
5 Quick Things #331 π
unstructured play, self-confidence, universal homemaking, & resurrected Sharpies
Hey there,
Today is our official last day of homeschooling in our home, and we are so very eagerβ¦ The boys are giving history presentations this weekend, theyβve written essays and narration paragraphs galore, and theyβve finished reading the books and filling the commonplace journals. Cue the confetti: we. are. DONE! And phewβ¦ What a roller coaster of a school year this was for us. A good one, but a challenging one. Lots of growth for every member of our clan.
Bring on the swimming holes, garden tomatoes, and thick poolside novels!

5 Quick Things βοΈ
1. Iβve been a big believer in free-range parenting from day one, and now that my oldest is almost out of her teen years, I can look back and say Iβm glad we made the choices we made. Whenever I was nervous about a potentially risky decision weβd make about what weβd allow our kids to do, I reminded myself of the Scandinavian proverb, βThe safest place for a child is five feet high in a tree.β
wrote a fantastic piece unpacking her thoughts on the benefits of free-range parenting: βItβs countercultural these days to let your kids play freely outside. It just is. So at first, people might think youβre weird. It definitely takes a boldness, but you gotta get out there. Be friendly. Hold the vision. β¦Kids may also take time to adjust to unstructured play. Many kids are used to a lot of stimulation and schedules (being told what to do when), so this type of vibe can be a change! Be patient and let them be bored.β2. Homes are places we make β that is, we can decide a particular place is where we store our stuff, however temporary, or we can decide that a particular place will be declared Our Home and make it thus. I loved Mary Grace Manganoβs piece on our universal ache for home, why weβre all called to the work of homemaking, and why it is just that β hard work: βIn a sense, we all need to think of ourselves as homemakers, even if our primary work is outside the home. We should all be people who are βlooking after our home.β In our communitiesβour workplaces, schools, churches, neighborhoodsβwe make homes by looking after them. When we take time to know the people in these places and look after them, we will find ourselves at home. This kind of love and attention requires real work.β
3. Self-confidence is underrated, and I like
βs straightforward advice on how to develop more of it: βTo tap into it, you need to: 1. Think about 1-2 things you are already good at (if you canβt, try to remember what other people say to you about the things you are good at). 2. Do these things more. 3. Feel the energy of soaring on the wings of enthusiasm.β4. The Theology of the Body might be one of Pope St. JPIIβs most gracious gift to the modern world β and yet itβs so full and so thorough that itβs often β¦intimidating. Iβm excited, therefore, about Fr. Mike Schmitzβs new, short video series unpacking the TOB. Heβs got a gift for explaining things in plain language, so Iβm eager to hear what he has to say about our βmodern anthropology.β
5. And finally, I typically side-eye most online listicles, but most of these life hacks were legitimately new to me. (Iβm going to try #18 and #31 this weekendβ¦)
Currently Reading, Watching, Listening π»
Last yearβs Summer Chill playlist (I still gotta make this yearβs summer mixtape)
Quotable π¬
βThere are times to stay put, and what you want will come to you, and there are times to go out into the world and find such a thing for yourself.β
-Lemony Snicket
Whatβs the ideal Motherβs Day gift? π
I know not everyone here is a mother, but all were invited to answer this question because really, itβs more about which option sounds like the most pleasant surprise. As always, it depends on the day as to my answer, but right now, Iβm going with a clean house I didnβt clean (*stares at floor underneath my feet that desperately needs mopping*).
A clean house you didnβt clean: 35.7%
Good food you didnβt cook: 32.1%
For everyone to get along: 11.5%
A nap: 7.2%
Something from your wish list: 6.9%
Something homemade: 6.5%
Find this weekβs poll here.
Quick Links π
Question(s) For You to Ponderβ¦ π€
What decision are you making more complicated than it is? What virtue do you need to roll up your sleeves and make the choice?
Have a good weekend,
- Tsh
p.s. I legit love this dream (and the replies that follow).
Love Fr. Mike. I slow the audio speed down to listen to him bc he talks SOOO fast tho.
Ha! The βIβll allow itβ meme β bastion of transitional season parenting everywhere.