CMP Review 2026-07-01

July 1, 2026

Have you ever seen Mrs. Bridges’ handwriting outside of a copybook?

For the past while, I’ve been slowly working through Michele Jahncke’s Beautiful Handwriting lesson cards as a little Mother Culture project of my own. The more I’ve practiced this graceful hand that Charlotte Mason so admired, the more familiar its letterforms have become.

Charlotte Mason valued Mrs. Bridges’ handwriting for its simplicity, clarity, and beauty. It wasn’t intended to be an elaborate script reserved for special occasions, but a practical, everyday handwriting that children could grow into naturally.

Michele has beautifully recreated these lessons in two card sets, making this lovely hand accessible for a new generation.

Then, while looking through Edith Holden’s family tree, I recognized something familiar.

It’s written in the same style as Mrs. Bridges.

There’s something so wonderful about seeing this handwriting in a real family record. And Edith Holden’s, no less. Suddenly it isn’t just a lesson in a copybook—it’s handwriting that was truly lived with.

One of my favorite things about being a lifelong student of Charlotte Mason is discovering these little threads that connect the past to the present.

@rbaburina