Let the Little Children Come: Nurturing Relationships

Patterns for Life Chapter 11 audiobook

The primary role of parents in the early years, according to Charlotte Mason, is as inspirers. We are servant leaders who teach character and train habit by example. We disciple our children by modeling what discipleship looks like. We teach them to love others by loving them; by looking them in the eye when they speak to us, by patiently accepting interruptions when they happen, by laying aside our own agenda when they have a need to be met. We teach them to love reading by reading ourselves, and by reading to them every day. We sing the songs we love, listen to the music that moves us, look at beautiful artwork and show them what we like about it. We walk through the woods and point out the berries, listen to the birds, note the differences in the clouds from season to season. We teach them to love learning by continuing our own education.

We teach them attention by the power of our own gaze.

Patterns for Life, Chapter 11