Parenting Support Archives - Page 16 of 16

10 of the Best Parenting Podcasts

Podcasts are unique because they’re informative, educational and effortless to use. You can listen to podcasts anywhere and at any time. All you need is your cell phone! You can play podcasts in the car while running errands, or at the gym with headphones, and even when your kids are watching a show or you’re doing dishes or laundry. Podcasts are the most excellent education and personal development tool for a parent. So let’s check out 10 of the best parenting podcasts.

10 of the best parenting podcasts:

Good Inside

We love this podcast because it genuinely empowers parents to feel stronger and more prepared to manage the many challenges of parenting. Dr. Becky Kennedy is the creator and host of the Good Inside podcast. She is also a clinical psychologist and mom of three. Dr. Becky was named by TIME Magazine “The Millennial Parenting Whisperer.” The Good Inside podcast immediately rose to #1 on the Apple Podcasts “Kids & Family” chart when she launched it in April 2021. Learn more about The Good Inside podcast or stream it directly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Motherhood in Black & White

Another one of the best parenting podcasts is Motherhood in Black & White. This excellent podcast is hosted by Gen X moms Kanji Irby and Tara Campbell. They come from completely different worlds but have become extremely close friends through their shared experiences as ‘boy moms’ and working women in a male-dominated workplace. They also share their love of 90s hip-hop. You’re sure to enjoy this podcast as Kanji and Tara chat with each other as well as with guests about parenting, pop culture, and the tragedies and triumphs of motherhood. Learn more about Motherhood in Black & White, or stream it directly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.

The Dad Edge (formerly The Good Dad Project)

Formerly The Good Dad Project, The Dad Edge Podcast is legendary to all dads. Their mission is to help dads become the best, strongest, and happiest version of themselves. They are hoping that you can better guide your child to be the best version of themselves through their podcast. The founder of The Dad Edge Podcast (formerly The Good Dad Project Podcast), Larry Hagner, breaks down everyday challenges that dads face, helping them overcome and understand. Learn more about The Dad Edge Podcast or stream it directly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher.

We Are Family

The We Are Family podcast is brought to us by the people at Parents. It’s easy to see why it is one of the best parenting podcasts, celebrating diverse families of all shapes and sizes, with Co-hosts Shaun T and Julia Dennison. Shaun T is the creator of the Insanity workout and dad to twins with his husband, Scott Blokker. Julia Dennison is a single mom and the executive editor of Parents.com. Shaun T and Julia explore everything from adoption, IVF, LGBTQ, and blended families on the We Are Family Podcast. Check out more information on the We Are Family Podcast or stream it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and everywhere that podcasts are available.

The Mom Hour

Meagan Francis and Sarah Powers are busy mamas that discuss everything related to parenting. This podcast is worth listening to with topics like mom-shaming, potty training, puberty, sleep deprivation, and more. The Mom hour has created a supportive community for mothers everywhere, with over 300 episodes. Learn more about The Mom Hour Podcast, and stream now on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more.

The Doctor Dads

Dr. David Wardy and Dr. Nick Jensen are the creators and co-hosts of The Doctor Dads Podcast. This podcast is dedicated to helping you learn the strategies for optimal living. You’ll enjoy their discussions about things everybody needs to hear to experience daily growth. The Doctor Dads Podcast aims to help you become a better version of yourself every day by improving mental/emotional, physical and biochemical health. To find more information about The Doctor Dads Podcast, stream now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The Genuine Mom Club

Hosted by yours truly, Jaymee Davis, The Genuine Mom Club Podcast is all about helping parents unlearn this flawed idea that we have to have it together all the time. Each episode is filled with real-life content and tips to help parents have the best parenting journey. With expert guests worldwide and topics like living with a depressed spouse, top guilty pleasures of parenting, parenting hacks, keeping your child from spiralling, parental burnout, and balancing work at home – homeschooling life. There’s something for everyone! Learn more about The Genuine Mom Club Podcast and stream it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting

This is truly one of the best parenting podcasts and a gem for parents everywhere. Covering topics like when your kid is dumped by their friends, what keeps kids from being honest, how step-parents should fit in, bribing your kids and more. This podcast with Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan is one of the greatest by far. Dr. Lisa Damour understands that raising kids can be challenging, stressful, and uncertain. This is why her podcast brings a sane, informed, and practical perspective to your parenting questions. Learn more about Ask Lisa: the Psychology of Parenting Podcast and stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Stitcher and anywhere else you might get your podcasts.

The Balanced Educator

This weekly podcast hosted by the co-founders of Educalme, Kailey Lefko and Josianne Barnabe, aims to equip teachers and parents with practical, concrete, social-emotional learning and mindfulness strategies. With a further aim to empower them to feel calm, balanced and joyful when teaching or not. You can learn more about The Balanced Educator Podcast and stream it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Stitcher.

The Child Repair Guide

Pediatrician and dad Dr. Steve Silvestro brings insights and wisdom from the world’s best childhood health and wellness experts. He aims to equip parents with the best tools possible to raise healthy, confident and, most importantly, happy kids! Rather than Google your health concerns about your child, you can turn on one of these fantastic episodes. With topics like bedtime routine tips to get kids to sleep on time, your COVID Vaccine PB&J Questions, learning how to manage parental stress better, and raising cross-cultural kids. This podcast is wholesome and knowledge-filled. Learn more about The Child Repair Guide Podcast and stream episodes now on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

We hope that you enjoyed learning about 10 of the best parenting podcasts and that you thoroughly enjoy listening to them! Let us know which one you liked the most and what other podcasts you’d recommend! We love to hear from you!

