I am, I can, I ought, I will...
When I discovered Charlotte Mason, one of the first quotes I came upon was her well-known motto, "I am, I can, I ought, I will". It struck me as one of the most empowering phrases I think I've ever heard. What I love about it is that we can each interpret her words in the way that means the most to us.
Her motto reminds me of why I want to home educate our kids, how I want to parent, and how I want my girls to grow up feeling and experiencing the world.
I am...
I am capable. I am courageous. I am meant to be here. I am valuable. I am loved. I am curious. I am loving. I am resilient.
I can...
I can learn new things. I can do hard things. I can be myself. I can try again. I can do this. I can lead. I can grow. I can be different.
I ought...
I ought to try my best. I ought to show up. I ought to persevere. I ought to do what I know is right. I ought to believe in myself.
I will...
I will be okay. I will make a difference. I will be a positive light in the world. I will get involved. I will ask big questions. I will demand better. I will work for the greater good. I will persist.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what makes a person who they are, beyond what school gives them. How do we become "successful" adults and what factors are most important in making us thrive as people? What makes an adult feel most fulfilled in their daily life? The longer I dwell on this, the more I am lead to the fact that it's typically not our academics that give us what we need most.
Happy and successful people are curious and persistent.
They wonder about things, then they try things - and don't give up trying things. Whether or not we home educate, we can approach raising children with this attitude! But as home educators, if we make this the core of our lifestyle, we ought not to forget our "why".
