Free Time

The Headmistress has a wonderful post on giving children free time. She brings a motherly wisdom that I truly value. She has a knowledge of a Charlotte Mason education that is helpful to a new homeschooler. Her grown daughters are a hoot. She has a young son (the only boy, with a ton of sisters) who I think Butch and Sundance would love to play with.

I really needed this as I just returned from my husband's family where we are considered strange. Our children attend church regularly, we pray together, worship together, love unconditionally. Our children love each other and love to play with each other. They get dirty, love to be in the cold, run, jump, climb, explore, and have a genuine love of life. This weekend we are pulling in ranks and enjoying our home, our life and our love of each other. (And Grandad (my father) is here which makes me happy!!)

Comments

[DeputyHeadmistress]

{{{{hugs}}}}}

Many years ago when the HG and Equuschick were small, we went to visit my husband's family and it so happened that our arrival coincided with the irrigation of their orange groves. I hadn't thought to bring play clothes. It was a short visit and my hubby's family are a bit, um, concerned about personal appearance, so I'd brought their nicer clothes.

But really, all that glorious mud, the running water in shallow ditches, the lovely orange trees, it was a grand place to play, and to keep my children tidy, neat, and stiffly on the sidelines while that great play-yard was right there- it could not be born, so we went to a thrift shop and bought our children playclothes so they could get dirty on purpose.

You think your in-laws think you're strange? My in-laws just about freaked out. They never did understand it. Letting kids get dirty on purpose?!?!? And in USED clothes? An aunt took hubby aside and quietly offered to take him to the mall to buy clothes for the girls, making it clear she thought used clothing was a shameful, disgraceful thing, and letting kids get dirty on purpose was so horrifying she couldn't even whisper about that. Another relative told the rest of the clan how worried she was that my children were not going to turn out well because they weren't kept clean. Sadly, the same relative said of her one year old great grandchild, a child abused by its father, her grandson, that she knew that baby would turn out okay in spite of the abuse because the baby 'knew how to keep herself clean.' A symptom of abuse was good to her, because it was 'clean' and my children romping freely in the mud without censure actually worried her enough that she lost sleep fretting over us at night.

Ooooh, the stories I could tell. The astonishment I face because I do not sign the kids up for soccer, basketball, and little league. The concerned looks and gossip from the in-laws because I don't care if babies play in their food and stomp through mud puddles....
It is so sad.

Enjoy your babies (I know you do) and have a great weekend pulling in the ranks!!