Need more helpful information about homeschooling and parenting? Check out more on our blog!

Explain the War in Ukraine to Your Child.

Over the past two years, children have struggled to understand the COVID-19 virus, shutdowns, school closures, and why they couldn’t see friends and families or do sports and everyday activities they love. Many parents became exhausted by trying to help their children feel normal while explaining the pandemic to their children. Now that the pandemic has begun to slow down, we are met with another crisis—the war in Ukraine. For many of us, this humanitarian crisis is in another continent. However, social media, the news, and the internet can make it feel very close to home. Which has likely caused you to question how to explain the war in Ukraine to your child?

What’s the best way to explain the war in Ukraine to your child?

Even though we’d all like to assume our kids are oblivious to what is happening, they aren’t. Many children are well aware of the Ukraine conflict, which is causing a significant amount of anxiety for many children. Many children have big feelings and questions about what is happening. So, how can you explain the war in Ukraine to your child without causing more anxiety or dismissing it like it’s nothing?

Don’t dismiss their feelings.

Many parents today watched the events of September 11 on the T.V. Trauma has stuck with us. To avoid the anxiety that comes with it, we often dismiss our feelings about such things and tell ourselves, “this isn’t happening here, so it’s fine.” While we may be quick to ignore our emotions, we must be careful not to do the same to our children. You should give your child the time and space to express their feelings. You must acknowledge their feelings and let them know that it’s ok to feel that way.

It’s normal to feel angry, worried, sad, and frustrated. Allowing your child the time and space to explain their feelings is beneficial. And also, your child needs to know that you have feelings about what is happening too. Please know that feeling sad, frustrated and mad about the events is healthy. When you acknowledge your feelings, your child will easily accept theirs. Suggest writing or creating art if your child struggles to explain their feelings.

Let them ask tough questions.

Your child has big feelings, thoughts and questions. They are individuals growing up in a challenging time. Your child needs to know that their concerns, ideas and questions are taken seriously. When your child brings a problem or question to you, it’s important to approach their questions sensitively and honestly. We all assume we must sugarcoat everything for our kids, avoiding topics and discussions about such events.

Many parents don’t realize that allowing their children to ask questions, have these sensitive conversations, and answer their questions honestly and to the best of their knowledge is essential. If you’re struggling to understand something or do not have the answers, you should explain to your child that this is a highly complex situation that not everyone understands. But many are working tirelessly to find solutions and end this war.

Utilize a map or globe when you explain the war in Ukraine to your child.

When explaining the war in Ukraine, take time to help your child understand the geography of the situation. Show your child where you are on the map, then Ukraine and Russia. Take the time to explain and emphasize the countries worldwide that are helping. While also showing them the countries that are not supporting Russia and are actively working to help end this crisis.

Help your child fact-check media.

This is especially important for older children who may have access to social media. It can be tough to figure out what is real and not regarding social media. Anyone could post something, and others can accept it as fact. Remind your child to check sources, and rely on safe domains and trusted people on social media.

Here’s a helpful resource to help your child fact-check.

Common Sense Education – Help Your Students Fact-Check the Web Like Professionals

Teach your children to look for helpers.

In the famous words of Mr. Rogers, “When I was a boy, and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” While the war in Ukraine is filled with terrible things, we can help our children focus on helpers. Like those at the borders of Ukraine assisting refugees by providing them with food, shelter and clothes. There are always people willing to help.

For older children, help them learn the facts.

Some very reliable resources are available to help our older learners understand what is happening in the world right now. You can help your children learn about what is happening and why, along with reliable, updated information on the current situation.

Check out CBC Kids News for more information.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

If your child is struggling to understand, don’t be afraid to ask for help from professionals trained to listen, understand and help your child process their thoughts and feelings better. Additionally, you can utilize the Thoughts and Feelings: Learning how to Manage How I Think and Feel Special Interest Unit to help your child navigate the big feelings they are feeling. Remember that we are all navigating this crisis together; it’s difficult to explain something that we may not fully understand, so remember to be patient with yourself.

Together we can help children in Ukraine.

Explain the war in Ukraine to your child

For March, we donate a portion of all sales to the Save the Children Ukraine Crisis Fund.

Ten Ways to Help Your Child Eat Healthier.

Getting your picky eater to make healthy choices and eat healthy foods can be a significant challenge. This is why jumping on the Nutrition Month train is so essential! If you didn’t know, the month of March is Nutrition Month. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics sponsors a fantastic campaign each year. They aim to highlight the importance of healthy food choices while developing sound eating and physical activity habits. And we’d like to help by exploring ten ways to help your child eat healthier, along with four fantastic recipes and a free meal tracker.

Malnutrition and Obesity are genuine threats.

According to Global Nutrition Report, North America is experiencing two extremes: the population is either malnourished or overweight. Furthermore, North America is experiencing severe malnutrition among children under five. The other extreme is that 9.1% of the childhood population is overweight, much higher than the global average of 5.7%. In addition, it’s no surprise that the adult population also struggles with malnutrition and obesity. With 8.7% of men living with diabetes and 6.7% of women. Along with 39.4% of women and 38.3% of men living with obesity.

How can we break the trend?

We all want our children to live healthy and wholesome lives. We should also want that for ourselves. You may feel intimidated by uprooting your family’s go-to menu and switching things up to help your family avoid such things as malnutrition and obesity. And while you may feel overwhelmed, please know that it’s possible! Making small changes to your family’s eating habits will have lasting and impactful results on everyone’s well-being.

