life learning and being a morning person

we have read books on the Civil War this summer and they have been very interesting. over the next few weeks we will start in on some more "core" subjects. I am a huge fan of life learning and not starting or stopping for the "school year" (or even a "school day"). I want there to be no difference in living our life, and learning. I love this post and the book mentioned. I don't always know how to make sure math is worked in to that style, or even if it should be (in the traditional school sense).

I want my home to be permeated with Christ...past that it doesn't matter. I want the kids to read quality character building literature and know God's history of the world. this is what I have always wanted, but when you are trained to "do school", it is hard to change the mindset of it needing to be like how I did it in school. (I so wanted to be homeschooled, but my mom didn't want to.  I think she would have been great at it.)

Anyway, what I am saying is that if the mindset of "school" is ingrained in us, because it's all we have known, then it is hard to grasp a different way of doing things, a different way to learn.  My husband has a hard time grasping this different style of learning.  He sees it as us not doing anything, because we don't have scheduled math time and desks with a black board and all that. And it's hard for me too, because I tend to go to the school model first and then as I think things through I realize that isn't what I want.  This post is feeling rambley, and I am not sure I am making a point...

I guess I want us to have a very biblical model, where the disciples learned from being with Jesus.  I want my kids to learn just by being with me.  not planned grammar lesson, no recess and summer vacation.  Just us living together and learning about God and life.

Unfortunately, that feels very much like doing nothing.  So we have our grammar books and our math lessons.  we read a lot, though not all the kids like it or like certain books chosen.  The kids like tv and they like video games and they like the computer (who am I kidding, I like the computer too).  And sometimes those things can become cumbersome to our learning.  They become rewards for "getting through" our "school".  and more often then I care to admit, my example is just that, "getting through" cooking, dishes, bedtime just so I can have my computer or tv time.

I want to have a more simple, quiet, flowing day, where learning just comes with being together, but I realize more then ever that that doesn't happen by itself.  I have to purposely be about making learning opportunities in our day.  And one thing I feel convicted of lately is getting up earlier.  I am not a morning person and it is hard for me to get going, so usually the kids get their own breakfast and I sleep in.

But I know my day will be more smooth and I will have the energy to make good choices with my day as well as set a good example for my kids if I get up and spend time in the Word and get breakfast for the family.  So that is my new goal. 

Now for the hard part...implementing it.  Because here is the thing, I am sinful and human and I want to sleep and I have a toddler who still doesn't sleep through the night, and she still comes to bed to nurse and if she has fallen asleep in my bed by morning, then why would I set and alarm to get up with the prospect of it waking her too?  I better just sleep while she is sleeping.  Boy I am good at this excuse thing! 

I am still not 100% sure how to go about this, because more often then not, she is in my bed. And getting up early is kind of defeated if the whole house wakes up with me.  And all but one of my kids are morning people too...which means I have to get up REALLY early to beat them!  Which doesn't make this any easier of a trick...so I need to pray and I need to just implement a schedule and then see how it works and be willing to change it if needed.  That is the only way to go.

(I will also post soon about that pesky tv/video game/computer problem)