Written by Rachel Wolf of Clean and Lusa Organics Skin Care
Homeschooling can be such serious business.
Each day you juggle more tasks than a CEO.
Learning styles, lunch, and laundry.
Geometry, groceries, and gardening.
Disputes, diapers, and long division.
It’s a big job you’ve taken on.
And yes, also the most rewarding.
Even so, sometimes I get a little too serious about it.
Mired in the day-to-day, I forget how blessed I truly am.
I turn “life” into “work” and forget to have fun.
When that happens I need to remind myself to lighten up, relax, and enjoy the ride.
(You know. To balance out the occasional neurotic self talk of “Please, oh please, homeschooling mama. Don’t screw this up.”)
So let’s get to it. And take this journey up a notch.
5 Tips for a Happier Homeschool
1. Count your blessings
Is your life perfect? Of course not.
But is it brimming with blessings? Absolutely.
Mine is too.
I recently began posting a weekly list of blessings. And it’s changing me.
Make a habit of keeping track of everything that makes your life beautiful.
Involve your kids in projects to nurture gratitude.
And watch your list of what you are thankful for expand.
2. Stop comparing
Ourselves. Our kids. Our homes. Our lives.
We compare – consciously or unconsciously – day after day.
Enough with the crazy making! We’re all imperfect.
And we’re all on our just-right path.
Embrace your own. And forget about the rest.
3. Be flexible
We have a weekly homeschooling rhythm that we carefully follow.
Except when we don’t.
Because sometimes our plans go out the window.
We skip spelling and take a hike with friends. We go apple picking instead of heading to the library.
While routine is good for us, cutting class now and then is even better.
I love Renee‘s take on this in her post about “usually, not always”.
Being flexible means happy surprises for everyone.
4. For goodness sake, play!
Hello, there, happiness.
Life is fun, remember?
Cut loose now and then to shake up your state of mind.
I don’t care if play translates into a fuzzy fake mustache or a day at the beach.
Whatever play means to you – do that.
It’s a simple, joyful way to reboot everyone’s attitudes and energy.
5. Make time for you
Repeat after me: Self-care is non-negotiable.
Yes, your kids matter.
And your partner matters.
And so do you.
Make time for self-care. It’s vital.
A solo walk each morning, weekly knitting with your friends, an entire weekend alone.
Whatever you need to recharge your battery, make time for it.
Because only you can take care of you.
And you matter. So much.
How do you cultivate happiness throughout your homeschooling day?
Originally published October 2, 2013.
5 fantasy worlds your kids will love
I love, love, love this post!!! So very true 🙂 Thank you for the reminder!
Marie’s latest post: Abbey’s New Do :))
This is great advice for all moms, not just for home schools!
Agreed!
Rachel Wolf’s latest post: Cultivating gratitude.
this is exactly what I needed this morning, thank you! <3
Simple truths but excellent reminders. We fret we won’t get it all done and the truth is-yup, we may not ever get “it” all done. So let’s relax and enjoy whatever we ARE doing; nurture relationships, care for our physical, spiritual and emotional well-being as we go. Life is too short to live in constant anxiety.
Thanks so much Rachel for linking to my post. I saw this on Kika’s facebook and came over to read (because I read what she recommends) and I was nodding and amening along and then got to my list. How sweet.
Such great reminders.
renee @ FIMBY’s latest post: My Autumn Worship
I think about that post of yours all. the. time. Because I lean toward it, and hearing your take validates my path somehow. Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Renee!
Rachel Wolf’s latest post: Cultivating gratitude.
I sooo needed to hear this. Thanks for the reminders. 🙂
As I was reading along I was thinking, this is good stuff. Then I came upon the picture of Lupine and Sage. Wait, how did this website get those pictures, I thought briefly and then of course it all made sense!! More great advice from my cyber -friend! Thank you Rachel. You have the gift of empowerment!
Well, shucks. Thanks for your words!
Rachel Wolf’s latest post: Happier.
GREAT article!! Thanks!
Oh girl I hear ya! Thanks for the reminder to slow down and enjoy this process. We don’t homeschool ours yet as they are too little but I wrote about this idea this week too. We have to give ourselves permission to make time for the truly important things.
Great post!
~Dani
Dani Meyer’s latest post: Coconut Panna Cotta
I found your website from Facebook, and it’s a very nice one. Although I’m an old geezer, I’m very enthusiastic about the homeschooling movement and would love to see it grow even more rapidly than it is. Because of my own family situation, I’m very burdened by the situation for single parents and couples who need both incomes. They need help. Maybe there’s a role the church can play, but will government regulations erect too high a stumbling block? I don’t know yet.
Did I ever need this today!!! Thanks so much for the great reminders 🙂
Great advice even for those who have unleashed our children on the world. (I mean, they grew up, I didn’t just turn ’em lose!) Sometimes without the kids in the house I forget to play. This is a good reminder. Living is learning, we never stop.
Charli Mills’s latest post: Pilgrimage of Gratitude
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Good reminders – I couldn’t pick a favorite if I had to!
Thanks.
sheila’s latest post: Lesson Plans: October 2013
Some of our best days are the ones that we take a long walk. Sometimes for the exercise but often it ends up with a little exploration of nature! Great post!
Joy’s latest post: Sometimes I Hate PWS!
Lovely list! We could all do with more of each of these in our lives!
Great post….I wish it was easier to implement. I find that if I am flexible, it means we fall behind. If I take a day off, everyone ends up not doing what they are supposed to and I get the looks from all the other moms, when one of them struggles. Of course, I have kids that don’t learn at the drop of a hat. I cry when I hear a mom saying how their 6 year old is reading books. We worked and worked and worked and are thrilled when they get to the point where it is not as hard. I hire reading tutors, classes for writing to give me a break and end up facing the looks that people think we are just lazy.
I am trying to count my blessings. I feel like they are few and far between right now.
Martha Artyomenko’s latest post: Week 6
I agree with you and I love the encouraging tone of this post! I need to be reminded to play with my kids. I get so wrapped up in getting the next task accomplished that I can forget to play.
I wrote a post on a similar topic entitled, \\\”The Homeschooling Hedonist: Motivating Our Kids to Learn.\\\” http://www.excuseourmess.com/the-homeschooling-hedonist-motivating-our-kids-to-learn/
Thank you for your help!
Erin Foerch’s latest post: The Homeschooling Hedonist: Motivating Our Kids to Learn
This monday morning really need this. It’s been a rough one. Thanks!
Danna’s latest post: 2014-15 Ready to Roll!
I really struggle with self care. With lots of littles in the house it is hard for me to take the time to take care of my own needs….but it’s so important and not a luxury. I just need to keep preaching to myself!
Johanna’s latest post: River Tay, Dunkeld, and Beatrix Potter
Agreed! Great post!!!!!! I need to play with them!!!!!!! My life and they become sadder as we don’t….
This is great! Thanks for the post!