Ten ways to help your child eat healthier.

It can be tempting to stick to the meals you know they’ll eat when you have a child constantly saying no to foods, especially new ones. When you gain the courage to get your child to try something new, it can result in a very stressful and frustrating mealtime for the entire family. Let’s try these ten ways to help your child eat healthier first!

1. Remember that food is more than nourishment.

Food has been uniting people since the beginning of time. A family meal can bring us together at the table each day. Additionally, food is almost always the centre of most celebrations! Food is life; food can improve health, keep us well, and prevent disease. Good food is a gift in more ways than one. Helping our children understand the gift of food is an essential first step.

2. Eat together as a family.

We live in a fast-paced world. As a result, we often find ourselves exhausted by the end of the day, which can cause us to gravitate toward the TV for mealtime. While this is ok here and there, it’s essential to sit down together as a family to eat at least one meal a day. According to Stanford Children’s Health, sitting together to eat as a family helps your child handle the stresses of daily life.

3. Involve your children in food prep.

There are many simple tasks that your child can partake in regarding kitchen tasks. Giving your child age-appropriate tasks to help prepare a meal for the family is a good practice. Your child can wash the fruits and vegetables, push buttons on the microwave, get ingredients together, tear lettuce and more. When you involve your child in meal prep, it boosts their interest and curiosity around food. While also setting an example for a healthy lifestyle.

4. Plan meals together.

Give each of your children one day a week when they can help choose a healthy meal for the whole family. Doing this helps reinforce good eating habits while helping them understand the importance of preventing food waste.

5. Give them choices.

Kids are always looking for ways to establish their independence. This is especially true when it comes to food. Like you don’t enjoy being forced to do something, neither do they. Instead of giving them one thing, provide them with a couple of options. When your child chooses between pear slices or apple slices, they get the autonomy they desire. You’re still in control of your child’s nutrition, but they also get a choice. It’s a win-win!

6. Allow your child to make their plate.

Allowing your child to make their plate is another fantastic way to build their independence while keeping them interested in new healthy foods. The results might not be immediate. However, most kids will be much more willing to make healthy food choices when given a choice.

7. Offer healthier snack options.

Kids seem to gravitate to sodium, preservative-filled foods. There’s just something so satisfying about crunching on your favourite snacks. But many times, these traditional snacks that kids love are filled with sugars and ingredients you can’t pronounce. We get it; it’s so easy to hand your child a bag of their favourite goodies. As you can probably imagine, this isn’t the best option for them. Your child’s snacks should be rich in fibre and protein, as this will help keep your child full for longer. Try giving your child healthy snack options to choose from instead.

These can look like this:

Apple slices with peanut butter.
A cup of nuts and raisins.
Veggie sticks with hummus.
Lightly salted popcorn.
Hard-boiled eggs.
Grapes and Kiwi.
Whole-grain crackers with cheese.

8. Be a good role model.

Who has the most influence on your child’s eating habits? You as their parent. Your attitude towards food and healthy eating habits will affect your child. If you find yourself cringing when eating a particular vegetable, they will too. Additionally, if your go-to snacks aren’t healthy, how could their choices be better? If you choose a can of pop or juice instead of a glass of water. How could we expect them to choose differently? Always remember you are the most outstanding example for your child.

9. Always offer but don’t force it.

I understand that offering your child healthy snacks or meal options can feel pointless when you know they will still gravitate to less healthy options. Don’t give up! Keep offering. If you’re making your child’s plate for them, still add the vegetables they don’t like. Alternatively, if they’re making their plate, advise them to choose at least one protein and one vegetable for their dish. Always be sure to offer healthy options for your child. However, be cautious that you never force or battle over food. This can cause them to have a greater aversion, and the dislike becomes a more significant issue.

10. Don’t give up.

Getting your child to make healthy food choices can ultimately feel overwhelming, especially if you have a picky eater. Don’t become discouraged; you’re doing an excellent job helping your child make the best choices. The easy road would be to hand your child the snacks they want and avoid offering them the healthy snacks they dislike. But the easy road never leads to anything significant. Don’t give up! Keep offering, keep trying, and keep offering.

This free meal tracker is a bonus to the ten ways to help your child eat healthier!

Sometimes kids love to track what they are doing and eating; try out this FREE Meal Tracker downloadable pdf. To encourage healthy eating habits and adequate water intake throughout the week! Print and go!

Download Your Free Weekly Meal Tracker Here

Four fantastic recipes to get you started.

We hope that the ten ways to help your child eat healthier were helpful for you. You can get creative with mealtime by adding unique meal ideas to your meal plan to help your kids enjoy their food. Try out these four amazing recipes:

Lentil Meatloaf Cups

These delicious Lentil Meatloaf Cups by She Likes Food are perfectly paired with mashed or roasted potatoes.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups brown lentils, dry
3 cups vegetable broth or water
One teaspoon of olive oil
1 cup small-diced carrot
1 cup small-diced celery
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
One clove of garlic, minced
One teaspoon of chopped fresh thyme
1/3 cup bread crumbs, gluten-free if necessary
One tablespoon of ketchup, plus more for the top
One flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax mixed with 2 1/2 tbsp water, let sit for 2–3 minutes)
Two tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cooking spray

She Likes Food Vegan Lentil Meatloaf Cups Instructions.

Broccoli Cheesy Bread

This fantastic recipe boasts that even the pickiest eaters can’t resist it.

