Keeping Your Homeschool Excitement Going STRONG!
Have you ever been to an all-you-can-eat buffet? There are many perks to choosing those feast-filled smorgasbords. It’s a great deal financially, mom doesn’t have to cook, and there’s something for everyone. However, there is a down side, it encourages partakers to stuff themselves silly. Seriously, this is NOT the place to go if you’re trying to lose weight.
The last time we went to the Golden Corral I remember eyeing a piece of red velvet cake on the dessert bar as we were making our way to our table. I made a mental note that I would definitely have a piece before we left. By the time we had eaten our fill of salads, casseroles, marinated meats, breads, potato’s, etc, we were STUFFED! Yet, that red velvet cake kept beckoning me. I remember thinking that I didn’t want to miss out on anything! (sighing and rolling eyes at myself)
I learned a very valuable lesson that day! “NOTHING tastes good when you’re full”! As I cut my small sliver of cake I could see that it was perfectly moist and the frosting was just the right consistency, however, as I took my first bite I was surprised that I couldn’t even taste it? I was so full you could have served me a stale cookie and I wouldn’t have known the difference.
How many times do we do that as homeschooling moms? We get so excited at the beginning of the school year that we begin to say yes to anything and everything? We don’t want our children to miss out on any opportunity. Saying “no” is hard because we feel this pressure to make sure that our children are exposed to every possible experience. I mean, how could I ever say no to music lessons, field trips or co-op classes?
The truth is when I look back over the many years that we’ve homeschooled, our most cherished memories came in those years where I kept it simple. I found that there is power in saying, “no”. “No”, frees me up to enjoy my “Yeses”. When I say yes to everything I become “full” of busyness and NOTHING TASTES GOOD. I don’t even have memories to carry in my heart because they get buried in our busyness.
So how do you beat Homeschool burn out?
1- Slow Down- Less is BEST!
Pace yourself. We don’t have to go on every field trip or attend every musical all in one year. Choose those things that help you work towards your immediate goals and save some for next year.
2- Keep it simple- Work Smarter Instead Of Harder!
Time4Learning has taught me that more is not better, more is just more. After years of buying big expensive, time intensive curriculum we found that Time4Learning kept our life simple and manageable, but netted bigger year end results (testing wise) then those big fancy programs. I learned that you can work smarter instead of harder.
3- Stay Plugged in with other Homeschoolers!
If you’ve not joined our cyber community forums over at Time4Learning we’d love to have you. Grab a cup of coffee, pull up your chair and come introduce yourself. Remember, “We’re Better Together”! Staying connected to others helps keep your passion burning.
Now that I’ve shared my tips, what are yours? How do you keep yourself from burning out?
Stay tuned Thursday where I will share my secret to time management. This simple and FUN plate management program will help you weed through your “no’s” so you can get to those “yeses”!
Have you ever been to an all-you-can-eat buffet? There are many perks to choosing those feast-filled smorgasbords. It’s a great deal financially, mom doesn’t have to cook, and there’s something for everyone. However, there is a down side, it encourages partakers to stuff themselves silly. Seriously, this is NOT the place to go if you’re trying to lose weight.
The last time we went to the Golden Corral I remember eyeing a piece of red velvet cake on the dessert bar as we were making our way to our table. I made a mental note that I would definitely have a piece before we left. By the time we had eaten our fill of salads, casseroles, marinated meats, breads, potato’s, etc, we were STUFFED! Yet, that red velvet cake kept beckoning me. I remember thinking that I didn’t want to miss out on anything! (sighing and rolling eyes at myself)
I learned a very valuable lesson that day! “NOTHING tastes good when you’re full”! As I cut my small sliver of cake I could see that it was perfectly moist and the frosting was just the right consistency, however, as I took my first bite I was surprised that I couldn’t even taste it? I was so full you could have served me a stale cookie and I wouldn’t have known the difference.
How many times do we do that as homeschooling moms? We get so excited at the beginning of the school year that we begin to say yes to anything and everything? We don’t want our children to miss out on any opportunity. Saying “no” is hard because we feel this pressure to make sure that our children are exposed to every possible experience. I mean, how could I ever say no to music lessons, field trips or co-op classes?
The truth is when I look back over the many years that we’ve homeschooled, our most cherished memories came in those years where I kept it simple. I found that there is power in saying, “no”. “No”, frees me up to enjoy my “Yeses”. When I say yes to everything I become “full” of busyness and NOTHING TASTES GOOD. I don’t even have memories to carry in my heart because they get buried in our busyness.
So how do you beat Homeschool burn out?
1- Slow Down- Less is BEST!
Pace yourself. We don’t have to go on every field trip or attend every musical all in one year. Choose those things that help you work towards your immediate goals and save some for next year.
2- Keep it simple- Work Smarter Instead Of Harder!
Time4Learning has taught me that more is not better, more is just more. After years of buying big expensive, time intensive curriculum we found that Time4Learning kept our life simple and manageable, but netted bigger year end results (testing wise) then those big fancy programs. I learned that you can work smarter instead of harder.
3- Stay Plugged in with other Homeschoolers!
If you’ve not joined our cyber community forums over at Time4Learning we’d love to have you. Grab a cup of coffee, pull up your chair and come introduce yourself. Remember, “We’re Better Together”! Staying connected to others helps keep your passion burning.
Now that I’ve shared my tips, what are yours? How do you keep yourself from burning out?
Stay tuned Thursday where I will share my secret to time management. This simple and FUN plate management program will help you weed through your “no’s” so you can get to those “yeses”!
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I feel most at peace right now approaching the holiday season. I have learned the value of paying attention to ALL of life's learning and realized that my little one is learning on various different levels in various different ways ALL of the TIME.
ReplyDeleteWe have so many days "banked" now that we can relax and enjoy the season. We'll still have some structured moments but it doesn't always have to be SERIOUS and constraining. We are enjoying ART and games and movies and cinnamon smells. WE are basking in the glory of being thankful and anticipating the joy of Christmas.
Amen Jennifer, Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDelete