Mother Culture: Life

Patterns for Life: An Orthodox Reflection on Charlotte Mason Education by Lisa Rose and Laura Wolfe

This book is the real deal, moms. Written by two women who have clearly done their Charlotte Mason homework - the work necessary to read her volumes and internalize her principles - and who have seen the convergence of those principles with the truths we embrace as Christians trying to follow the ancient paths.  Here's a quote to give you an idea of what this book is replete with:

"How often do we hear in our liturgy the words, 'Let us attend!' Charlotte Mason highlights for us a truth that our church reiterates again and again: we have the power and responsibility to direct our attention towards the ends that we decide are worthy of it."

One key takeaway explains the title of the book, Patterns for Life. There is an emphasis on seeing behaviors not as distinct actions but as part of larger patterns that we need to evaluate - where is this pattern taking me? Is that where I want to go? Does this pattern glorify God? We highly and wholeheartedly recommend this book!

God's Path to Sanity by Dee Pennock, is a profoundly relevant book that is both spiritually deep and yet easy to read at the same time. The author draws on the wisdom of various fathers of the church to explain sin and the passions and the way they work in our lives as well as offering practical and easy to implement advice about how to combat them. It is the kind of book that can be read again and again, always offering something new to the reader -- a truly living book in every sense of the phrase. It is a perfect read for mothers, regardless of our current parenting stage, because the wisdom it offers is not dependent on seasons of life, or age; nor is it necessary to have hours of time at one's disposal in order to grasp the content. It can be broken down into short segments and read a paragraph at a time, or it can be read in longer segments. Each chapter is followed by a series of discussion questions that can be answered (or not) as the reader has the time and/or inclination. Readers who are familiar with the author's book for middle grade students, Who is God? Who Am I? Who Are You? will find this a perfect companion volume for going deeper and enriching their own spiritual life as they work to build the foundations for the spiritual lives of their children.

Whole Counsel of God Podcast - While we don't know of a published resource specifically for moms who will be discussing scriptures with their children, we recommend this podcast as well as Search the Scriptures, both on Ancient Faith, for helping understand the mind of the church as it has come to us through the Fathers and the Tradition as it regards the scriptures. 

Songs of  Praise: A Psalter Devotional for Orthodox Women by Sylvia Leontaritis - This book includes the full text of the Ancient Faith Psalter (with wide margins for note-taking). Each kathisma is followed by a reflection from popular Orthodox Mom blogger (and homeschool mom) Sylvia Leontaritis plus several blank pages for journaling. Praying the Psalms either on your own or with a Psalter group will write God's words on your hearts, always giving you a refuge for any struggle or emotion you are experiencing. Additionally, knowing the Psalms opens up the liturgical life as so much is based on the Psalter!