Here's to mother culture in 2015

I've been thinking a lot about mother culture lately, mostly because it's been a talked about topic over on the AO forums.  This Parent's Review article gives a pretty good explanation of mother culture, and it got me thinking about my goals not only for this new year, but also in the case of mother culture.

(I'm also working on another mother culture post about why it's so important - my humble opinions, of course.  Stay tuned!)

So, without further ado, here are my mother-culture-goals (in no particular order):

1.  Read more consistently.
I've always loved to read, but I honestly can't remember when I stopped being an avid reader.  I know for sure I haven't been reading on a regular basis since I had kids.  However, since I started researching Charlotte Mason's methods of educating, I've been picking up a book more often than I used to.

My goal is to have around three or four books going at all times - a nonfiction, a fiction, a spiritual-based book, and something else (maybe another fiction or education-based).  I've sort of begun reading books this way, and I really like it.  It prevents me from flying through a book, without digesting or reflecting on what I'm reading.  I've also found that this method keeps me from being chained to a book that maybe, in a specific moment, I'm just not in the mood for.  I'm more likely to pick up a book if I have a few options.

2.  Join a book discussion.
This is sort of a spin-off of #1 in that joining a book discussion will hopefully keep me accountable to read consistently.  Another reason is that I think being involved in a discussion will help me to become a better reader.  I grew up reading a lot of twaddle (I loved The Babysitter's Club!), and was never used to reading deep, quality books.  I think reading other's thoughts and seeing how they discern ideas and information from books will be really helpful, and interesting.

The first book discussion I'll be involved in will be on the AO forums.  We're starting The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey.  I haven't received the book in the mail yet, but I'm really excited to start it!

3.  Begin a weekly nature journal.
I have two reasons for this.  First, I'm planning to begin year one of the AO curriculum around September with my firstborn, which means we will be officially starting nature study with her own nature journal and everything.  I would like to begin one now so that I can introduce her to nature study, as well as find a rhythm and develop a habit and a love for all things outdoors.

Second, I just want to.  I have a genuine desire to discover more about God's creation and hopefully discover more about Him.

4.  Continue a commonplace notebook.
I put "continue" because I just began one!  I have three entries so far, ha.  For those of you who aren't familiar with a commonplace notebook, it's like a journal in which you record ideas, quotes, mottos, etc., that stand out to you from what you read.

There are so many people much, much wiser than I am, and when I find a nugget of their wisdom, I want to be able to remember it, or at least have a place I can go to to find it again when needed.  Awhile ago I began taking notes when I sit down to read my Bible, and have found that it helps me tremendously to retain more of what I read.  Plus, there's just something about the act of writing things down that encourages more reflective thinking about what you're reading.  My hope is to share with you some of my commonplace entries in the future.  Here's a good explanation of the value of a commonplace notebook.

5.  Read Charlotte Mason's volumes.
I highly doubt I will be able to read all of CM's volumes - there are six - in one year.  I've actually already started volume one, but am definitely not reading it regularly (I don't think I've read it in probably two months).  I do want to read her works - what I've read so far has been very intriguing, and since I have chosen her method of educating my children, I figure it should be a given that I read them.

I don't know if I'll continue volume 1 or move over to volume 2.  I think volume 2 has more information about raising children which would be more applicable to me at this stage of my life.  Or I could read through the topical series.  Or I could read through the summaries first.  Hmmm, I haven't decided yet.

6.  Memorize scripture.
This really should be first, if this list were in order of importance, but it's not.  Anyways, I've talked before on this blog about how I consider myself a fairly new Christian - only within the past two years or so have I taken my faith seriously and begun stepping toward growth.  I read my Bible almost everyday (ugh, maybe my goal should just be to read my Bible everyday), but I would like to take it a step further - not because I think I have to, but because I want to.

Memorizing scipture holds it deep within our hearts.  It gives us something to meditate upon and to grab on to in times of stress or temptations.  Yes, we have Jesus to grab on to and He is always with us, but God talks to us through the scriptures.  I believe reading the Bible is first and foremost in discovering God and developing a relationship with Him, and I think memorizing scripture will help to deepen that relationship.  In the near future, I'll post my first official selections.

Well, that should do it!  Do you have any specific mother culture goals?  Please share!