I’ll start with the other things first.  I have been trying to plan a content schedule. So far, I have:

Monday – blog.

Tuesday – Crafty Video on You Tube

Wednesday – Scrap4Less blog and video on http://www.scrap4less.net

Thursday – blog

Friday – vlog on You Tube

Saturday – If I’m bored I will do a live video on Facebook

Sunday is my rest day. 

That sounds workable to me…

You can find most of these blogs and videos reposted on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/deborah.mussack

Not much happening today. Not much happened last week. My Chihuahua lost a tooth on Saturday. That is about the only, really, truly exciting thing that happened. My existence has gotten extremely boring – since I have to stay in most of the time.

The wind is really blowing outside so I can’t get out and go for a walk since all the dirt and pollen will be flying around. My allergies would go through the roof.

It’s really windy out there today

So… here, I sit, at my computer, typing this blog. Trying to think of where next to go in my homeschooling series.

Let’s talk character training. Character training? When I was a young homeschool mom – I had no idea what that meant. What’s a character quality? The more my husband and I researched into character quality training – the more intrigued we became.

Definition – Character – one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual

How Do You Want Your Child To Be Remembered? by how many degrees they earned? by how many algebra equations they could do? by how many books they read? or by how much of a hard worker they were, how determined and self-disciplined they were, or by how much they cared for other people? 

I do not remember – ever – in my growing up years – anybody teaching me specifically about a character quality – obedience, honesty, alertness, determination, compassion, etc. I attended 6 different elementary schools, two junior highs and one high school and never in my time was it taught. It was more something that we “caught” from emulating our parents and teachers. They were good role models back then.

Now when I started homeschooling – I had three children. One girl and two boys. My boys were only 18 months apart in age and can I say? They were a handful!!! A handful!!! As a young mom – I did not know that I could teach them how to obey, how to pay attention, how to work hard.

It’s so true what Charlotte Mason said, that homeschooling often becomes parent training – the parents are learning right along with the children on how to form, good, solid, character habits.

It follows that this business of laying down lines towards the unexplored country of the child’s future is a very serious and responsible one for the parent. It rests with him to consider well the tracks over which the child should travel with profit and pleasure; and, along these tracks, to lay down lines so invitingly smooth and easy that the little traveller is going upon them at full speed without stopping to consider whether or no he chooses to go that way” (Vol. 1, p. 109).

This is not going to happen in the public schools…

Once we began character training… and it was not easy at the first… and David and I began to exercise self-discipline, self-control, we were able to teach the kids about obedience. Obey immediately. We learned to stop counting to 3 before taking consequences. We helped our kids learn to make wiser, healthier choices. We taught our kids to become alert and aware of their surroundings. We taught them about hard work and determination by showing them how it was done.

We also used some Resources. This was one of my favorites.

I really like how each character quality was related to an animal. 

I still remember to this day that after we started homeschooling – we took the kids to go visit the grandparents. My mom told me, after we left, that my Dad was amazed at the improvement in their behavior. That was exactly what I needed to hear. Sometimes, we may not think that we are teaching is having an impact, but others do notice. And for my Dad to say something like that made it feel all worthwhile.

Homeschooling is tough. I’m not saying it’s easy…but at this moment in time… if you are struggling with your child’s behavior – set aside the academics and pull out a few character qualities you want to work with them on – set a few habits and goals you want to see them achieve. It’s ok… academics can wait – and quite often a few years after high school – all the math, all the grammar, all the history and science is forgotten about. The character lessons learned last a lifetime.

All for now

Positively, Debbie