February Explanation

I HAD MY BABY!!! Yay!
But, sadly, this also means that I didn't read any book or lead any discussion topics. Sorry! Just thought I'd explain why. hehe. It's a good reason, right? Don't worry, next month, all will go back to normalcy... as normal as it can be with FOUR kids 5 & under!
See you next month! (tomorrow...)

January Book discussion

Two of my favorite chapters in this book were chapters 7 ("Steel to Gold": Motherhood and Feminism) and 8 (Seeing the Whole Picture). Today I want to focus my writing on chapter 8, and the idea of creating a "Master Plan" for you family.

I was actually surprised as I read chapter 8 that I hadn't thought of or heard of this before. It is an awesome idea to actually write out a mission of what you want your family (and, therefore, life) to end up becoming. All "self-help" books talk about making goals, the power of goal setting, starting with the end in mind, etc. but I guess I had just never really thought that through enough to put it into practice with my family. I liked what Diann Jeppson said about getting a vision:
"Before you begin to write any part of your master plan, it is imperative that you gain a feeling for where you want to go with your plan, that you "see" what the results of accomplishing your master plan look like... Having vision for the future of your family is vital to the success of your master plan."
As I was reading this chapter I realized that the life I am leading right now, day in and day out, is not conducive to the life that I am hoping will be mine in the future. And this is especially true concerning the way I interact with my kids. If things continue as they are, what my family will become in the next five to ten years is very different than what I want for them. I am hoping the development of a master plan for my family will help to make those coincide a little better!

Jeppson's explanation of what a master plan should include is pretty extensive! I don't know whether that specific and detailed of a version is the right thing for everyone trying to implement these ideals into their life. I know for myself, I can use all the help I can get, so I sure appreciate every little detail, but others may benefit from a simpler, mission statement type plan for their families. We all know there are definitely differences in the way different families work, and how much they do or do not need to plan out.

Jeppson outlines nine key elements to an effective master plan, with detailed suggestions for each element. Those elements are:

1. Classics: Your List
2. Cultural Literacy, Breadth and Depth
3. Academic Programs
4. Adult Skills
5. Organizational Programs
6. Experience
7. God
8. Family Relationships
9. Places to Go

For each of these elements she gives examples and ideas for writing that specific part of your master plan, then goes into detail on "Putting your Master Plan into play", again dissecting each element.

If this is something that you think would be worthwhile for your family to implement, I highly recommend a closer reading of this chapter. Remember to keep the end in mind every day as your every decision impacts the future whether good or bad!

January Book of the Month

Well, since I obviously haven't figured out exactly how to schedule this blog into my life, I decided I'll just do this now. Thank goodness NOBODY reads this blog yet, I'll tell you all about it when I get in a better habit. At the end of this month I am going to a seminar for Thomas Jefferson Education, therefore, the book I'm reading right now is one of the required readings for that. So here goes...

This month we are reading A Thomas Jefferson Education Home Companion by Oliver DeMille; Rachel DeMille; Diann Jeppson and Daniel Ruesch.

Here is the Editorial Review taken from Amazon.com...

"The core unit of society is the family, and it is in our homes that the principles must most deeply take root and flourish. Regardless of where your children sit to learn, your home can be transformed into a Leadership Education Home, a Thomas Jefferson Education environment. This volume offers something new, something which we all need: a view of Leadership Education from many angles, from the education of toddlers to advanced adult learning. Whether you're a parent, teacher, administrator, legislator, professor or grandparent, this book is a must. --Vicki Jo Anderson, co-Founder of American Heritage Academy"

If this book interests you, it is a companion to two other books; A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century by Oliver Van DeMille, and Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning by Oliver DeMille and Rachel DeMille. I have already read these two, and my interest in them caused me to buy the home companion. If this site were officially up and running I probably wouldn't have chosen this particular book, but since circumstances are as they are, this is the choice this month. If you are reading this blog, and want to join me, feel free! I would love your input. Comment on any blog posting related to this book. Also, if you want to read the other two books first, then pick one of them up this month and try it out. I recommend starting with A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century as it is the first book Oliver DeMille wrote.

Good Luck! And keep me poosted on your progress!