Good Enough Charlotte Mason
Mentoring
I was blessed to grow up in the church. And I was blessed to grow up with believing parents. What happened on Sunday was a continuation of what happened every day of the week. I have never woken up on a Sunday morning wondering what to do. I do not have to think about it, the habit is so ingrained. My parents gave me that gift and I am giving that gift to my children.
I am not sure if it was the atmosphere of our church or my family, or a combination, but I grew up being very connected to the church, those older and younger than myself. I taught Sunday School, babysat for AWANA, attended conferences on prayer and the Bible, led discipleship groups of girls younger than me, so I had the opportunity to know many people. I was never without a mentor. And I was never without a mentee.
From my time in college, to being a young professional in Atlanta, to our time among soldiers in Germany, to being a young mama back in Atlanta, I have been blessed with wonderful mentors. These women and men taught me about Jesus, theology, caring for people different from myself, about being a wife, a mama, etc. Likewise, there have always been younger women that I have had the privilege to care for and walk alongside as they navigate life.
Being mentored and mentoring is a value, a habit. It’s ingrained in me, it’s who I am.
At some point during my second year of homeschooling, I stumbled upon the blog for the Charlotte Mason Institute and through that website, I found Nancy Kelly. The summer of 2015 I attended the CMI conference for the first time and sat in Nancy’s elementary school day immersion class soaking up every word that came out of her mouth. The following year, when we had more discretionary income, I began monthly mentoring with Nancy.
One of my primary concerns at the time was that I did not have a mentor who was local and I wasn’t sure how long I would be able to continue homeschooling without that. I remember she told me that I did not need one in Atlanta, because she could be that for me. And that is what happened. For the last 9 years, Nancy has been one of the vehicles Jesus has used and continues to use to get me through my own homeschool journey.
Throughout my life I have served as a mentor to many, and now I want to help other mamas like myself. If we lived close by we would meet for coffee, or you would come sit on my screened-in porch and we would chat while snacking on a snickerdoodle. But though we might never sit on my porch together, through the amazing tool of the internet we can still have a meaningful relationship that allows me to speak into your life and your school. I would love to hear about your hardships and celebrate the provision of God in your life. I long to pray over you and your family as you seek to pass your faith onto your children and educate them using Charlotte Mason’s principals. It would be my great joy to walk alongside and help to resource you.
If you are a mama with elementary aged children, I invite you to sit a while in my blog, read what I have to say, and contact me if you long to be mentored on your homeschool journey.
Good Enough Charlotte Mason
Mentoring or Consulting
Mentoring or Consulting
Mentoring or Consulting
If you do a google search for "Charlotte Mason consultants," your page will be full of options. However if you google "Charlotte Mason mentors," you will not find many.
No shade to consultants, we can often benefit from someone stepping into our situation for a moment and stepping back out quickly.
I have found that change happens in relationship. Change happens when someone who knows my heart can speak grace over me and call me to walk in obedience.
Throughout my homeschool journey I have been overwhelmed by blogs and FB groups, and all the ideas floating out there. There is a lot of noise to sift through. I found I did not need more ideas, but less. I needed ideas that were best suited for me and my children. I did not need a consultant, I needed a mentor.
A mentor is an ongoing relationship. Over time I will be better able to speak into concerns, rejoice over victories, understand the dynamics that make your family, children, and you unique, and encourage you to grow and move.
Who
Mentoring or Consulting
Mentoring or Consulting
I have four children, one of whom has graduated from our homeschool and is attending college entirely too far away. I have two students in high school, and one student in middle school that I am currently homeschooling using Charlotte Mason principles.
Because of my experience and season of life, I am best suited to help mamas who have elementary aged children. I am in the thick of teenagers in my own household, and have my own mentor to help me through these years. As my own students get older, I hope to expand the scope to mentoring mamas with middle school children and eventually high school.
I have children who are neurodivergent, who struggle with depression and one who has an anxiety disorder. We have worked hard to school them each in a way that recognizes their personhood, looking for growth and accommodating when necessary.
I am very familiar with Charlotte Mason's body of work, having read the volumes multiple times through. One of my online study groups also dove into some of the PNEU articles which was fun. I am experienced and familiar with the Alveary, the elementary school years of Ambleside Online, and many choices in Simply Charlotte Mason.
If you have read all this and think I may have something to offer you in a mentor relationship, please contact me for further information.