Ingredients:

3 cups riced broccoli
One large egg
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan
Two cloves of minced garlic
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tsp. freshly chopped parsley
Warmed marinara for serving.

View the full recipe by delish.

Gnocchi Chicken Skillet

If you’re looking for an easy, wholesome dinner in a hurry, this is it! Just throw it together, prep a salad and go!

Ingredients:

One package (16 ounces) of potato gnocchi
1 lb ground chicken
1/2 chopped onion
Two tablespoons of olive oil
1 jar (26oz) spaghetti sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Shredded Parmesan Cheese

View the full recipe on Taste of Home.

This meal is simple, filling, quick and nutritious. And most of the ingredients can be found in your pantry!

Ingredients:

6 oz. egg noodles
2 (4oz) cans of tuna in water
One tablespoon of canola oil
One small onion, diced
Two stalks of celery, diced
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
2 (10oz) cans of condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup frozen peas

View Tuna Noodle Casserole Directions here.

Random Acts of Kindness Ideas

Imagine what the world would be like if everyone prioritized being kind to others. Our society praises students for being innovative, getting good grades, and succeeding. But kindness goes widely unappreciated. Could you imagine if parents and educators emphasized the importance of being kind to others? Imagine how cool it would be if kindness were as valued as intelligence. You can start teaching your child about the benefits of being kind today! With 21 random acts of kindness ideas, plus you can download the ‘My Kindness Goal’ for your child!

5 benefits of being kind to others:

Being kind is beneficial for both the giver and the receiver. When you give kindness to someone, you usually receive kindness back. There are many excellent benefits of being kind to others; you should utilize them while teaching your children. Some seem somewhat predictable, while others are a little shocking! Nonetheless, Science continues to find more ways that our mental and physical health are impacted by each other. So, teaching your child about random acts of kindness and the benefits of bringing others joy is essential.

1. Kindness can boost your immune system.

Our brain’s feel-good hormone, Oxytocin, reduces inflammation. You are probably familiar with the fact that inflammation is linked to many diseases in the body. These are diabetes, chronic pain, obesity, cancer, and migraines. Being kind can boost your body’s oxytocin levels, which then helps to decrease inflammation. You don’t have to wait for someone else to promote your oxytocin; you can do it today! By spreading kindness like confetti!

2. Kindness creates a sense of belonging.

Being kind and helping others is considered a way to help people create, maintain and strengthen social connections. Face-to-face activities like volunteering to help someone can reduce isolation and loneliness.

3. Kindness helps you feel in control.

It’s easy to resent someone always trying to push our buttons. When this happens, we often feel like we don’t have control or stability around those people. You know that no one should be able to control your mood, yet you find it extremely difficult to stay calm when they push your buttons. When you choose to instead act with kindness, you will gain the self-respect of not letting other people push your buttons.

Remember, if someone never seems to change and is always aiming to make you upset, it’s best to avoid these people.

4. Kindness helps you find your people.

People are genuinely attracted to kind people. If you’re at the grocery store and someone kindly holds the door open for you, you will feel more attracted to that person—Vs. The person that slammed the door in your face. We were born with kindness in our hearts, so we tend to gravitate toward the people that demonstrate empathy. A kind mom at a playgroup or homeschool co-op is much easier to be around than someone constantly making you second-guess yourself.

5. Kindness can give you a mental break.

Stress doesn’t give your brain a break. Because when you’re feeling chronically stressed, all you can do is focus on the things you’re concerned about. When you focus on the joy you are bringing to someone else through the random acts of kindness you do, you also give your brain a much-needed break from figuring out all your problems.

The mental break is similar to the brain break you get from a cardio session, healthy sleep, or meditation. You are giving the analytical, thinking part of your brain a rest and, simultaneously, awakening the creative and feeling side of your brain! When you focus on someone else’s happiness, you forget your problems for a little while. That in itself is enough to give you a boost.

You should teach your kids about the power of random acts of kindness.

We all want our children to live their very best life. As you read through the five benefits of being kind, I’m sure you would also want each one of those benefits for your child. Being kind isn’t something you have to wait until your child is older to learn. You can start teaching your children about bringing others joy by spreading love with random acts of kindness. And, of course, the ultimate way to teach your children is to model it.

21 Random Acts of Kindness Ideas that your children can be involved in:

Compliment others.
Pick up litter at the park.
Let someone take your spot in line.
Insert money into someone’s parking meter.
Buy flowers to hand to people on the street.
Write and leave letters of encouragement on people’s cars.
Pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru.
Use allowance to donate to a charity of your child’s choice.
Hold open the door for someone.
Write letters to the elderly.
Shovel snow from a neighbour’s driveway.
Do someone a favour without expecting anything in return.
Bake cookies for the neighbours.
Encourage your child to show the ‘new kid’ around their school.
In the summer, hand out water to people at a park.
Send a letter to a loved one instead of a text.
Tip your waitress generously.
Make breakfast in bed for a family member.
Write a kind letter to a parent.
Leave kind comments on people’s social media posts.
Be kind to yourself.

Random acts of kindness are what the world needs.

Every single person that you meet needs kindness. Your child needs kindness; your spouse needs kindness; your family members need kindness; the clerk at the bank needs kindness; the debt collector needs kindness, the customer service rep from the company you purchased a product from needs kindness. Every single person that you come in contact with needs kindness. Including the person that is looking back at you in the mirror.

All of us need extended grace for our shortcomings and thoughtfulness when needed. You have the power and ability to give kindness to others while also teaching your children how important it is to spread kindness to the world around us.

