Family-Centered Living is the term given to a lifestyle that is focused on home and family, rather than on a conventional work-a-day model. For our family, it means that we operate a family business from home, educate our own children, and do all that we can to be totally self-reliant. We favor the old ways and strive everyday to live more traditionally. Our lifestyle makes it possible to live our Benedictine values more fully. We hope that by sharing our own personal experiences with you, you will be inspired and encouraged to make a lifestyle change that will enrich your life, and that of your family, beyond measure!

I learned a great deal about being self-sufficient from my grandparents, who spent a lot of time with me as a child. I learned to garden from my grandfather, learned to preserve foods from my grandmother. I went hunting and fishing, tagged along to get parts for fixing various machines in my grandfather's barn (he was a mechanic). They always let me watch and ask questions - let me help when it was safe.

I was an only child but I spent a great deal of time with cousins (two of whom lived with us and became like brotehrs to me). I also had friends whose families invited me in and made me part of their families. I've always been very independent and was encouraged in that especially by my grandfather who quit school at age 12 and was still one of the most learned men I've ever known. He taught me that I could do anything I set my mind to and that if I could read, I could learn to do anything. Consequently, much of what I know I taught myself, or had only basic instruction - sewing, crocheting, knitting, painting. Other things, as I said, were learned from my grandparents.

My parents and grandparents taught me grammar, history, literature, languages, and mathematics in a very Charlotte Mason style. Of course, I didn't know that until I was grown! All of this was just for enjoyment. I learned more at home than I ever learned at school.

When Brian and I got married, I had a clear idea of what I wanted from life. I wanted a large family, I wanted to teach my own children (I had visions of being a sort of governess to my children!), I wanted to live on a large farm and do for ourselves almost entirely. I knew I had the skills, but had trouble convincing my husband, who had a very conventional upbringing. THAT took many years of conventional living. I did put my foot down with the homeschooling however and that is, I think, what turned him around. The fact that I was always making clothing for our family, and could cook, can, make jelly all helped to convince him that we could do for ourselves.

We spent 14 years living conventionally (7 years in the military). I have never really worked for someone else since getting married. Any job I had was under my own business. Finally, after many unsatsfying years of work, Brian quit his job as an engineer and helped me start a small-press publishing company.

The change has had it's challenges, but the rewards far outweigh anything we could have gained by any other means. Our children know how much they are loved and valued - they are kept safe from harm and have learned to approach people and situations with wonder and respect. Their faith is strong, as is their love and loyalty for one another. We all are stronger for knowing that come what may, we can look after ourselves very well, and always feel life is abundant and rich.

If you are interested in Family Centered Living, Partridge Hill Media publishes an ezine which offers inspiration for living more gently. It includes ideas for home management, parenting, decorating, gardening, cooking, and handiwork.