Homeschool moms are busy with a lot of things, but in our busyness are we neglecting to take care of ourselves? How do we balance all we have to do with our own needs, while avoiding the trap of selfishness? This podcast might step on a few toes, but it’s time we addressed self care as a homeschool mom!
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In this episode:
- Why I don’t like the term “self care” and what I prefer instead.
- Why homeschool moms are so stressed and in such need of “self care.”
- How to create healthy “temple” habits.
- How to hit the “reset” button on your day.
- How to fit self care into your morning and evening schedule.
Resources mentioned:
- Podcast #69 (Relaxed Homeschool Mom)
- Podcast #45 (Sensory Issues)
- Podcast #52 (Mother Culture)
- Podcast #37 (Extracurricular Activities)
- How to Take a Homeschool Mom Sabbatical (blog)
Clara Rayner says
Good morning Amy. A really helpful podcast on self care and temple maintenance. Thank you. I tend to err on the side of never taking time to care for my ‘temple’ and end up with burnout. In recent years I have put things in place to make sure I get my hair cut and coloured regularly, take my joint care supplement and vitamins, and take time to feed my own spirit and soul with good books. Consequently I feel much better in myself, my arthritis pain is minimal and I don’t struggle so much with overwhelming overload. My home and family are better for it too.So important to get a healthy life-balance because otherwise we can’t do the job we are commissioned to do. Every blessing Clara X
Amy says
I am so glad you are taking this kind of care for your temple! Isn’t it funny how we often avoid the very things that truly help us – like our vitamins?! I did that for years!
Ashley says
Hi Amy:)
I found your blog and podcast at the beginning of the summer. Boy has it been a blessing. Truly. This past summer I was pregnant with baby 6 and while I waddled (lol!) around feeding my chickens and milking my goats I would take your podcast along with me to listen to before heading back inside for house and school work with my kids. Such a blessing, chockfull of great ideas that I’ve already utilized and found to help my homeschool and homelife run more smoothly.
Your podcast on selfcare really spoke to me today. One of my “selfcare” things I do is yoga. I try to fit this in in the afternoons because it has helped so much with those long achy hours of holding and nursing a newborn. However, the lady on the video always says stuff like, “good for you, congratulate yourself for loving yourself this much, this is your time…” and it just really rubs me the wrong way. I too have struggled with the concept of “self care”. Or something else I hear is, “drop what’s not serving you” ? that would be my entire family ? I always chuckle at that saying. It is so funny and yet so sad. “Drop what is not serving me.” Nothing in it sits well with me, I do, however, love how you explained this “self care” concept and I agree with you. So much. We deserve death. But God is so gracious to not give us what we truly deserve.
I just so appreciate you taking the time to put these podcasts and blog posts out there. They are so relevant for me and have helped me tremendously in finding routine and peace in my life and home, living with a large family:)
Amy says
Oh, I really don’t like when they say things like that! It’s NOT the Christian way. Unfortunately, so many mamas (myself included at times) go the opposite direction and don’t take care of our temples AT ALL. It’s a struggle and one where we need more sane voices speaking truth rather than self-love or self-disdain. And thank you for all your kind words about the blog and podcast! I appreciate you!
Nicole JS Gaynor says
I hate the high bar set for self care. You’re not taking care of yourself unless you indulge in pedicures and girls’ nights out on a regular basis. What if I don’t want to do that or I can’t for whatever reason? Am I doomed to be miserable and neglected?
Of course not. A much better option is to maintain oneself, as you say, and then find the joy in what you do and what you have on a daily basis. It’s certainly a harder path, but worth the effort.
For me that includes making sure I feed myself on a regular basis, drink some tea or coffee in the morning, and get a workout at least every other day. I’m still working on the best way to implement this and work in some time to build my blog and YouTube channel. Nothing is simple or strictly plannable with a house full of littles.
Amy says
Very well said! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Nicole!
Stacie says
I feel the same way. In addition to self-care, the phrases, “I have to do me” or “me time” make me cringe, too. The implication is something different from taking regular, good care of yourself, or even a once in a while treat. Those phrases do not reflect a life poured out for others, or a moment of rest in order to serve our families later. It suggests an entitlement and a worldly sense of self-love! Great episode…. I’ll be listening to some others later this week!
Amy says
We seem to swing the pendulum from one extreme to other – not taking care of ourselves at all in the name of selflessness or being hyper-focused on ourselves out of self-care. I believe the one follows the other because we burn out in our quest to keep doing things for the Lord and not listening to His command to “be still.” Humans sorely lack moderation! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Stacie!
Amber says
I would like to use Yahshua phrase and say.. Love your neighbor as yourself. So we are told to love ourselves. Now we know sin isnt really loving ourselves but can be deceived to think it is.. Yahovah will correct our course if we stay in him through his son Yahshua! Yes there is a fine line between selfishness and caring for oneself. Setting an example and correcting the course as needed as being still to know who Elohim is.. As you said. I have been guilty of selfishness at times in my home not because I wanted to be but I got off course and was exhausted and burnout and needed to understand how and what to change.. I would gry lost on my own learning and reading ect.. I also went to public school which can put you on a cycle that had to be deprogrammed. There is a learning curve to it. I love the Mother Culture theology as well. Thank you for this podcast.
Amy says
Hi Amber! I do think we burn ourselves out and then move toward the selfishness in order to counteract not taking care of ourselves. Thankfully, the Lord uses His rod and staff to guide us back!