Download the Free My Kindness Goal Sheet

Download the ‘My Kindness Goal’ sheet for your child to complete. You can choose from either the colouring sheet or the written word sheet.

Learn more about Random Acts of Kindness Day:

Random Acts of Kindness Foundation

Check out this FREE, fun task list for kids by Schoolio.

Parental Burnout

As parents, we often put ourselves at the bottom of the list regarding self-care and needs. Many parents stress that everyone is well taken care of but forget themselves. The dangers of continually doing this can lead to parental burnout.

You are hiding your feelings while neglecting your needs.

When you constantly put most of your energy into your children and their needs while neglecting your own, you can become more susceptible to parental burnout and compassion fatigue. A huge indicator is when you feel like you have absolutely nothing left to give to your family because your exhaustion level is high. Hiding your feelings and neglecting your needs significantly affects your mental health.

It can be easy to indulge in parental guilt when experiencing burnout. We tell ourselves that we should have it all together; we shouldn’t struggle. Because many of us think that our problems are exclusive to ourselves, everyone else must be perfect, right? That’s a false belief that needs to be corrected. This is why it’s important to note that burnout affects parents around the globe.

Savanta ComRes conducted a recent poll in 2021. The results showed that 45% of parents feel burned out. In the 1980s, Belgian psychology researchers identified parental burnout for the first time. Researchers Moira Mikolajczak and Isabelle Roskam were the first to describe parental burnout. They first described it as “an exhaustion syndrome, characterized by feeling physically and mentally overwhelmed.” The cause? Being a parent. As this syndrome was discovered in the 1980s, we can prove that generations before us have also struggled with parental burnout. It’s not exclusive to you, so don’t feel guilty.

Symptoms of parental burnout:

It’s important to remember that burnout can look very different for everyone. While some people may experience physical symptoms, others may experience emotional symptoms. And others may experience both!

Looking at the most common symptoms:

Feelings of hopelessness, self-doubt and helplessness.
Exhaustion or sense drained all the time.
Headaches, muscle aches, neck pain.
No motivation for basic tasks.
Distinct changes to sleeping habits and appetite.
You feel like you are detached from others and alone in the world.
Irritability.
Behaviours that are isolating.
Brain fog and confusion.
Forgetfulness.
Significant increase in stress levels.

You may be more prone to parental burnout if you have chronic parenthood-related stress. This chronic parental stress can come from several sources. Including the pandemic, virtual learning, school closures, children with special needs, health complications, homeschooling, single parenting, a lack of support, or parenting while working from home. These are just some of the risk factors.

Risks of leaving parental burnout untreated:

Many complications can occur if warning signs of parental burnout are left untreated. These complications include overwhelming exhaustion that is hard to cope with. Parents with young children usually tend to be physically tired. At the same time, parents with older children will usually experience emotional exhaustion. They are generally resulting from conflicts with their teens.

Additionally, burned-out parents will begin to distance themselves from their children. They are doing so to preserve their energy. Following this, many parents who suffer from burnout notice a loss of fulfillment in parenting. The consequences of parental burnout are different from common job burnout. As you already know, parents don’t get a vacation, unlike a job. Additionally, you cannot just leave your parenting roles the way someone can leave an occupation.

Burnout can cause parents to become violent or even neglectful toward their children if burnout is left untreated. I’m sure you’re aware this doesn’t just negatively affect the children; it also causes parents to feel shame. Shame they will dwell on, causing them to sink deeper and deeper into these negative feelings.

“Parental burnout is the physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion one feels from the chronic stress of parenting.”
Dr. Puja Aggarwal

Pandemic parenting is incredibly exhausting.

Recent research by a UK children’s charity showed that more than 80% of parents struggle. These parents share that they have at least one symptom of burnout. The pandemic has adversely affected children’s education and mental health. And even more so are those effects on children when parents are burned out and inadvertently put their stress onto their children.

Luckily, parental burnout isn’t a life sentence. And with time and the right tools, you can overcome parental burnout and get back to being the parent you want to be.

Overcoming parental burnout

If you have noticed that you are experiencing some symptoms of burnout, then you must do the work now to get a handle on it before it gets out of control.

Some simple changes include:

Improve how you communicate your feelings.

Communication is key. If you are beginning to feel burnt out, your first step needs to be communication. Communicate how you feel to your partner and let them know you need extra support right now. We like to think that our partners can read our minds and know exactly what we need. But they can’t! So communicate. If you’re a single parent, try talking to a friend or family member you trust.

Be mindful of what you’re fuelling your body with.

If you’re feeling horrendously exhausted, the easy fix would be to grab more coffee or a sugary snack to bring your energy back up. This will provide you with that temporary boost of energy that you were looking for. However, it will also cause you to crash later. Try to break the habit of getting more coffee and sugar. And instead, choose to fuel your body with foods rich in nutrients. Aim to include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins in your meals.

Exercise.

You don’t have to do very much research to learn that physical activity can boost your energy and raise your feel-good hormones. Exercise also can reduce stress, anxiety and even depression. Exercising is an essential tool for fighting off parental burnout. Please don’t feel intimidated; you don’t need to go to the gym daily or run marathons for this to work. It can be as simple as taking a 15-20 minute walk around the neighbourhood. This will help clear your head and boost your energy while moving your body and breathing fresh air.

Stop feeling guilty for caring for yourself.

