There are times that I feel like somewhat of a sideshow act. Not only do we home educate, but we use the BPA. Oh,  and we plan our own lessons. And we aren’t involved in a co-op or other home educating trappings (which isn’t a bad thing). I don’t wear denim jumpers  and we watch TV. So Even in the home educating community we are stand-outs. Which also isn’t a bad thing. But it can get a little lonely from time to time. You need like-minded individuals (not big anonymous groups) to rub elbows with. And online it’s easier than ever to find such individuals.

I am thoroughly impressed with the friendship of Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren. They had much in common and forged a lifelong friendship through the turbulent times of the Revolution. Through their beautifully written correspondence they were able to encourage and spur one another on in their efforts to educate their children in less than ideal circumstances.

Here is an excerpt of a letter from Mrs. Warren.

Mrs. Warren to Mrs. Adams:

 ”You judge very right in thinking there is much pleasure in instructing the little flock committed to my care. Yet it is not without a mixture of pain when I consider the arduous work,–the importance of the charge, and frequently am I ready to think I am unequal to the trust.

“…I am sensible my own method will admit of much improvement, and though it has been my pleasing task for several years to cultivate the infant mind and plant the seeds of virtue in the bosom of my children, I am yet looking abroad for every foreign aid to enable me to the discharge of a duty of the highest consequence to society;–though this is for a number of years, left almost wholly to our uninstructed sex.

“It is an arduous work to rear the tender plants and impress impress the youthful mind with such sentiments that when they go out of our hands they have only to cultivate them to become useful in their departments,–an ornament to society, and happy themselves forever, when they shall be introduced into more enlarged and glorious scenes.

“I shall be happy indeed if I can acquit myself of the sacred trust by Providence delivered on every mother to the approbation of the juducious observers of life;–but far happier if my conscience, and my judge, announce that no effort has been neglected.

“…I cannot but think the love of truth is of much the greatest importance; moreso than any single principle in the early culture of the mind. A careful attention to fix a sacred regard to veracity, in the bosom of youth, is the surest guard to virtue, and the most powerful barrier against the sallies of vice, through every period of life.When this principle has taken deep root, it usually produces not only generosity of mind, but very many other qualities.”

How inspiring! I hope the internet can afford us the same sorts of lasting friendships. The miles are less imposing but the coldness of the internet can be hard too. I have made some wonderful friends here in cyberspace and I hope they are as lasting and as mutually inspiring as the friendship of Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Warren. Now go off an write a nice letter and put it in the mail to a friend. (But you may have to send her an email to get her address!)