Just think – you are the manager of the home and homeschool, on a daily basis. If you are like most moms, sometimes you are on overload! What can you do?
A. Tell the kids you need “time out” and go to bed.
B. Tell the kids to go to their rooms for “time out” and sit on the couch, put your feet up, and eat your favorite chocolates.
C. Tell the kids you need help, gather the troops and make a plan.
I know, solutions A and B are tempting but not realistic. Sometimes we just need help and if your children are too young to be truly helpful this can be cause for the overload syndrome. That is where you need help from Dad, or a good friend or family member to lend a hand. I recently realized I still suffer from overload and much of it is self-imposed. Recently, my grandchildren came to spend the afternoon and early evening at my house while their parents enjoyed their anniversary out together.
Recently, my grandchildren came to spend the afternoon and early evening at my house while their parents enjoyed their anniversary out together. What did I do? Streamline the activities since I was entertaining six children under the age of ten? Oh, no… that would make sense! Instead, I took all six in the pool, gave the showers (out by the pool – my husband helped with this task), dressed the kids, baked homemade cookies from scratch (of course not just one type), and made grilled chicken and quesadillas. I did have help grilling the chicken, but truthfully, what was I thinking? That’s right, I wasn’t thinking.
Sometimes our plans get ahead of common sense and that is when we find ourselves overwhelmed. In this instance I learned several things:
A. Keep it simple
B. Prepare ahead
C. Enlist help
In keeping it simple I could have ordered pizza for dinner, which the children love and prepared the cookie dough ahead of time – and quickly dropped a batch in the oven when it was time for dessert. Enlisting the help of my teens would have been a great boon as well. The good news was all the swimming did them a world of good and they were very quiet and calm when they were n the house afterwards!
Managing takes planning and I’m delighted to share some very special podcasts recorded recently that deal with some specific issues and please share some of your favorite tips on keeping it simple.
Mommy Jammies Night – speaker Amy Roberts – Home Management For The Homeschool Mom
Making This the Best Year Ever – with Felice Gerwitz and Meredith Curtis
Easy Start Guide to Homeschooling with Hal and Melanie Young
Great Article on Homemaking by Amy Roberts – here
More from my site
What To Teach Kids About Dealing With Difficult People
The Future of Work
How to Find Volunteer Opportunities for Homeschool High Schoolers, Interview with Ticia Messing
Homeopathy for Back Injury? Try Tellurium Metallicum
Our Christmas Morning Traditions
Teaching Science in Your Homeschool | Using the Scientific Method
Yes I am definitely guilty of not keeping things simple and then getting overwhelmed!
I need a laundry system! My kids need regular chores too. My mom did everything or hired someone to do it. I never learned to take care of a home. Your blog has been a great help!
Bedtime routine is something we need to work on……..
Great reminders to adapt to what work in this season 🙂
We just need to have less stuff and fewer activities. That’s the only way I know how to simplify life.
“Managing takes planning” — so true! There are times when we have to be flexible and wing it, but having a plan in place helps everyone know what’s coming next. Great tips. Thank you!
Enjoy the Mommy Jammies Night with Amy Roberts tonight. Thank you for putting it together for us!
I love asking the older, and even the younger, kids for help. More often than not, they are more than willing to help out 😀 Although, I do love me some time outs too 😉 Planned ones are better than unplanned though – makes the unplanned ones a little less necessary 🙂 Thanks for this talk and for the opportunity to win the book!
As a homeschooling mom to four, I have started to implement chores. I do think I can enlist their help some more though. It’s definitely something I need to reevaluate.
Such great ideas…I love revisiting every so often just to regain a focus on things that didn’t even realize were slipping!
Thanks, Valerie!
Great tips and encouragement!! Thank you!
I can’t wait to read the book!
Love your blog and it would be great to have your book. You are amazing woman and there is so much I see I can learn from you.
Felice, once again you hit it out of the “ball park”! I really enjoyed hearing Amy speak last night. Some think just because we homeschool we have it easy, but in truth we do “ALL” the work! The past couple of weeks we have had to rethink our life and it hasn’t been easy. I really needed last night. Thanks again for such a wonderful session. May God be with you and your family during this upcoming year.
Thanks so much Orilla for being a wonderful addition to all of our live events!