Never feel guilty for taking time for yourself or your partner. Focusing on your needs and relationship doesn’t make you a bad parent. It’s the opposite; taking time for yourself and practicing healthy self-care will make you an even better parent.

Talk to a mental health professional.

If you have concerns about your mental health, energy levels, or well-being, please don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Mental health professionals are trained to give you the tips you need to improve.

Use the Burnout Blueprint method.

In collaboration with Dr. Ben and Dr. Ashley, Daddy’s Digest has designed tools to help parents overcome parental burnout. These fantastic tools have come from Dr. Ben and Dr. Ashley’s 14 years of experience and have been tested on thousands of patients. The Burnout Blueprint has years of research, papers, and testing condensed into 11 unique modules designed to support burnout sustainably.

You can learn more about The Burnout Blueprint here.

You aren’t alone.

Parental burnout affects millions of parents around the globe. If you are struggling with it, please don’t feel ashamed. It doesn’t mean that you are a terrible parent. Or that you aren’t strong enough to manage it all. You are human, and you have needs. If you are struggling with parental burnout, please be kind to yourself. And take the necessary steps to get better.

Once you start feeling better, always be sure to add specific habits to your routine to keep parental burnout from popping up again because it is preventable with the proper steps.

Some simple ways to prevent parental burnout from taking over include:

Ask for help.
Communicate your needs.
Hire a babysitter from time to time.
Exercise daily.
Practice self-care.
Be kind to yourself.
Only set realistic expectations.

Resources:

Dear Exhausted and Burnt Out Parents, We’re Here to Help – Healthline

The Impact of Parental Burnout – American Psychological Association

COVID-19 is Still Causing Parental Burnout- Do you Know the Symptoms? – World Economic Forum

Book a Concierge Call.

If you aren’t sure how to get started or what programs would best suit your child’s learning needs, then you can chat with one of our experts on a one-on-one Concierge Call, completely free!
Click here to book a Concierge Call.

Keep Your House Tidy with 15 Tips for Homeschoolers.

Oh, the clutter! Even if you started the school year with organized folders, ideally put-together bedrooms, and a tidy toy room. You may find that your table has a pile of books, papers, art supplies and other odds and ends. Your kitchen counters have become a dumping ground for the entire household. And let’s not even discuss the basement. How do you keep your house tidy when you’re a busy, overworked, exhausted homeschooling parent?

Keep Your House Tidy with these 15 tips!

1. Declutter

I know this is tough! Especially when you throw random toys no one cares about into the donation/trash pile. Suddenly, that doll with no hair has become your child’s best friend. This happens every time I try to declutter my kid’s rooms. They come into their rooms and see the bag. I am instantly rummaging through it to know what I’m tossing. Suddenly, the keep pile has grown astronomically, and the donation pile is essentially nothing.

How do you declutter with kids? Is that even possible? Yes! You can get them involved. That way, they see what you’re doing – and hey – they might even begin to enjoy decluttering. My kids, they aren’t those kids. So, I declutter their rooms when they’re not home. Suppose they’re with their grandparents or at a movie with their dad. I will try to make an effort to go through the room and throw out odds and ends. Being ever so careful not to mess with the critical toys and things.

Decluttering will make you feel so much better. Teaching, working, and living with clutter around you are just miserable. So, do your best to declutter your spaces.

2. Utilize storage bins and baskets.

Storage bins and baskets are a life-saver for the homeschooling/stay-at-home/virtual learning parent. Those books that are sitting on the table? They can have a bin. The barbies all over the house? They can also have a bin. Everything gets a bin! You can label the bins ‘toys’, ‘books,’ ‘misc’ and so on. Be strict with yourself and your family about what goes in the bin. Making sure that the label and the contents of the bins/baskets always match.

3. Everything has a place.

Have a bookshelf, cupboard, or bin specifically for homeschooling materials. Be sure to have a bucket for all those markers, so they don’t end up all over the tabletop. This goes beyond the homeschooling area. Everything in your home should have a place when you have random stuff with no home, even if it’s just a few items. They quickly turn into piles of clutter that you don’t want around.

4. Create a Cleaning Schedule.

Breaking down house cleaning tasks into small, not-so-intimidating tasks is so beneficial. Many people think they need to have a specific day set aside for cleaning. The problem with that is that by the time cleaning day rolls around; your house is so messy that cleaning it overwhelms you. That’s why you should break cleaning down into smaller, daily tasks. I understand the desire to clean it all, but who are we kidding? The kids will destroy it in less time than it took you to clean it. So instead, keep your house tidy by replacing the intense cleaning day with daily 30-minute cleaning routines.

What a daily cleaning routine could look like:

Sunday:

Clean the upstairs bathroom.
Vacuum Bedrooms.
Wash the bedding.

Monday:

Clean the downstairs bathroom.
Dust the living room/dining room.
Wash the towels.

Tuesday:

Clean sliding glass door.
Organize desk.
Wash the kid’s clothes.

Wednesday:

Clean surfaces of kitchen cupboards.
Organize homeschool materials.
Wash the blankets on the couch.

Thursday:

Dust hallway photos, stairway photos, and light fixtures.
Clean microwave.
Wash your clothes.

Friday:

Clean the fridge.
Sweep/vacuum main floors.
Mop main floors.
Wash the outdoor coats and jackets.

Saturday:

Sort and manage all the random papers/art projects/mail accumulated.
Focus on areas that have become cluttered during the week, and aim to declutter.
Organize homeschool materials for the next week.

