The demands on moms today, especially homeschool moms, are overwhelming. The truth is, most of those demands we create for ourselves. Do you find yourself say, “I’m so busy!” or even, “I’m way too busy.” I understand.
Here are five tips to find homeschool balance and why super mom is not busy mom.
Tip One: Create a Homeschool Mission Statement
Before you balk, thinking this is one more thing you have to do, this can be super helpful. It doesn’t need to be fancy or overly complicated. A simple paragraph of what you want to accomplish this year in your homeschool can help keep you on track. For example, “Our homeschooling goal for this school year is to be consistent with read-alouds, complete all textbook work planned out, be consistent with our daily schedule, and participate in one out-of-the-house activity.”
That doesn’t seem like a big deal, right? But this is a powerful little paragraph as the other tips will show. If you want, you can also have a family mission statement. This can help you keep homeschooling in perspective, too.
Tip Two: Recognize Your Limits
Let’s face it. We can’t do all.the.things. And we certainly can’t honor our mission statement and still get them all done. We have to be honest with ourselves and recognize that there’s no way we can do more than we can do. We can always do what we should do, if we are careful to honor what we should do first.
If you’re the mom of littles, recognizing your limits will help you to spend your best energy on your own little family. Small children require great physical stamina!
As your kids grow, they demand more emotional energy. Knowing that you can’t pour from an empty cup will help you be available to them. Fill your cup with self-care and recognize when you’re moving into the burnout danger zone.
Tip Three: Learn to Say No (without explanation)
There are so many things that want our time and attention. A lot of them good things. Extracurricular activities, church, extended family, and friends. But hear me on this, you can’t say yes to everything without burning yourself out. If you’ve neglected your appearance, your health, or most importantly- your spiritual health, by saying yes to everything, it’s time to learn the power of no.
You can really say no without explanation. Ninety-nine percent of the time, no explanation is warranted anyway. Just say no. If it doesn’t help you honor your homeschool mission statement, you can turn it down. You have the power to do that.
Tip Four: Plan to Succeed
It doesn’t matter how you plan, as long as you do. In general, things don’t just happen.
Without a plan you’re more likely to overextend, say yes, and stray far from the good things you hope to accomplish. Our cell phones, Facebook, and boredom can distract us from our mission.
If you’re not a planner, creating a repeatable rhythm in your home can go a long way. Same wake-up times, same bed times, meals, and schooling.
If you fall somewhere between ninja planner and rhythm keeper, you can keep a simple calendar and a daily to-do list. Print our FREE (SIMPLE) Homeschool Planning Pack Here
Tip Five: Ask for Help
There are going to be times, despite your best efforts, where you just can’t get the important things done without asking for help. Just ask.
Whether it’s your mom-in-law, sister, or spouse, be specific about where you need help and let them share your burden for a bit. This can be humbling if we’re used to doing all the things ourselves, but no one who loves you would want you to tough it through burn out.
There are no awards to be won for being busy for the sake of being busy. It’s totally fine to let others pitch in so you can rest when you need to, or simply get caught up.
The homeschool year may be just starting for you. I hope that these five tips to go from super busy, mythical super mom to peaceful and productive and present mom, bless you.
What tip can you use today to bring peace to your own homeschool?
Homeschool Helps
There are days when having something fun and educational to do can be a life-saver! The Bible ABC Curriculum to the rescue.
Over 600 pages of downloadable resources for teaching children the Alphabet one week at a time. For each letter of the alphabet, you’ll receive 24 pages of Bible activities, games, worksheets, charts, coloring pages, math explorations and more. Designed to keep the prep work to a minimum, our Bible ABC Curriculum Notebook can be spread over 26 weeks. View the sample pages above for a detailed course outline and a suggested 4-day schedule. Suggested age range is Preschool to K4.