Practice Makes Perfect … Most of the Time

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

When it comes to household chores, homeschooling the children, and well, cooking, something has to take a back seat! I’m not perfect nor do I strive for perfection. I do strive for balance.Practice Makes Perfect Most of the Time

By Felice Gerwitz

There are challenges to motherhood. There are challenges to owning a business. When you combine the two, you can have an instant recipe for overwhelm. Or, as I’ll share… lots and lots of practice at getting to “perfect.”

Not to bore you with the details, suffice it to say that life has been a bit hectic in the Gerwitz household.

Today I spent a fun hour with Cindy Rushton and her guests at an online conference, her “Ultimate Homeschool Expo.” Being a minor-celeb in the homeschool world has its ups and downs. I can still go out with my children without being mobbed for my autograph, yet sometimes the two worlds are hard to balance.

After my professional endeavor, it was back to the family.

Christina was visiting today (my substitute teacher!) and she and the kids read about the Ancient American Indians. Being an Anthropology minor, she had lots to add to the book. Of course, she was accompanied by her three little children, three and under. Add that to my own three, and it becomes a houseful!

I have four children who currently live at home…one husband (thank you, Lord), and one father, who is elderly but a fantastic cook. Did I mention that he used to own, first an Italian bakery in NY, and second an Italian Restaurant when we moved to Florida? Needless to say, the smell of garlic can be found simmering anytime after 9:30 in the morning.

Hobbies

Well, every once in a while Dad (Papa) needs to escape to my brother’s home in Winter Haven, for a visit. (Yes, it’s quieter there. Joe and Nikki have two children.) Well, since Papa has been gone the cooking has fallen on my shoulders.

My hobby is baking and I love to cook, but since Papa moved in several years ago he’s taken over my kitchen. Of course, it had to be remodeled when he moved in and we now have three ovens (okay, that was my addition, not his), a larger work surface, and a knife set that would rival any chef’s. So, since he was gone I opted for a simple dinner, grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, chili, and melted cheese over chips. An American kid’s dream dinner, and one that would leave my father grumbling in Italian that in his country not even the pigs would eat that fare.

Out of Practice?

Having been out of practice I ended up overcooking the meat on the grill, forgetting to take out the burger rolls, and then the ground beef for the chili, from the freezer. No problem, I decided we needed a vegetarian version of the chili. Oh, and I melted the cheese for the chips way too early and had to heat it up several more times. Today, the kids still wouldn’t eat any of the leftover chili for lunch!

Perfection or Balance?

It does take some juggling between running a publishing business, writing several blogs, and running a consulting business for aspiring authors. When it comes to household chores, homeschooling the children, and well, cooking, something has to take a back seat! I’m not perfect nor do I strive for perfection. I do strive for balance.

Back to Normal(ish)

Nicholas my 13-year-old loves to cook and the meat would have been grilled to perfection if he had been home, but he wasn’t. Anne (10) and Michael (8) are both decent chefs and were a big help with my cooking endeavors. By the time we ate, we were all starved so no one had much to say about my rusty cooking skills. But, they did ask when Grandpa was coming home. Yes, I got the hint! I called him today and he’ll be back in a day or two. Then, things will be back to normal, (whatever that is), in the Gerwitz household. Practice makes perfect, most of the time.


About the Author

Meet Felice Gerwitz: A Devoted Homeschool Mom, Author, Publisher, and Podcast Host

A heartfelt enthusiast for education and faith, Felice Gerwitz has embarked on an incredible journey as a homeschooling mom, guided by her unyielding devotion to the Lord. Alongside her incredible husband and five wonderful children, Felice’s life is a testament to the beauty of balancing family, faith, and personal aspirations.

In 1986, Felice embarked on her homeschooling adventure, a path colored with both triumphs and challenges. Through the years, she has amassed a wealth of experience and wisdom that she eagerly shares with the world. As the founder of Media Angels, Inc., Felice has embraced her role as an educator and stepped into the shoes of an author and publisher. Her creative ventures have enriched her family’s learning journey and inspired countless others to seek alternative educational paths.

You can continue reading her story in her very personal story, One More Child, from Media Angels, Inc.

