The Charlotte Mason Rabbit Hole

Nostalgia, Car Conversations With Teens, And A Little Encouragement

I found myself getting a little nostalgic while delving into Home Education again with The Collective community. I was reading Charlotte’s instructions for geography and how we are to get our children outside, using the space around them to map their garden or observe the position of the sun in the sky. I remember trying out map study and asking questions while looming over a large European map, like, “If I was in Spain and wanted to travel to Finland, which way would I go?” to help them learn their compass points. In my early years, I didn’t have Substack, Instagram, or podcasts for ideas and support (albeit sometimes unhelpful, wink); I had six pink books and a lot of enthusiasm to put into practice whatever Charlotte advised would help our educational journey. I found delight in the discovery, and as I described on a recent podcast that I was being interviewed on, I jumped down a rabbit hole and never came back up, ha!

On the same podcast, my kind interviewer mentioned at one point, “you can still see the absolute delight on your face when you talk about living books and narration,” and it’s true - it thrills me that a lifelong living education, albeit interjected by national exams or deep intentional study for a vocation, is something that never leaves you. That we can pick up a book, be immersed in a story or subject, and immediately be able to tell, write, or create an expression of that reading that lingers and imprints meaning upon other learning points in our life - how wonderful!

My youngest daughter is gearing up to transition her learning to the formal classroom. She's chosen to enter secondary school a year early to prepare for her GCSEs. Given that she's my last full-time home-educated child (my third-born is currently taking his GCSEs in a hybrid college/home situation), we spend a lot of time together. During a recent car conversation, the topic shifted to 'who has the ultimate responsibility for your education?' Her response was clear and self-assured: 'Me, I do - it’s up to me.'

“Self-education is the only possible education; the rest is mere veneer laid on the surface of a child's nature.” - Charlotte Mason

Charlotte reminds us that “a child is not built up from without, but from within,” and I’ve spent many faithful years creating a home, an atmosphere, and a language to live by that first puts my children’s reliance upon God. Then, putting into their hands the responsibility of self-education, not just for their childhood years but for the rest of their life.

I do this by:

• Being an example - as a Christian, I am first a disciple of Jesus and lean into listening to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit every day for every area of my life. I am a student of the books I read and the world I walk within. Children must observe this if they are to pursue a familiar pattern.

• The use of narration - what a child digs for becomes their possession.

• Trusting the work we have done together - years, weeks, and hours of serving up a feast, offering opportunities for connection, and walking closely with their learning journey is worth the work.

This morning, I concluded my annual January reading of Brother Lawrence’s “The Practice of the Presence of God” (a beautiful short read). I’ll leave you with his words and a gentle encouragement to stay faithful. You’re doing a wonderful job.

“We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.” ― Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

Leah x

P.S. Interested in joining us on our Voyage Through The Volumes (and the other delightful elements of our membership)? Sign up below for 20% off your first year with The Collective. We’d love to welcome you!

P.P.S. Today marks the first anniversary of Modern Miss Mason (the book)! Thank you for your continuous support and encouragement. Join me on Instagram today at 2:30 pm (UK time…very soon) for a live chat with my literary agent, Joy, and the launch of an exciting giveaway to celebrate. I hope to see you there!