A nice bit of encouragement for this weekend:
Whenever I feel very bad, I make sure to speak to home school mothers. These women represent something new. They are not feminists, a phrase they most often reject with scorn. Most live in very traditional households where the husband is the head of the family. However, they are certainly not Donna Reed door mats waiting at home in pearls and high heels for their lord and master to arrive home. They are very strong and fiercely opinionated. They are incredibly well read, devouring more books a year, than most U.C. students read in four years. Book a talk with Plato scholar to hear about big ideas and they show up.So what are they? They remind me most of the strong women of my great-grandmother’s generation in West Virginia, who could run a farm, fix the roof, write hymns for the church, and who had never heard of bulimia. They did not worry about their body image, because they were secure in the love of their strong men, none of whom would have been allowed a metrosexual makeover if they had wanted it. Those strong women could never have burned a bra, because they never bothered trying to wear pin up girl underwear. Ask those women what they thought and you heard more than you wanted to hear. I knew a few of these women, the last of the old pioneer stock, but only when they were old and tired.
From the Scriptorium. Take a moment to read the whole thing.
Related Tags: homeschooling, home school, home education, motherhood
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Hi Dana (you liberal, you…NOT! that sure gave me a chuckle though)~
This is an encouraging piece you’ve posted (though I’m afraid that I’ve fallen far short of the bar on my own yearly reading plans this year).
I must say, I think those pioneer women of yesteryears sure have me beat by a long shot when it comes to stamina and fortitude, though I do aspire (don’t know if I’ll ever be fixing any roofs though, but I could help hubby!). I’m amazed when I peer back in time , always utterly challenged and inspired by their life stories, Mary Draper Ingles being one of my favorites. Reading of her struggles, determination and legacy made a deep impression on my soul and has forever changed me.
Thanks for stopping by and saying hello, it’s so good to hear from you. I’m so excited for you and your family. DO keep my posted, and I’m remembering you in my prayers, for peace and a safe and beautiful delivery (however it turns out, scheduled or not).
We just found out yesterday that we’re expecting a girl!
((((hugs to ya))))
It’s so nice to have you stop by, Beth! Everything is going well and it could be any day, although I’m not due for two more weeks. I was concerned about possible lead poisoning for a bit, which kind of freaked me out. Luckily, all the tests came back normal so I’m back to being happy, if exhausted.
Still having lingering fears of delivering in my car on the way to the hospital with my three children in their seats.
Dana, thanks for the very encouraging excerpt - I needed JUST THAT today. And I went and read the whole thing at Scriptorium - I love that site, I’ve never seen it before. (I’ve been in a cave for 8 years - having babies, nursing babies, training babies…).
And it sounds like you are having another baby - congratulations! I have never failed to cry upon holding a newborn - mine or anyone else’s. What an amazing miracle, I’ll be praying for a wondrous experience =).
Thanks for blogging about and liking to that great post. It gave me a needed boost. It is a rare thing to hear homeschooling mothers complimented by someone other than just their own spouse.
Dana this is so wonderful! Thanks for the awesome encouragement this brings! ( :