Mother Culture 2020

I was introduced to the term Mother Culture in 2019, and at first I thought it sounded lame. Mom culture? Don't sign me up. But as I have grown in my faith and in my motherhood, I have learned that being a mother isn't something I do part time. It isn't something I put on and take off. It has wholly encompassed me and revolutionized my life. It is my life. I am a mother. It's not just another notch on my to-do list or a slot that fills my itinerary. It's not like a college class I take for a semester or a part time job that I clock out of at the end of the day. I am Mother. Mothering is now my identity. 

And thus I grew to cultivate a mother culture in my home.

Mother Culture is a way-of-life, the skillful art of how a mother looks after the ways of her household. With a thinking-love she creates a culture in the home all her own. A mother does a lot of taking care, so she needs to take care of herself, too.

The best way to describe mother culture starts with one of Charlotte Mason's main foundational principles: that we learn always. This is something she wanted to ingrain into her students and thus, into her mothers. And, if I am not learning and growing, how can I expect to teach my children that education is a lifestyle?

If I think about it, my home already has a culture. But a critical analysis, an awareness of this culture  helps me see the negative aspects of our atmosphere and adjust accordingly.

Thus I have decided that every year I am homeschooling my children, I will be schooling myself. My education is just as important as Reuben's.

These are my mother culture plans.

I want to read through the Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series this year (I wanted to finish it last year but only managed to read 5 of the 14 books). Thus I'll be working my way through the rest in 2020, at least as much as I can!

I also plan on water-coloring at least once a month...we will see how THAT goes. Paint and toddlers......

January: 
Read Missional Motherhood by Gloria Furman
Knit: Engle 

February: 
Read: I Said This, You Heard That by Kathleen Edelman
Read: Lord of Chaos Robert Jordan
Knit: Engle 
Bake: Sourdough Bread

March: 
Read: The Battle Plan for Prayer by Kendrick
Read: The Beth Book Sarah Grand
Knit: Knee-high warmers (my own pattern)

April:
Read: Pilgrim's Progress
Read: A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan 
Knit: Happy Mitts

May: 
Read: The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit
Read: Risen Motherhood by Jensen Wifler
Knit: Nimbus Cloud

June:
Read: Charlotte Mason Companion
Read: The Path of Daggers by RJ
Knit: Flamingo Mitts

July: 
Read: Home Education (reread) by Charlotte Mason
Read: The Rainbow D. H Lawrence
Knit/Crochet: wash cloths and hand-towels

August: 
Read: You Are What You Worship by M Sharrett
Read: Winter's Heart by RJ
Knit: something for Becky for winter (3t)

September: 
Read: A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis
Read: Garden Spells By Allen
Knit: Something for Reuben for Winter (5t)

October: 
Read: Redeeming Money by Paul Tripp
Read: Crossroads of Twilight by RJ
Crochet: A stocking for my husband

November:
Read: Parents and Children by Charlotte Mason
Read: The Thirteenth Tale by Setterfield
Knit: Fox Scarf

December: 
Read: Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul Tripp
Read: Knife of Dreams by RJ
Knit: Twisted Cowl

I would also like to publish my book (that I wrote in 2016) at least in audio format on my YouTube Channel. But you know, I have two small kids, a house to run, and autoimmune issues, so let us not get ahead of ourselves.

Do you have any Year goals? What do you think of Mother Culture? I plan to do monthly update posts to highlight what I have learned.