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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: Sept 28 2012 at 2:47pm | IP Logged
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This school year has been extremely tough! I'm so distracted and I'm not able to keep a routine. I'm also easily overwhelmed. I am planning a day of rest tomorrow. I will have a few hours to myself and I plan to spend it in prayer and reading encouraging materials. I hope I don't regret putting off housework, but I am hoping that we as a family can get it done tonight or on Sunday instead of the normal Saturday.
My question, does anyone have a favorite prayer? Or any thing I could read online to provide some encouragement? Something quick! Or where would you read in the bible?
I found this, 10 days of homeschool encouragement and it was a good read and I recommend it.
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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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bfleur
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| Posted: Sept 28 2012 at 3:49pm | IP Logged
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Hi Cassie!
I can relate to being overwhelmed! I have 5 boys, ages 8, 7, 5, 3, 1 1/2. In fact what you are describing sounds so much like my usual school year. But this year, I decided to make it change. Here are a few tips, and reading reccomendations I picked up from conferences and here and there....I hope they help and encourage you, like they have helped me  (I ended up writing a novel, sorry!! I hope this answers your question!)
1. You must get up before your children. ("even if you have to mortify yourself" ~Jen Macintosh) You need that time, even if it's 30 min, of quiet to pray. Which also means, you must go to bed and get adequate sleep. I've learned that I've got to take care of myself 1st, or nothing will get done or be done with the type of joy filled mama that my boys deserve.
2. Plan the school year ahead of time, not a week at a time. Some things will always crop up, but then you won't be bogged down with lesson planning all the time. Also plan breaks, I have read that some homeschoolers take a 'sabbath week' after 5 or 6 weeks of school, they take 1 week off, to breathe, catch up on housework, rest, etc. Some others schedule in terms, with 11 weeks on and 1 week off, for 3 terms, and then take summer break. We used to school all year round, but this last summer, we were all toast, and needed time away. And some families school 4 days a week, taking Wednesday or Friday as a 'flex day' to rest, take a break, or catch up on other projects.
3. Write down favorite quotes from saints or scripture and post it above your sink. Read, re-read and memorize, so during those hard times and daily you can pray those scriputures and quotes and send them as 'arrows'of love after God's own heart. My fav is Psalm 23 'The Lord is my Sherperd'
4. Take an afternoon quite time. This is a huge part of refreshing your soul during your day. Your boys can catch up on reading novels for book reports during that time, (in their beds) and you can catch up on sleep or better yet, pick out a good spiritual forming read, and journal. Everytime I do this, God speaks to me daily through my reading time (meditation time) and He can form my soul more readily. I would recommend, anything written by Patricia Treece. Right now I am reading God Will Provide, How God's Bounty Opened to Saints-and 9 ways it can open for you, too. Also the Diary of St. Faustina, or St. Therese, and anything written by Danielle Bean (best encouraging homeschooling novels I have read, anytime I need a lift I grab hers) especially, My Cup of Tea and Small Steps for Cathoic Mothers (a quick morning prayer book).
5. Also read, A mother's rule of Life by Holly Perlot (all about routine and how it can change your life). Start writing your routine out with prayer as your top priority, then shape the rest of your day around that. You need the prayer plugged into every part of your day to keep you refreshed and not overwhelmed. ie. Angelus 6am, noon, 6 pm. Meditation 1-2, morning prayer 5:30 am etc.. And know that your routine needs to funtion in the land of 'ish'. What I mean is ie..Breakfast 7-8ish. Stick to your routine, but don't be a slave to it either. If Breakfast runs to 8:30 don't fret, just keep moving, one foot in front of the other. But don't let BK always run to 8:30, and if it does, maybe you need to change the routine. IT's got to be flexible. And if you can never get it all done, than maybe the routine is too full. And the boys must have chores and help, morning chores, afternoon chores, dinner and after dinner chores etc.
6. Go to daily mass or mass once a week. Cling to God, spend time in adoration with boys and without boys. Ask Him to refresh you and give you strength.
7. Bring it all to confession. It is a beautiful sacrament, and confessing, being distracted from your God given duties will bring your new strength through God's mercy.
8. Ok, I'll stop after this one, LOL! Create beauty in your home, on a blog, on your desk, somewhere. Create a space of peace, beautiful things, like a clear jar full of yarn on your desk, or an aromatic oil in a clear jar, a plant....someting that you take joy in. Beauty is of God, and God is beautiful. Or take in God's nature, in nature walks, or nature hunts in the backyard.
9. Ok, I lied, one more. When feeling overwhelmed, step away, keep a prayer book in your bathroom,go in, shut the door and lock it (very important), and pray. Take a moment to reconnect with God and breathe, don't give into dispair. It is not of God. Let Him be your strength.
I so hope this helps! My days are full of battling with myself the most! And I completely understand I hope I didn't burden you with my little novel, LOL!
~Brooke
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Claire F
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| Posted: Sept 28 2012 at 3:57pm | IP Logged
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Brooke, your suggestions are really beautiful - I find encouragement in them as well. Thank you for sharing!
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Claire
Mom to DS 12/04, DS 5/07, DD 8/09
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: Sept 29 2012 at 4:26pm | IP Logged
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Thank you Brooke!!
My alone time has been rearranged, but now I get more time. Sunday afternoon and Monday morning all to myself!!
I'm not a morning person, so getting up before my kids seems impossible. I have noticed that no matter if I get up at 6:30 or 7:30 or 8:30, it still takes me a good hour or more before I'm completely functioning. So, I really just need to get up earlier and I will be 100% sooner. This will be a big challenge, but praying to make this change. I use to get my quiet time when the boys went to bed, but they are older now and 8 pm bedtime is too early. So, I miss this time so I guess I need to move it to morning instead.
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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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Topic: Seeking encouragement!