Each of these tasks can have a designated duration of 10 minutes, bringing your total time cleaning to 30-40 minutes a day. It’s important to remember that you will have daily tasks, like dishes, sweeping, cat litter boxes if you have pets, spills etc. But those extra ‘big projects’ that maybe stress you out – don’t have to! When you simplify your cleaning to simple routines, keeping your house tidy will be much easier.

5. Daily laundry is a must.

This is especially true if you have multiple kids. Laundry is one area of life that so many parents feel they fall behind on. It’s so easy to throw it in a basket and then wait 5-10 business days to wash or fold it. So, throw in a load every day. Towels? Bedding? Clothes? Do one load a day. Having a laundry day is overrated. If you have access to a washing machine, throw a load in daily.

6. Designate chores.

You don’t have to do it all by yourself. Especially if your kids are older, you can give out a different task to each of your kids and get twice as much completed in half the time. It’s so good for our kids to do chores and learn the primary responsibilities of life. You will want to keep the chores age appropriate. Getting your child involved in that 30 minutes of cleaning each day will benefit them and your family home.

7. Do a quick nightly clean.

It’s evening, are the kids in bed? Do a quick 5-10 minute sweep of the floors. This doesn’t have to be extravagant. Just enough to pick up some legos, so you don’t step on them when you walk to the bathroom at night.

8. Don’t just cook; clean up!

Some people cook and leave it out all over the countertops for later. That in itself drives me crazy. While I’m cooking, I’m cleaning. I’ll wash it quickly if I just finished using a mixing bowl. If the pasta bag is empty, I’ll toss it in the trash. Cleaning up while you cook is one way to make the clean-up job more manageable. This is important, especially for the homeschooling parents making breakfast, lunch and dinner. You’re the real MVPs!

9. Give your kitchen some extra love.

When you’re finished cooking and everyone has devoured the meal, spend an extra 10 minutes making sure the counters are clean and organized. I don’t know about you, but my kitchen counters need to be clean, or I feel gross. Although right now, my daughter has her dolls on them because it’s a secret world. Keeping your kitchen clean is one way to keep your house tidy. A pro tip: Never, ever leave dishes in the sink overnight. I always make it a point to load the dishwasher or wash the dishes while I cook and after eating. Because waking up to a sink full of dishes is never fun.

10. Do it now.

When you walk through the house, you see a random toy lying on the floor. Pick it up and find its home. Don’t just leave it there. If you walk into the bathroom and find the towels on the floor, pick them up. Do it now. Don’t leave it for later. If you find that the shoes by the front door have turned into a pile of chaos, do a quick organization of the shoes. Don’t wait; just do it now.

11. Make cleaning seem less like a chore.

Whether it’s during your 30-minute daily cleaning routine or you choose to do a deep clean of the house. Just remember, it doesn’t have to be a chore! Turn on your favourite tunes, and make it fun. Dance around with your kids. Teach them that cleaning a house is a gift, not a punishment.

12. Clean the air while you’re cleaning surfaces!

This is such a nifty hack that I learned about in Readers Digest! When you’re vacuuming, dusting or sweeping, the dust and dirt sometimes end up in the air. Soon it will settle back down on your floors and surfaces. So, turn your home’s thermostat to “fan on.” While you clean, keep it on so it can catch all that dirt and dust floating around. Keep it running for 15 minutes after you’ve finished cleaning. Then be sure to switch it back to auto. You can learn more neat cleaning hacks here: 40 Handy Hints for Cleaning.

13. Sort through school supplies and papers regularly.

Don’t leave this task for the beginning and end of a homeschool year. Set aside weekly time to go through homeschooling content, supplies, and random papers. This way, they don’t pile up all over the place. Keep reminding yourself that everything has a place. Doing this ensures your learning environment is clean and organized. This will help you as the parent-teacher and your child during learning time.

14. Get help.

If you are financially able, hire a cleaning company to pop by once every two weeks for a few hours to tidy those areas that you can’t get to, like the oven or baseboards. There are many excellent-priced options out there when it comes to cleaning companies. Some are as cheap as $18/hour. Sometimes getting that extra help will be such a relief for you. You can then use that energy on something more significant.

15. Know that your ‘good’ is good enough.

It can be tough to think that your home is clean enough, especially when you pop on social media and see a social media influencer’s stunningly clean home. That will make you quickly and painfully fall into the comparison trap. So avoid that. Your house is clean enough. And you’re doing an excellent job! Not everyone can manage all the tasks that you’ve taken on, but you do it! Is it that bad if your house reflects the fun you all have?

Find your favourite on The Schoolio Marketplace.

15 Ways to Find Joy During the Holidays

Being a parent is challenging enough somedays, now throw in the magic of Christmas and chances are you’re over the top exhausted. We all want our children to have a wholesome childhood filled with fond memories. The kind of childhood that shapes them into the amazing adults we are aiming for them to become. But let’s face it, it can be very exhausting when you’re always trying to make things great. Especially when it comes to the holidays. Which is why 15 ways to find joy during the holidays is extremely important.

Advertising lays the pressure on thick when it comes to holiday traditions and gifts you must buy. As a result the added stress of trying to make the holidays magical can compound the overwhelm of trying to give your children a wholesome childhood. Many families are just scraping by, the holidays often bring the extra pressure to buy gifts and decorations. Which then causes parents to go in debt to try to make things magical. And that debt is something that most will carry through the coming year.

