First Half of June 2014

I know people are eager to hear about our Thailand trip this last month, but in an attempt to keep this blog chronological, I'm going to begin with the first half of the month first.

Our big news is that we no longer have preschoolers in the house! My baby graduated from Westgate preschool and will be joining his big brother in our homeschool next year (not that he's already had a pseudo-Kindergarten year already just by osmosis). We just loved Miss Kimi and Miss Debi these last two years, and we are sad to say good-bye. Z grew so much this last year in confidence and ability to handle new situations. We are so happy for him.

With Teacher Kimi

With Teacher Debi

We also earnestly began to purge our belongings and had our first yard sale this season. It was a lot of work, but I'm glad I was able to get some things organized and GONE. We'll probably do one or two more this summer.

Every summer the local beaches host low-tide walks with beach naturalists. We went on one of the lowest tides of the year with some friends, but unfortunately it was a bit rainy. That didn't stop us from finding a few treasures though (that were then returned to their rightful homes!).

Little Starfish

More June photos can be found here.

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Little Disciples

As I've been learning more about Charlotte Mason and her methods, I've been thinking especially about what she means by "Education is a Discipline." As I was reading her thoughts on discipline from her Homeschooling series, I was particularly struck by the following quotation. Discipline is not Punishment ––What is discipline? Look at the word; there is no hint of punishment in it. A disciple is a follower, and discipline is the state of the follower; the learner, imitator. Mothers and fathers do not well to forget that their children are, by the very order of Nature, their disciples... How Disciples are Lured ––He who would draw disciples does not trust to force; but to these three things–– to the attraction of his doctrine, to the persuasion of his presentation, to the enthusiasm of his disciples ; so the parent has teachings of the perfect life which he knows how to present continually with winning force until the children are quickened with such zeal for virtue

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Cultivating Childhood

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