Mother Culture ®: For a Happy Homeschool / Karen Andreola

Mother Culture ® is a refreshing wellspring. It offers tried-n-true ideas to help you:

• chase away the burn-out blues,
• develop the artist within you,
• keep growing in the Lord,
• while creating the happy home your heart desires.
• This friendly book is brimming with encouragement.
• Every chapter is beautifully illustrated.

What is Mother Culture ®? Karen Andreola believes it is the skillful art of how a mother looks after the ways of her household. With a thinking-love she creates a culture in the home all her own. The home-teacher does a lot of taking care, so she needs to take care of herself, too. Much depends on how she manages her life.

Children are watching their mother. They notice how much or how little she enjoys all the true, just, pure, lovely, praise-worthy, and excellent things to think about. When these things are mutually appreciated the homeschool is Twice Blessed. The mother who learns alongside her child will be blessed with what she may have missed in her childhood. As she is feeding and cultivating the souls of her children, she is also nourishing her own soul with ideas from the Word of God and good books. So nourished and refreshed with ideas, she keeps growing closer to God and into the Christian woman God is designing her to be. What is good for children (play, imagination, creativity) is good for mothers, too. Those simple and pleasant recreations within easy-reach are the most doable for her and rewarding. The suggestions in this book are varied.

A home-teacher has a heart of devotion but sometimes feels overwhelmed. Much of what she sets out to accomplish is new to her and specialized. Confidence is a slow-growing plant. But Karen Andreola reminds mothers that confidence grows with patient practice. Her positive attitude toward family-style education is catching. What is one secret to not getting overwhelmed? The secret is to like doing what God is calling us to do. When a mother applies good principles (however imperfectly) to home life, the hours of her day run smoothly and happily. Then, she isn't too exhausted to enjoy her husband's company. For instance, establishing good habits is the kind but firm way of bringing up children. For a mother to acknowledge her position of authority is another very helpful principle to stand upon. What Karen Andreola calls the Majesty of Motherhood is her inspiring and motivating way to carry this principle forward.

Those who have read A Charlotte Mason Companionwill find Mother Culture ® a valuable resource, too.  It is written for young mothers, yes, but it is truly for mothers of any age, mothers who are willing to be the older-woman-in-the-Lord they wish they had known when they were young.

For your child and yourself, isn't it time to make time for Mother Culture ®?