Whatever Will Be Is Up to Us
CHARLOTTE MASON VOLUME 5 : Formation Of Character: CHAPTER 2, PART 3
What do all the items on this list have in common?
Kerosene
Mercury
Arsenic
Antimony
Over the years, thankfully before our existence, these items were used as medicine. They seem absurd to us now because we understand science much better. There is still so much we don’t know, but at least we aren’t taking a spoonful of kerosene to cure a cough.
Parenting is a huge responsibility, and we shouldn’t make decisions about our children’s physical and mental health without understanding why. Otherwise, we’ll end up administering the equivalent of 'mercury' in terms of diet, education, and physical or mental health, harming our children due to ignorance.
Does this mean we should all be doctors, psychologists, educators, or physical trainers? Not at all. However, we must dig deep and understand the 'why' behind all our decisions concerning our children. We shouldn’t just know what to do; we should know why.
There will always be new curricula, pedagogies, discipline tactics, and diets. Our children won’t do well if we jump on every trend. This doesn’t mean we should stick with old ways either. Old doesn’t always mean right. Continuous learning will lead us to make the best decisions for our children.
We cannot make a child clever, but we can lay the path and create the conditions for all-round development.