on replacing bad habits does touch on tantrums.
simplycharlottemason.com/blog/habits-q-and-a-breaking-a-bad-habit/
b. “Laying Down the Rails” is a habit training resource that gives you more information on habits. It has a section on how to deal with tantrums and shares Charlotte Mason’s thoughts on this as well.
simplycharlottemason.com/store/laying-down-rails-charlotte-mason-habits/
2. Decision Making
a. This blogpost has some practical tips on how to help your child with the decision making process as you work with them to strengthen their will. simplycharlottemason.com/blog/5-ways-strengthen-childs-willpower/
b. “The Way of the Will” is a free e-book that discusses tantrums as well as gives you some practical tips on how to strengthen your child’s will which will prepare them for good decision making.
simplycharlottemason.com/blog/the-way-of-the-will-free-e-book/