The Work Life Homeschool Balance Myth

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

This Mommy Jammies Podcast is sponsored by exSTEMsions {exSTEMsions, grows mathematicians, critical thinkers, and problem solvers through an online subscription based problem solving math program} for kids ages 10 and up. Co-owned and developed by two teachers turned homeschooling moms working to balance their own version of life, homeschool, and work. Visit exSTEMsions for a free trial today.

Which brings us to the topic of today’s podcast: The Work, Life, Homeschool Balance Myth.  {If you’re listening online, scroll to the bottom of the post to find the audio player. }

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The Myth of Balance

Balance. What is it anyway? You might be surprised (I know I was) to learn that balance has to do with an equality of passions. As Webster’s 1828 tells us, “As balance signifies equal weight, or equality, it is by custom used for the weight or sum necessary to make two unequal weights or sums equal; that which is necessary to bring them to a balance or equipoise. ”

And now we know why balance is a myth.

There is no way we can ascribe equality to the moving pieces of our lives, especially when we are talking about our children. Why do moms agonize over going back to work, taking time for themselves, or even taking a weekend away with their spouse. I think it’s because as moms, we are always balancing the needs of our family against every other need.

So, you guessed it — there’s always a certain amount of imbalance.

This also means that the other things vying for importance, will become “most important” at certain times and not at others. The struggle is real! And it’s OKAY.

Tips to Keep Things Moving

So, what’s a girl to do? Well, first let’s keep things moving. This means evaluating our priorities. ( Listen to the previous podcasts, Developing a Wholehearted Business Mindset or Recovering from Burnout).

Once we have our priorities outlined, they deserve the attention that systems and processes in your business along with a doable schedule at home can provide.

Some ideas to outline your priorities in this way include:

 

Eyes on the Prize

In the end, it’s helpful to keep our eyes on the prize. Why are we trying to do all.the.things anyway? What’s our goal? Why do we want a business, ministry, or work at home career?

If by your providing additional income to your family helps you to stay home with your children, and that’s one of your goals, remind yourself of that very thing.

This helps you count all the chaos as blessing.

The truth is, yes, we are sometimes checking our phones with kids in tow while dropping our oldest off at Japanese lessons. But, we’re doing this in the middle of the day, around our own schedules, accommodating the needs of our family. That freedom is priceless.

And learning to, not balance anything, but give priority to the things that we’re called to do, is a beautiful thing.

Action Step:

This week, make a list of all of the reasons you are thankful for the chaos that is working at home.

 

Bible Verses to Help You Gain “Balance”-

Matthew 6:33-34 // But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Proverbs 11:2 // A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.

Philippians 4:8 // Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Isaiah 41:13  // For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Colossians 3:17  // And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Finding Balance as a Homeschool Mom

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

How to Find Balance as Homeschool Mom: The Homeschool Sanity Show Podcast

Achieving balance requires constant effort for homeschool moms. Hopefully the tips in this week’s episode will help.

LISTEN ON ITUNES

Links

free Funny Winter Writing prompts

Echo smartpen from Livescribe.

the personal devotions challenge

a Periscope broadcast recently in which I shared that if we are doing the most important things, we won’t get everything done

how your calendar is your most important organizing tool.

Homeschool Sanity on Facebook

Have a happy homeschool week!

How to Set Goals that Outlast New Year’s Resolutions – FAH episode 11

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Think you’re too busy to set goals? The truth is that the busier you are, the MORE you need to set goals and create a plan for meeting them! In this episode of the “Flourish at Home” show, I share how setting goals helped me move from the chaos of flying by the seat of my pants to a more peaceful, balanced life. You’ll learn my strategies for setting specific, measurable, big, written, shared goals that will make a powerful difference in your daily life.

Setting Goals

If you want more encouragement, inspiration, and practical tips, you’ll enjoy my book, Flourish: Balance for Homeschool Moms. It’s available at www.FlourishAtHome.com.

FLOURISH_final cover

MBFLP – Balancing Family and Business in a Family Business

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

MBFLP Balancing Family and Business

One of the things that makes a family business attractive is the freedom to have more time with your spouse and kids! Yet entrepreneurs quickly learn there’s a balancing act going on — it’s no longer your employer which drives your schedule, but your own sense of urgency and ambition! This show, we talk with experienced business owners and trainers Philip and Carroll Sue Priddy about how to make sure you keep these two valuable things in balance, and how to keep “family” and “business” in harmony–not competition!