Parenting Philosophy
There is no shortage of parenting resources. These are specific titles that generally align with the philosophy of education we have chosen and are available for borrowing among our community. Reach out at raisingpersons.com to borrow a title if you’re in our area!
January 2024
Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters, by Erica Komisar, LCSW
While this book may “preach to the choir” as I know many of us are convicted that “being there” is how we can best parent our children, I think it was good for me to hear some of the reasons behind the decision one more time. The intersection of child development and our own bonding with our children is no mistake. While not written from a Christian perspective, I can say that God’s purpose in the parent/child relationship is seen throughout the research reflected in Komisar’s book.
December 2023
Habits of the Household, by Justin Whitmel Earley
Earley’s approach to parenting has been helpful to reframe how we
view our children and our rhythms as a family. It is especially sweet
to think about blessing our children with our words as part of our
daily relationships with them.
I began his bedtime blessing with my oldest (and began others with
the younger children). I forgot to do it once and he said a bit
hesitatingly, “Do you — you know — need to say your thing with me
before bed?” It is such an important reminder that children are a
blessing from the Lord no matter what kind of day we have had.
August 2023
Greater Expectations, by William Damon
Calling our children up often means being the “weird
ones” in our circles. This gives an enlightening and well-
researched affirmation to making sure that we raise
children who are others-focused and confident as they
approach relationships.
June 2023
No Contest, by Alfie Kohn
While reading a section of Mason’s text on children’s relationship
with learning I was reminded of Kohn’s book on competition in the
classroom and in our culture. As we consider intrinsic vs
extrinsic motivation and reasons for learning, I find his
modern approach and research enlightening and
affirming as we seek to raise our children counter-
culturally. There was also a great podcast on this on the
March 2023
Technopoly, by Niel Postman
Many of us seek to use technology wisely in our homes
and this means limiting it. However, Postman has many
salient points about how to think about it and whether it
is working for us or against us. As we are surrounded by
a general perspective that screens and technology in the
classroom are an improvement, how can we think about
the drawbacks since it is not a net-positive as some are
tempted to think? He discusses that even the invention of
the pencil as new technology changed the way people
learned, communicated, and shaped culture.
February 2023
The Shelter of Each Other, by Mary Pipher
The family is why many of us have chosen to home
educate and building strong bonds is our primary goal.
In a model based on relationship, this nuclear family and
then wider community cannot be overstated. My edition
of this book is from the 90s and once I got past the
references to Snoop Dog and the novelty of the internet
and its effect on the family, there was much food for
thought as I think of the building of family. Our family has
prioritized ritual for many of the positive reasons she has
outlined, but it required me to consider the reasons and
farther-reaching goals of our time together.