Brave Writer Weekly Digest Vol. 4

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Hey Mama Friends! Thank's for joining me this week for my Brave Writer Weekly Digest Vol.4!

Each week I'll read a chapter of The Writer's Jungle and share how we're feathering in the Brave Writer Lifestyle, in addition to using various suggestions of The Brave Writer Plan, Winter Edition, and The Brave Writer's Yahoo Group. Here's Vol 1, 2, and 3.

Before I begin, how's your week been? Have you been able to implement elements of the Brave Writer Lifestyle into your homeschool rhythm?

On to our week:

Monday we practiced French Dictation, and visited the Library. We plan on studying astronomy through February so we chose several books about the moon, stars and planets. I have a few listed in the sidebar, if you're curious.

Tuesday's Free Write was to write about our first memory. Charlotte wrote about when she was around three and we lived out in the country. She remembered our pool and how the cows from the neighbors pasture would graze along the fence line. Somewhat bittersweet, because now we live in the city and we'd all much prefer to be back out in the country. (It's a good thing our memory verse for this week is Hebrews 13:5.)

Julie suggested a self-care spa of stretching and breathing. A little confession; I have (diagnosed) anxiety. I know exactly where it stems from and it's something I'm working through with herbs, exercise and trusted friends who are willing to hold my hand where ever this journey may lead me. I used to believe that self care was selfish. I'll tell you right now, that's a lie.

Mama, you must care for yourself. How can you care for your babes when you're ill, or burnt out? I've been using breathing, deep breathing as a way to calm my nerves with wonderful results. In my neck of the woods we're knee deep in snow, but I'm still going out for daily walks even if it's just around my block a time or two to clear my mind. I'm also loving the daily readings from Simple Abundance each morning during my quiet time. Find what works for you and take good care of you!

Wednesday we continued with our Read Aloud of Bud, Not Buddy and our Arrow assignments.

Thursday I forgot about skipped our Poetry Tea Time. Our local homeschool group was hosting a geography fair on Friday, and I was in charge of creating little passports for all the children to "travel" the world with. And because I'm such a procrastinating responsible parent, we focused on preparing our presentations for most of the day.

Nonetheless, Charlotte did write her first Cinquain poem about Pizza. {giggle} She did a superb job!

Friday I put Anabelle in the Driver's Seat, and she taught me a hand clapping game! Oh my! This took me all the way back to fourth grade, remembering tether-ball, friendship rings, jacks and Chinese jump rope! We had so much fun! I tried to upload a video but it wouldn't work here, so check out my Instagram feed instead.

From Chapter 3 of The Writer's Jungle, Julie shares with us exercises in keen observation. Think right brain, left brain. I'm not sure if it's possible but I'm pretty sure I'm a middle brain. I love to keep things in order, make lists, check off boxes and tend to keep a clean house free from clutter. I'm also very creative. When I'm able, I paint with water colors and oils. I delight in the process of designing, be it creating a new skirt pattern or the layout of my vegetable garden. Charlotte is the same way. Orderly, precise, and neat. I can imagine her as a party planner when she's an adult. Anabelle on the other hand is all right brain. She's crazy creative, and loves to use color in everything. The brighter the better. When I imagine her mind, it would look like a collage. Various colors and textures of all kinds of dimensions.

I took out our nature tray and they each chose one object. Working through each of our five senses, we described their choices. Charlotte picked out a shell, and Anabelle a twig from a pine tree we collected on a walk. We thoroughly enjoyed this process of keenly observing an concrete object. I nudged the girls to avoid words like, smooth or rough and try to describe the object inother ways. Anabelle used prickly for her pine twig, and Charlotte described her shell as ripply. It was amazing to see the girls draw out more creative words when describing what was before them. I have a sneaking suspicion this exercise is setting us up for whats to come in chapter 4.

Reflections of the week:

This past week has been a better week for us. Brave Writer doesn't feel like school. I have to say, it's becoming easier as each week progresses. I shared in my last post that I went through A Modern Miss Mason's, Transformation Through Narration course and  oh my! What a refresher. For a while now I've been feeling burnt out and this course added a little spark to my homeschooling flame. I'm patiently waiting for the next course, Back 2 Basics to begin next week!

For as much as we teach our children, we should be learning as well. One of the greatest aspect to home education is that I learn new things too. For instance, when we were researching facts about England for the Geography Fair, I had no idea that French was the nations language for 300 years from 1066-1362! Fabulous right? That's not the only learning I'm talking about though. I've gotten so deep in a rut, that I've forgotten the whys and what's of homeschooling my children, so I've purposed to seek out like-minded women who are wise and encouraging in the method's I desire use when educating my children.

A few lovely encouragers are:
Julie from Brave Writer
Leah From Modern Miss Mason
The lovely women at A Delectable Education
Alicia at Learning Well Community
The Mama's from Wild + Free
Elsie at Farmhouse Schoolhouse

Your turn! Tell me about your favorites. Who helps you and lifts you up when you're low? In what ways are you caring for yourself so you can care for others?

Praying your week is abundantly blessed!
oxox