Years ago when my oldest started getting into “real school” and I was adding students both in the phonics-stage and in the pregnancy-stage, I looked at the goals I had written out, I looked at the books I was collecting, and I looked at my pillows (with longing). I realized I was going to have to up my game every year if I was going to keep up – and keep up, I was determined to do. Ironically, the method … Read More
It will happen. “I hate this book!” “Do we have to do Morning Time?” “There’s no point in learning algebra!” When it happens, you have not failed. Pick up your shield of imperviousness, homeschool mama; these complaints are not about you. They are not even about what you are studying. They are growing pains. Learning is growing, and when it’s happening, there are times it is uncomfortable, difficult, or tense. Of course, that doesn’t make it ok. Truth: Complaining, grumbling, … Read More
by Abby Wahl The idea of self-care seems to be everywhere in our current culture, proclaiming that unless we are intentional about taking time for ourselves, it won’t happen. We are lead to believe that withholding self-care will have disastrous consequences. These consequences will supposedly affect not only our physical and mental well-being, but also our identity itself, causing strain or damage to our relationships. I have often heard the oxygen mask metaphor used as an example: first put your … Read More
It’s easy for a homeschool day to go off the rails. As must as we would like to blame the toddler or the teen, usually that derailing starts in our own heads, in our own hearts, as the homeschool mom. Our mood, our demeanor, our responses, make or break the atmosphere of our homeschool. And so our thoughts and our emotions matter. Do we control them or do they control us? When our moods and minds are being swayed by … Read More
I use the tagline “organize your attitude” – but what does that mean? Is your attitude something you can actually change? Does it mean faking a smile or pretending what went wrong was actually ok? There isn’t faking involved, but there is humility and repentance. Yes, you can actually change your attitude by deliberately and intentionally changing your thoughts – that’s something we have a responsibility to do. When what we feel or think does not align with God’s revealed … Read More
Is homemaking old-fashioned and outdated? Do you picture a woman with a flirty apron and heels, hair neatly bobbed, red lips smiling? Is that a homemaker? Homemakers have looked like many things in the history of man, and few of them wore heels. In fact, we must remember that those pictures come to us from advertisers trying to sell us something – an ideal. That picture is just as false as the have-it-all-together career-woman-who-can-also-spend-quality-time-with-her-kids image television promotes today. For a … Read More
We established last week that even moms need to grow. We, as well as our children, are persons and must both feed and exercise our souls, bodies, minds, and hearts. But how? How much time will this take? After all, it’s not like we have a bunch of spare time for various new exercise and study regimens. The time factor is just one reason habits are so effective and compelling. A small habit has an outsized effect for the effort … Read More
When homeschool moms talk shop, there’s a topic that is not politic or polite to bring up. There’s a secret that some moms are afraid to bring up and others don’t yet know. We need to talk about it. We need to own it. When homeschool moms get together, they chat about curriculum, schedules, checklists, books, methods – all necessary details, but there’s something missing. So, let’s be honest and get this one out in the open. The truth will … Read More
Organize your attitude #47 Our minds are busy places. We are constantly noticing needs, evaluating behavior, noting things to be done, and thinking things through. On top of that, we listen to children’s chatter, keep up with phone notifications, and maybe even top it off with a podcast in the background. Our days are not still and silent. They are humming with thoughts, conversations, and noise. But most of it really is just noise, even those thoughts racing through our … Read More
What is happiness, really? That’s actually a deep philosophical question expounded upon by great minds for millennia. Too often, we think happiness is doing what we want, having no laundry to fold, or eating chocolate. And our kids think happiness is sleeping in, playing computer games, and having no chores. Guess what? We’re both wrong. If that’s your idea of happiness, make sure your goal is not to keep your kids happy. Then again, we can’t say happiness doesn’t matter. … Read More