An Homage to My Grandparents
I spent a great deal of time with my grandparents as a child. My parents divorced when I was young and I am an only child. My grandfather left school in 8th grade and spent the rest of his life teaching himself what interested him (history mainly). He was one of the most learned men I have ever known.
I was allowed to potter behind him at will. From him I learned how to grow a garden, fix machines (and anything at all that's broken), hunt, fish, trap, to love everyone whatever their station, to help your neighbors, and that there is always more than enough to share. He taught me to identify plants and how to care for animals and the envirnoment. He also taught me that if you can learn to read, you can learn to do anything else. He was the most Chritst-like man I have ever known.
My Nana was orphaned at 13 when her mother died of breast cancer and her father (a heavy drinker) lost custody of some of the five children. She went to live in a foster home where she was basically a servant. She left school in 11th grade and married on her 21st birthday. She spent a lot of time with me. From her I learned to cook, keep house, sew, crochet, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and house the homeless. She gave me a deep desire to care for children - as she did all her life. It is because of her that I feel I have a calling to adopt children who would not have a loving home otherwise.
My grandparents took me camping, hiking, fishing. They took me to visit all sorts of people, let me play in the garden, build tire swings and little forts. In the winter I went snowmobiling with my grandfather - even got to drive it when I was about 12! They taught me to make my own fun, gave me a love of word games and a sense of independence and confidence to do anything I set my mind to.
Looking back, and knowing what I know today, I'd say I had a very Charlotte Mason education. I learned more from my grandparents about absolutely EVERYTHING than I ever learned sitting at a desk in school. What a waste of 12 years!
I was allowed to potter behind him at will. From him I learned how to grow a garden, fix machines (and anything at all that's broken), hunt, fish, trap, to love everyone whatever their station, to help your neighbors, and that there is always more than enough to share. He taught me to identify plants and how to care for animals and the envirnoment. He also taught me that if you can learn to read, you can learn to do anything else. He was the most Chritst-like man I have ever known.
My Nana was orphaned at 13 when her mother died of breast cancer and her father (a heavy drinker) lost custody of some of the five children. She went to live in a foster home where she was basically a servant. She left school in 11th grade and married on her 21st birthday. She spent a lot of time with me. From her I learned to cook, keep house, sew, crochet, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and house the homeless. She gave me a deep desire to care for children - as she did all her life. It is because of her that I feel I have a calling to adopt children who would not have a loving home otherwise.
My grandparents took me camping, hiking, fishing. They took me to visit all sorts of people, let me play in the garden, build tire swings and little forts. In the winter I went snowmobiling with my grandfather - even got to drive it when I was about 12! They taught me to make my own fun, gave me a love of word games and a sense of independence and confidence to do anything I set my mind to.
Looking back, and knowing what I know today, I'd say I had a very Charlotte Mason education. I learned more from my grandparents about absolutely EVERYTHING than I ever learned sitting at a desk in school. What a waste of 12 years!
posted by Nissa at 7:43 AM
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