Why "Reaching for Plumfield"...

What does the blog name mean? Why "Reaching for Plumfield"?

Well, I'm a tremendous fan of Louisa May Alcott, and in particular of her work, Little Men.  If you've read it, you probably recognize the inspiration for the blog name.  Plumfield. Jo's home and school for all her wayward boys.

Inspiration. I try and re-read Little Men once a year, at least. As mom to all boys, a mom who has sometimes longed for a little girl or three, I find Jo's methodology to be the thing to aspire to above all things. Controlled chaos, learning opportunities at every turn of the corner, books and exploring and adventuring and learning all rolled into one big thing called school.  This, this is what I hope and dream my home and school will look like.

But I fall short. Often. And so, I'm reaching. Every day. And the name thus reminds me to keep reaching, even when I don't make it.

Even though right now, our curriculum is a lot more structured than I imagined I'd ever be. Even though sometimes the chaos gets out of control.  Even though I will never be as pleasant as Jo, even with her also fiery temper at times. Even though real life can never turn out exactly like a book, even a book as filled with misadventure as Little Men. Even though.....I still keep reaching. Stretching, trying, growing, hoping that at the end of the day, at the end of the era, my boys will if nothing else look back and remember they were happy at home and in our home school, whether it looked like Plumfield or not.

Most days I'm making it on that front, having a home full of happy boys, and in that one regard, I'm winning. When methods diverge, when the chaos reigns, when I slip up and yell, when you peek in my window and see nothing that feels like Plumfield, I still reach, and I still count it success if in that one thing, the boys end the day with fond memories, I succeeded.

Until then, we are ever Reaching for Plumfield.