“Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” Oliver Wendell Holmes
Living life to the fullest is an expression of our soul; the fulfillment of purpose and our contribution to the world. This doesn’t have to stop when we take on the role of parenting. You don’t have to click the pause button on your life just because you’re raising kids. In fact, the opposite is true. When you have children life intensifies and becomes a richer and more rewarding experience than ever before.
Contrary to the view of most in American society, children are not born to us to be handed off for someone else to raise and teach. Children need to be experienced, embraced and loved. Just as our children are perfectly matched to us for what they need in life to fulfill their purpose, so too are you as a parent matched to them so you can learn and grow in ways needed to fulfill your purpose.
Modern society of the 21st century has been shaped in large part by the way public education has weakened the core values of family. We have been taught to compartmentalize our lives to the point that in many modern-day households across America, the home is simply a place, like any other place in a person’s life, with no intrinsic value connected to it other than a place to find food, shelter, a shower and a change of clothes. With An Inspired Education, family is about togetherness and honoring the unique life each family member contributes to the family, weaving the fabric of our lives bringing together the family as a whole supporting the highest values of all.
For the first 2-1/2 years of my homeschooling career, I adopted the roll of “teacher,” ruler and bearer of all knowledge. My perception of education was continuing where my public education experience left off. What an enormous task to take on! What was I thinking? I don’t blame parents for not wanting to teach their own children because of the enormity it seems to be. After killing myself for those first 2-1/2 years I was stressed out and burned to a crisp and so were my children. There was so much striving to meet the demands of the “curriculum,” doing all those worksheets, projects and prescribed reading pages. Then on top of that you had to be involved in every activity offered by the local group of homeschoolers.
If you’re “teaching” at home essentially recreating the public school model at home, you’re leading a lifestyle that is not sustainable or conducive to true learning. While experience is the best teacher, learning only happens when we are open to it. The first shift to make when moving into The New Educator’s Mind is by letting go of the teacher-student mindset and replacing it with the self-educator’s mindset, to a mentor and mentee partnership.
Once I shifted my mindset, my whole world opened up. As I learned more about the greats of the past and how they learned, I began installing these mindsets into my mind and into my daily practices. Don’t be fooled by what you have been told or may have seen in a movie or on television. There’s nothing glamorous about many of the lives these great contributors to society lived, especially in the process of becoming great. It was the love they had for everyday living that empowered them to greatness. The moment-by-moment learning and growing, the times of flourishing as well as the times of great defeat, all surmounted by the power of love. Everything that has ever been conceived into existence was brought about by the energy of love.
I’m not asking you to do anything I haven’t done myself. It doesn’t matter what your current circumstances are, just decide for yourself and your family that you want the very best life can offer and go after it with a white-hot passion to succeed.
I’ve been able to apply The New Educator’s Mind and An Inspired Education in all sorts of circumstances. Many families have done it. All it takes is commitment, keeping it simple and consistent, focused action. I was in the trenches just as many of you may still be, and if I can do it so can you. The most exciting part is that you will be able to do it much faster than I ever did. I’ve done all the heavy lifting already so you don’t have to. I will show you what works and what doesn’t, eliminating the struggle. You will be empowered to make your unique educational, family and lifestyle dreams come true.
The ingredients of The New Educator’s Mind includes:
Vision: Seeing the broader picture that includes your child’s educational needs now and for his future.
Inspiration: Be inspired daily so you have more to give while using the power of inspiration to propel learning.
Environment: Create an environment that is conducive to learning and thriving. Education will encompass your whole life so a defined group of influencers will build your homeschool effectiveness.
Partnership: Incorporate true leadership, walking beside each other rather than controlling.
Perspective: A new way of seeing your children and realizing the genius they each possess no matter what situation or stage they’re in.
Transition: Moving and changing with the family as a whole allowing each member to grow into change.
Balance: The ever-flowing balance of relationships to make everyday living more meaningful and education most effective.
Purpose: Creating a life that is moving purposefully through all facets daily, creating change that is beneficial to not only the family, but expanding into all facets of life making a real difference in the lives of many.
Where you’re standing now does not limit you to where you want to be. You’re right where you’re supposed to be and no matter your starting point you can dive in and begin creating The New Educator’s Mind that will empower you to the education, family harmony and lifestyle you desire. If you can imagine it, you can create it.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Albert Einstein
Parents Inspired to Action:
On a sheet of paper or journal explore the following questions:
- What do you stand to gain by letting go of ways that are not working for you?
- What could you do with less stress and extra time?
- How much would you enjoy engaging in one of your passions if you had the time and resources?
- How relieved would you be if you knew your children were learning all that they need and excelling academically?
- When you achieve family harmony and know your children are thriving, what will that allow you to do?
- How committed are you to that?
Children Inspired to Action:
Ask your children to write down two things they would like to learn or improve on. This can be something that is worked on over the next six months. What can you do to help them achieve their desire? How can you support them to accomplishing this? Exercise virtually no censorship and whatever your child’s priorities, make them your own. It doesn’t have to take a lot of effort. All you need is a determined will and imagination.
Are you wondering how you can incorporate the New Educator’s Mind to get the results you’re looking for in your own homeschool and life? What do you need to do specifically to get the results you want? What can you let go of and what do you need to keep in your homeschool and everyday living? I know it’s important to you to be sure all your bases are covered. If you would like a more systematic approach that includes the details to help you produce real change fast, I recommend setting up a Get Acquainted Call with Donna. Just send an email asking for your free Get Acquainted Call with Donna and we’ll get you set up right away. Email: [email protected]
Think peace, live love.