Search Results for: blog homeschool child burn out

Get Outside

Our children are at risk of obesity along with a whole range of health problems simply because spending time outside is no longer a parental priority. When I was growing up, we were outside, coming in only for meals. There were lots of neighbor kids to play with and because most of our mothers were home during the day, no one really worried about us. My mother knew if she couldn’t see me one of the neighbors could. I remember my grandmother saying “Go outside, get the stink blown off of you.” That was her way of saying it was … Continue reading →

My Five Favorite Tips to Avoid Burnout

I did not listen to advice telling me to sleep when the baby sleeps. Instead I cleaned. I did not listen to the advice to take time for myself. Instead I planned more lessons and tried to squeeze in some work. I did not listen to advice telling me to not worry about the little messes. Rome wasn’t cleaned in a day. Instead I drove myself to the brink trying to get my overflowing “to-do” list done in one day. Then one day I found myself burned out. I was unable to move. Things that were once a joy were … Continue reading →

The Brave Homeschooling Parent

Being a parent takes bravery, and a homeschooling parent is a perfect example of this. We’re pretty brave just to make the decision to homeschool in the first place, but then we add an additional layer of courage as we allow our children to experiment. Experimentation is a fantastic way to learn. It’s how all the great inventors accomplished the things they did. Can you imagine if Thomas Edison’s mother had forbidden him to play with electrical sparks? No significant amount of progress is made without some element of risk, and no real discovery is ever made without stepping into … Continue reading →

Homeschool Child Burn Out

We talk quite a bit about homeschooling moms getting burned out. All the talk is valid since I know of no homeschool mom who has not experienced burn out on some level. A homeschool mom wears plenty of hats that often weigh down on her head. Just as moms get burned out so the children. A homeschool child does not lead a life of leisure. The child also experiences stress and constantly navigates between student and son or daughter. The child has to balance his interaction with this teacher and his mom since mom and teacher have some unique differences … Continue reading →

Homeschool Confessions

Homeschool life does not come without preconceived notions. Many homeschool moms feel they may not be measuring up to expectations if they start school past 8am or they allow their children to eat junk food or read Junie B. Jones. The homeschool world can spark an image of an orderly mom directing her super intelligent children to their desks to study physics and calculus. Some moms are intimidated by the thought that other homeschoolers are well organized, experienced, have perfect children and clean homes. I am certain there are some homeschoolers who fit the preconceived notion of perfection. Who decided … Continue reading →

Helping Your Child Climb to Success

When a child struggles with a subject it is hard on both the child and the mom. It is hard to see your child try so hard to succeed and still have difficulty or continue to experience failure. The child begins to feel badly about herself and soon other subjects will suffer as she loses confidence. A homeschooling mom also feels like she is failing since she is the one in charge of her child’s education. The double role of mom and teacher during a time like gets confused and the mom part feels the pain while the teacher part … Continue reading →

Romance and the Homeschool Mom and Dad

How does your day run? Chances are if you are a homeschooling family your focus is completely on your children throughout the day. A homeschooling mom can make a lesson out of anything and usually does all day long. A homeschooling house often looks more like a classroom than a home. If you enter a homeschooler’s house, and please do not do so without ample warning, you are likely to find an array of textbooks, school supplies, art projects all nestled in with laundry, lunch dishes, and mail that has yet to be opened. What does this atmosphere say? It … Continue reading →

Classics and Small Children

Now, to me small children do not scream “classical education.” At the same time, I have an interest in classical education that does not always mesh well with our interest in play-based learning. I believe that learners need to learn how to create for themselves, whether this is in play or in rhetorical discussions. Perhaps it is because I am so supremely illogical that I value classics education. My husband is the step-by-step, logic-driven one in our family. I am the one who invents creative but often illogical solutions. Inspired by The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at … Continue reading →

Feeling Burned Out?

Feeling burned out can lead to a very grumpy mommy. Grumpy mommies hardly make good homeschoolers. This can cause a year to dive into failure or at best just barely getting by. Making it by the skin of your teeth, will not result in a relief that it’s over but a sense of defeat and guilt that you didn’t provide your children the best of you. Your feelings of stress will bleed over to your children and they may have a poor attitude about school. Soon you will go round and round between bad attitudes or just simply giving up … Continue reading →

Five-Month-Old Suffers Serious Sunburn

As my family prepares to fly to the southwestern part of the United States for a vacation, I’m consumed with packing and preparing for the trip. A number one thought in my mind is how to best keep our baby cool in the hot temperatures while still protecting her from the sun’s rays. As we plan to spend some of our time sightseeing outdoors in temperatures in the mid 80’s to 90’s, this is a real concern. Apparently, not every mother shares this concern. In a story that is sure to twist your stomach and cause emotions ranging from disbelief … Continue reading →