Cultivation (#52)

There are certain aspects of education, like initiative, diligence, enthusiasm, humility, self-motivation and a love of learning, that need to be cultivated rather than taught. Keep in mind that cultivating often means simply preserving by not disrupting or losing patience with good things.

Here are some ways to be a good cultivator - to be used in the right season; and within reason, of course:

Foster initiative, even though it can be messy or disruptive.

Model good attitudes and virtues.

Allow small children to help you when they ask – even if they aren’t *very* helpful.

Provide children with opportunities for success - especially if they are struggling with something.

Beware of unreasonable expectations.

Avoid condescending materials and attitudes.

Remember that patience is a key virtue in this regard and, finally, don't forget to ask for God’s grace!

Education and the Faith (#34)

This powerful quote from Orestes Brownson is particularly poignant in recognizing the value of the whole of education in relation to our Faith. It also challenges us to not simply isolate ourselves from the world in fear, but allow for a reasonable amount of exposure in order to challenge and strengthen our children for the difficulties they will face some day.

"No amount of pious training or pious culture will protect the faithful, or preserve them from contamination of the age, if they are left inferior to non-Catholics in secular learning and intellectual development. The faithful must be guarded and protected by being trained and disciplined to grapple with the false systems of the age... They must be better armed than their opponents - surpass them in the strength and vigor of their minds, and in the extent and variety of their knowledge. They must, on all occasions, and against all adversaries, be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in them."

Love of Learning (#33)

One thing I've discovered in homeschooling my own children is that there are many things that children love to learn about when they are introduced to it in a gentle way, without pressure or expectations and at a surprisingly young age.

A great example of this is poetry. Poetry with beautiful, expressive language has a great power to delight children years before they will understand it - particularly when it's read aloud.

Andrew Pudewa has explained that appreciation for and even memorization of poetry helps children develop a sense of language that is an excellent preparation for writing later on.

Here are a few authors to get your started: Robert Louis Stevenson, G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Longer poems - like Longfellow's Evangeline - are fun to read aloud as a family. Shorter ones - like those in A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson - are great choices for children to memorize for a special recitation.

Gratitude (#27)

Fr. Ronald Knox said: "If ever you have felt, in the contemplation of a sunset or any perfect work of nature or art ... in the thrill of good news or in the passion of first love, that it was really worthwhile being alive - then that moment was a revelation to you, if you had the heart to understand, of what you owe to the Almighty for having created you."



Gratitude is an important part of what we want to cultivate in our families and pass on to our children. We do this by remembering to thank each other, by sharing with those in need, by valuing people over things, by counting our blessings and by worshipping and being thankful to God - particularly at Holy Mass and in saying grace before we eat.



Fostering an environment of gratitude and appreciation within the family also tends to lead to peacefulness and contentment.