Self-Care for the Homeschool Mom

Not being big fans of what society deems “self-care,” Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss creating a life that nourishes you rather than depletes you. Having routines and systems in place to care for school and home and guarding your time, heart, and mind so that you can feel most peaceful and happy in your daily life. Show notes and Bullet Points How to take care of yourself as a stay-at-home-work-at-home-keeping-a-home-school-at-home parent • Find time to pray. Sit and let God speak to you or read from a daily devotional that can take just a few minutes of quiet. Prayer is essential. Getting up just 15 or 30 minutes before the kids can make a big difference. • Tie prayer to a household task, so it becomes a habit (folding laundry, vacuuming) • Read or listen to something that inspires or encourages you every day. Audiobooks, podcasts (this one!), Homilies, etc. Podcasts are perfect because you can listen while you do something else. • Text a friend, and keep in touch with friends/relatives. Gabbing with a buddy is also something you can do while you fold laundry or match socks. • Be mindful of gratitude. Gratitude is an excellent source of satisfaction. For someone, your life is their dream. • Make time to get out of the house alone whenever you possibly can. Grocery store, walk, gym, errands • Foster your creativity. Pursue a hobby or craft. You don’t have to excel. Just do it. • Keep in touch with your husband. Dates (in-house or out), texts during the day, etc. • Don’t be afraid to ask hubs and kids for help with chores. Doing the chores should not all fall on you. If you can hire some help. • Unfollow or delete anyone or any app which makes you doubt what you are doing or makes you feel bad. Also, limit people who don’t understand why you homeschool and constantly question/pick at you. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. • Try to gather a circle of like-minded buddies. After Mass, Sunday brunch is a perfect time to host. You only need to buy bagels or donuts and serve coffee or tea. Most of us clean on Saturdays, so the house is at its best • When my kids were little, we agreed with other families to meet at a park on the first Sunday of the warm weather months. Even if no one else showed, your kids could run around and have fun, but I do not remember that ever happening. Homeschooling is a lifestyle, and if you create a home that is focused on learning but also on respect, that is, knowing mom is a human being who needs to have some time to recharge and rest, then your life will be one that you don’t need to escape from under the guise of self-care.