Homeschool Memoirs - mom help

We all have those days, those moments when we realize the futility of attempting to mother or homeschool in our own strength. If that's all I'm working off of I will always reach the end of my rope. However, as I daily seek to lose myself in Him and His character I find no end to the strength, love, peace, patience, and stability that I can tap into.

One secret I am still learning how to apply is keeping my schedule manageable. It's kind of a pre-emptive strike philosophy. If my stress level is lower, things won't get under my skin so much. As deep as God is, when I have too much in this world that screams for my focus, I have a hard time humanly speaking remembering the proper perspective. It is mandatory that I spend some time each morning finding my grounding in Him. Some days, and seasons (like during those baby days) it might only be a 10 minute prayer time, or a chapter from Psalms. When I get up early enough and my kids still sleep I treasure the longer time of covering my family in prayer, worshiping my Father, and finding inspiration to not grow weary.


Life still happens. I absolutely love homeschooling, and the struggles that often come to a head are due to the fact that we have six imperfect people spending 24 hours a day together.

It is inevitable . . . we will annoy each other at some point.


When those moments come we handle it different ways depending on what I perceive the root cause to be. Here are some remedies we (I) enjoy:


- Run around the living room and scream (not the solution when a headache is the problem, but my kids love this one, we do this outside when the weather is nice . . . wonder what the neighbors think)

- Take a tea break -- my kids all love this as much as I do

- Remember to smile -- even when forced this helps me reset my emotions

- Go fold laundry -- puts our frustration energy to work productively

- Pray! There have been times I have pulled all my kids into a group hug and just poured my heart out to God

- Pillow fight

- Take a nap

- Cry (okay, that's not a great thing to do, but I'll be honest, there are days when somehow it helps)

- Toss the schedule out the window. We can always get back on track, and sometimes we just need a spontaneous day, hour, or half hour.


We must have these days too often if I have this many ideas to pull out of my hat . . .


And, my favorite Scriptures . . . There are so many! Each week I choose a new one and post it here on my blog as my verse of the week. This is so great to keep me meditating on that verse throughout the week as well as seeking more of God's promises for the weeks ahead.

For this week I am enjoying Psalm 37, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand."


Some other favorites:

Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Nehemiah 6:9, "For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands."

Isaiah 58:11 "And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."


I could go on and on. For more encouragement check out my verse of the week label in the sidebar. God has spoken so sweetly to me through so much of His Word and I love to share.

For more "mom" help check out the Homeschool Blog Awards.