Being Present

"Children are born totally present, and healthy relationships are based on full engagement in the present" hence we have so much to learn from our children by learning how to access the same state of presence. This chapter discusses tools to help us with this such as:

• looking closely how the conscious mind can limit the perceptual world

For me this means recognising how I can make everyday activities fun for myself and when I am enjoying life it helps everyone around me to enjoy life

• recognising the culture in which we grow up defines our identity

I understand this to mean we see ourselves as having to be a certain type of 'mother/father', 'wife/husband/partner' 'person at work'. To give a basic example: sometimes this makes me say to myself  "I have to cook dinner every night". This is the pressure I alone am putting on myself no one else is saying the dinner has to be cooked......being conscious of where we put pressure on ourselves to have certain things done and therefore not living in the moment and being. The judging of ourselves needs to STOP :) We have a choice!

Brent Cameron discusses Hardings findings and how he has a webcourse to learn his techniques and how we can use them with our children. I am yet to find this on his website but have been in contact with him  so will ask about it at a later date.

He goes on to discuss how SelfDesign is a whole mind/whole body learning process....true freedom to be curious enthusiastic and learning within a community, the optimal way of being human.

Let me know what you think of these ideas which is Chapter 0 "Nurturing Genius through Natural Learning"

SelfDesign "The Book"

"Nuturing Genius through Self Design" by Brent Cameron with Barbara Meyer, is a book we will be looking at and working through together - the adults in our Buds of Life group :). Anyone else is more than welcome to join us on this part of our journey! "As the self evolves, the design of our lives reflects this proportional growth, and our plans and passions shift accordingly. This is the heart of the self design process" Barbara Meyer. As this metodology involves a process of changing our beliefs about how education can be, my intention is for us to be able to work together to recognise how this will fit into our lives and look when we are interacting with ourselves , our children, and each other.

The Intro discusses conservation and innovation and finding the balance between using what has already been and using something new. Self Design is about living in alignment with our own natures which therefore creates the greatest balance. Not only our children will feel happy and fulfilled we as adults feel happy and fulfilled and everyone benefits.

I loved the analogy of gluing wings on a caterpillar that is used describing the current model of schooling where as to allow our childrens gifts to uniqely unfold "our caterpillars to metomorphose into butterflies" their natural learning ability can be nutured and they will fly with passion and understanding of how joyful life can be.

Buds of Life!

We are a group of Mums and Dads interested in home educating through a natural learning approach, our precious children and we invite you to come to our weekly get together. Participate in the fun and learning we share together as adults and children.
Our gatherings involve talking about healthy eating, sharing recipes and sustainable living ideas, making our lives full of learning and being role models of this: so the children see how wonderful and engaging life is!
The group meets regularly at various locations, such as the library, pool, beach and each others houses which stretch from Slade Point to Ball Bay.
We love to watch our little ones learn and grow together as they play, laugh, create, experience and share amongst each other. Our interest in home educating our children creates likeminded discussions and confidence in our direction.