I was never much of an outdoors-girl, preferring reading books indoors more, but am determined to be outside more while we homeschool and help my kids see the beauty of creation.

We come from a slightly different perspective in our home: I am (or was) a professional artist, and somehow seeing me paint when she was young conveyed to my daughter the misperception that she can never be an artist. This is unfortunate, because she’s actually not bad at drawing, and she has a nice aesthetic sense! So, I’m not giving up yet.

What we have learned nicely together is birding. We both love nature, and early in our homeschooling journey I was frustrated because we lived in Manhattan where she couldn’t dig in the dirt and climb trees. Somehow we noticed, however, that if you sit still in the park for ten minutes, you notice something that you didn’t notice before. Once we were doing this, looked up, and noticed a black-crowned night heron right above our heads! That was the beginning of what is now probably a life-long hobby for us.

I’ve known Susan for a long time, and she’s been a huge help in suggesting books and generally inspiring people. She really does have a gift for encouragement! Naturally, as a result, I’ve read many of the books she’s mentioned.

And whenever I see pictures of the rolling hills where Jody lives, it makes me want to walk right into them!

Thank goodness for moms of older children who still hang around homeschooling boards to encourage the next generation!

One thing I do appreciate about Clare Walker Leslie and Charles E Roth is that they encourage people to begin where they are even if it is in the inner city.

And, thanks for the encouragement to pass our own particular love of nature to our children. Flowering plants and the wildflowers of Jordan are what really flips my switch and I am relentlessly giving wildflower tours to the kids, waxing eloquent about the interesting characteristics of the plants, quizzing the kids on their names. I’ll have to try the reward idea that you mention but I’ll have to use something other than hot-chocolate as a reward as they already drink it freely and with marshmallows! Some months ago my oldest daughter, who has yet to develop a love of the outdoors and flowers asked me, “Mom, when I grow up will I love flowers like you do?” I hope so!

Many times, I reject heavy, hardcover books as not being worth their “weight,” so to speak. But this book made the cut and I happily made allowance for it in our luggage. What a great book.

~Jody (again)

I have become a self-taught naturalist simply by living out here on the prairies of Montana. For the past 25 years of my life (married to a rancher) I have grown to appreciate nature more than ever and have passed this on to my children as well. It’s really true, if you pass on your loves to your kids, they tend to appreciate those same things.

~Jody

No, I don’t blog. I’ve thought about it, but I’m afraid that my time and focus will go there too often. So I just enjoy reading blogs like yours!

I know what you mean about belaboring the drawings. My son tended to be this way, too. Is it a common boy thing, I wonder?

Okay, now for the thing I wrote that is bugging me. The MIT book I recommended has one very, very good chapter that made the purchase of the book worthwhile (for me, but then I love this kind of thing), but much of the book is written from a strong evolutionary perspective. Now, I know you are smart and quite able to sort through this kind of thing and could get right past it, Cindy, but since I posted a recommendation of the book on your blog… I just thought I should mention it.

In fact, I’d say the book could (should?) pretty much be skipped except for the fact that that one chapter is so very worthwhile. I wonder if it could be tracked down online? I looked, but I didn’t see it. The chapter is called “Experiencing Nature” by Stephen R. Kellert. Excellent!

Also Carson’s book is not titled *A* Sense of Wonder, but *The* Sense of Wonder. It’s done in sort of a picture book format with large photos and text about the length of an essay. This is not a children’s book, though, but is for adults who spend time with children. It’s perfect for homeschoolers. I love this book.

There. I feel better now.
Susan

My husband is actually a very good artist but he and a couple of our children always belabor every drawing so much that they miss the gist of nature journaling. My son Nathaniel will work hours on a drawing and it will be the ear of a deer or something and he still won’t be satisfied. The book is helping my husband bread away from that trend.

I love your simple idea. Those are the ones that work.

The only Rachel Carson book we have read is The Sea Around Us although I do have at least one more of her books on the shelf, not the one you mentioned.

I am excited to look into the other titles you recommended. Thank-you for taking time to encourage.