Wednesday, January 29, 2014

My new commitment to the classics. and ( Do I have a Jo? )


A month or two ago my oldest daughter and I stayed up late together, snuggled in my bed and watched Little Women.  My daughter watched it for the first time and I watched it with different eyes, paying closer attention to Marmee and how she handled her girls. We finished the movie completely delighted with our hour and half experience with the Marsh's.  It has been one of my favourites throughout the years and it was such a treat to get to watch it with my daughter!

Since that night I decided I was going to make the book Little Women a part of their required reading at some point in their schooling. Then I realised I had never read it and I feel that if I want my kids to read the classics I better have read them or be reading them myself.  So this year I have committed to immersing myself with more classic books of literature. 

Since that movie night I have read Little Women and I was profoundly struck by the value of family and the wisdom for life within the pages of the book. I feel like I missed out not reading it sooner.

 I look forward to when my girls read this book in the future for it is filled with wisdom for  youth as it is for me a women in the crux of parenting and will be a fun book to discuss with them. 

Norman Rockwell's painting of Jo.

After Autumn watched the movie she was taken by Jo's gift of writing and she herself has always enjoyed writing and coming up with stories. So one night about a week ago I found her up in her room frantically writing. The title of her story was Riches and Lace.  Even after she went to bed she wrote with her little flashlight until her 10:00 pm lights out. 

I love this picture of her, she was so deep in thought with her bins all piled high to form a desk and create a space for herself.



Now that I am done with Little Women I am looking forward to eventually reading Little Men and Jo's Boys as I was able to download them onto my kindle for free. When you live overseas a Kindle is such a gift!!! 

In my west corner learning from ages gone by,
Becky

After writing this post I came across this wonderful post on Little Women by Simple Homeschool:

“If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really are. Time erodes all such beauty, but what it cannot diminish is the wonderful workings of your mind: Your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage. These are the things I cherish so in you. I so wish I could give my girls a more just world. But I know you’ll make it a better place." -- Marmee, Little Women” 
― Louisa May AlcottLittle Women

2 comments:

  1. I don't think I've read Little Women either! My daughter was given it by a teacher a couple of years ago and it's still sitting on her bookshelf. You've inspired me to read it and encourage my daughter to do the same! Thank you!! I think I'll start looking at some of the classics with my girls too this year.

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  2. Jill, That is so fun. I would love to hear your thoughts on the book if you get to it. :) Enjoy the journey.

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