Hands up if you feel disappointed when you go out without a child and see a fire engine but have no-one to point it out to.
Or what about having dinner with an adult and you want to cut their meat for them or help them clear their plate.
Have you ever corrected someone’s grammar – out LOUD? (so embarrassing!)
And how often do you find yourself exhausted or weary, and feeling like you need a pick-me-up?
Life with children is…
Life with children is wonderful, but it’s also relentless. And as a homeschooling parent, you also feel the weight of responsibility for educating your child.
In fact, I’m guessing that you regularly spend your morning break times and lunch times preparing the next lesson.
And I am pretty sure that if I checked your pile of bedtime reading books, there will be more than one teaching manual or how-to book.
What about your car journeys? Tell me, do you drive somewhere which is not:
- taxiing a child or three to a class, homeschool gathering, or to a play-date
- food shopping
- church or church related activity
Did I hear you say yes, you do drive somewhere which is not on this list of three?
Well do you drive to a part time job, or maybe a …. homeschool support meeting. Where you talk about … homeschooling! Yay!
You see how our lives can so easily become totally immersed and focused on homeschooling?
Homeschooling is …
Homeschooling is a gift. I have been homeschooling for years and years, and it’s a marvellous way of life. I love it. But I need to remind myself, regularly, that it’s not the be all and end all of my life. I have seen too many exhausted mothers sitting at my dining table or at homeschool gatherings, and I just want to put my arms around them and give them a long, comforting hug.
It’s important to…
Over the years, I have learned the wonderful, wise and gentle art of ‘sharpening the saw’. This means I prepare wisely and carefully, and I take care of myself. It’s been a slow journey to learn how to take care of myself. And I still struggle when there is pressure on. But it’s a worthwhile art to learn, so be encouraged to learn this art of your self-care and mother-nurturing.
I want to write more about this over the the next wee while, so watch out for more posts. And in the meantime, here’s a questions for you: what are you doing for yourself today?