Education isn’t only book learning, and also isn’t just stuff that is in a book that says must be taught. It’s all of life and that’s my focus this week, getting stuff DONE, and getting the children to see that it can be done as a team, each doing their part makes it all go … where it is supposed to go.
We have issues with our house, it’s too small, little place for putting things. There are finishes that need to be applied to the walls, the floors, and other places. Some we have things to do with that, some we need money to get things done. Some of it (“cleaning and organizing”) needs to happen to make these other things happen. Make it more likely to happen, at the least.
A lot of it is day in and day out stuff. It takes work and thinking of it to make it get done, and no one wishes to dwell there, which makes it hard on me since I hate living like this, being the one saying what needs done all the time, pushing, pushing, pushing, while all along I’ve tried to motivate each one to do something on their own, to be “in charge” and do it without being told every day/week or whatever it happens to be. It’s partly that on the whole none of us are very keen on cleaning. We like things clean, but find it hard to make it happen. I make a mess when I cook or do craft stuff. To limit one self to not making a mess or stopping the event and cleaning up is beyond my desire or wish to force on myself or children. Making a mess is OK, somebody else can help to clean it up. It’s the “your room doesn’t have to be spotless but I do want our living areas to be more clean than dirty, I need help from everyone to keep the kitty litter clean, keep the floors swept, the steps too, dishes done, table in order, couch clean, baby toys picked up now and then …
Certain people have particular chores, and starting this week I am fully implementing earning blocks of computer time/game time for getting chores done ISC, which is the deal that was supposed to be how they acted at home and out & about. ISC stands for Instant, Sweet, Complete.
They understand it, but are too lazy to make it happen, and bank on that being what will get me to stop bugging them, just go with the flow, as crazy as it is.
So the other thing that goes with this is a lesson I have on Manners, and also getting the Westminster Catechism going full force. These things are simple yet take time and forethought. Can be thought of as ‘complex’ but that’s just the wrong view. Simple things are picking up toys. Putting dirty clothing in baskets. Putting things in the hall closet in order not chaos. Animal chores are for us and them, not just a chore. We like the animals, so keep their areas cleaner. Makes us all happier. So do it ISC. Learning one or more Catechism Q&A a week isn’t hard. Some are easier and some are harder. Just like most things. They better us to understand them.
Which brings me to all of life, lessons are for this: to come to wisdom in full age.
First is Knowledge.
Then comes Understanding.
Lastly comes Wisdom.
Wisdom in many areas, how to know the right way, thing, common sense that is smarter than plain on common sense. Wisdom’s way, wise sense.
One reason for things being as they are here in our house is because my husband travels for business a lot, and is fairly busy with work on phone/computer at home otherwise. In a small house that needs work done on it besides the normal daily needs of keeping a house up, it’s difficult to get much of anything done like needs done. It is hard.
So the push for “schooling” is not going to happen now. It’s gonna be the earning of block of time for computer/games when chores and things are done ISC, and getting manners and Catechism going fully. Getting things clean and ready for moving, painting, installing, etc.