The holidays don’t just place stress of finances, there are many other areas that hit a stressful point. Like the waking up early part. Wrapping gifts with time that you already don’t have. Moving the elf, then moving the elf again, and again and again. Spending hours in the kitchen making a holiday feast, only for it to be eaten in five minutes. We as parents can often become so overwhelmed by the never ending lists. Which causes the holidays to lead us to cringe with exhaustion just thinking about all the added pressure. So what’s the remedy? What are 15 ways to find joy during the holidays as a parent?

15 Ways to Find Joy During the Holidays as a Busy Parent.

We’ve compiled this pretty incredible list of ways to bring joy to yourself during the holidays. And please don’t think that that’s selfish. It’s not selfish to take steps towards untouchable happiness, it’s actually the opposite. Because if you are finding joy, even in the tough moments, your entire family will benefit.

1. Let the Schedule Go.

Does the idea of falling out of schedule make you nervous? That might be because your parenting schedule is something that you have control over in a world that is anything but normal. However, you may find that during the holiday season, it will be so much more difficult to stay on your normal routine and schedules. Bedtimes might get pushed, morning routines may become messy. When this happens, don’t fight it. Just go with it. Your families routine isn’t a reflection of your parenting skills.

It’s really simple, the joy that you feel from trying to stay on track with your schedule and routine is often false joy, or limited joy. Instead, aim for the joy that comes with your children’s beautiful smiles, and with the laughter that fills the room when you all share a funny memory.

2. Spend Time With Your Family.

Number 2 of the 15 ways to find joy during the holidays comes down to undivided attention. Truly something that your children crave. Society is digital, we can sometimes spend hours chatting with someone who is thousands of miles away. Then when we look up from the phone we see the little eyes of someone that loves you so much, is right here in the room with you but feels miles away. Instead of being glued to your device, put it away. Spend time with your kids. Talk to them, tell them stories about the holidays when you were a kid.

The undivided attention that you can provide them with is worth so much more than a cool new lego set, or barbie doll. When you spend that special time with your children, you will feel so much more fulfilled in knowing that your bond is growing stronger.

3. Make Cards Together.

The last normal Christmas that we had was in 2019. That’s a bit of a scary thought. However, one small thing that can bring comfort is knowing that every person you meet is experiencing this also. So, why not bring some joy to others? Creating some fun holiday cards with your kids, and handing them out to neighbours and friends is an excellent way to share and bring holiday joy. Teaching our kids to be kind to others by doing something as simple as making and delivering a Christmas card, is a life lesson that they will forever keep.

When you do this, you can take joy in knowing that you not only brightened someone else’s day, you also helped your child learn the value of spreading kindness during a time of year that is often cold and dark for so many.

4. Gift a Stranger.

I promise this isn’t sketchy. It’s actually really amazing. Last Christmas I was feeling really blue. The pandemic, impending shut down, losing our dog, and a bunch of other things had left me in a state of blah. Trying to get in the Christmas Spirit was just not something I could do. Until I saw this incredible idea on Instagram. Writing notes of kindness to strangers. I quickly adopted the idea. And took six special cards, wrote special notes inside them and placed $20 in each card.

After we masked up, the kids and I went to the mall, and found six people that seemed like they could really use a ‘pick me up’. We gifted these little cards, with no explanation. Later that day, I saw on a local Facebook group, people writing posts about the random envelopes from the kids at the mall that changed their day and helped them see a light.

This simple gesture brought so much joy to my and my children’s hearts. There’s just something so amazing about gifting to someone. If you don’t have extra money to spare, then don’t place yourself in a stressful spot. Even just writing a kind note and gifting it to someone can be such a a game-changer.

5. Support a Charity.

Recent research has shown that supporting a cause can actually work to increase joy. Knowing that you are doing something bigger than you, can be really mood boosting. This year, I had my kids sit down with a gift catalogue. Not a normal gift catalogue, this gift catalogue had items needed most around the world, and also right here in our own country. My kids selected seeds for a family to plant in another country, a water filter for another family to drink. And to feed a student lunch for one year here in our country.

I watched as my kids faces lit up when they knew that what they were doing was going to help others. They don’t know who it will help, and we will likely never meet those who we are helping. However, the joy of knowing that someone, somewhere will have something they really need because of your gift. That’s joy inducing.

6. Create Meaningful Traditions.

Traditions are something that you and your kids can look forward to with excitement. Set up new, fun traditions. Like holiday baking on December 23rd or having a pyjama wearing, Christmas movie watching, marathon. You could also create your own home decorations together every year, using your imagination and creativity to come up with some awesome designs.

7. Have a Christmas Movie Marathon.

I know, you’re thinking ‘didn’t I just read this as part of the creating meaningful traditions?’ You did! You absolutely did! However, it was too good to leave out of the 15 ways to find joy during the holidays. As parents we can become so busy and overwhelmed. When we lounge around we often think that we are failing in some way because we should be busy doing something else.

Dedicate one day of the winter break to lounging in your pyjamas with your kids, watching Christmas movies. Snuggling, eating, and relaxing are three things that are sure to cause joy and make memories. Take a break from the business and prioritize rest.

8. Lower Your Expectations.

We often think that it’s our children that have the high expectations for the holidays. When more often than not, it’s us that have the unrealistic expectations of how the holidays should go. In our minds we cultivate this vision of you playing holiday songs, drinking hot chocolate, while a three coarse breakfast is cooking. As your children happily open their gifts and the house smells of cinnamon and happiness.

Reality is often so much more different. You’re likely sitting on the couch, looking over at your partner as you both try not to fall asleep while your kids rip through the gifts as quickly as possible. That giant holiday breakfast that you wanted to prepare has turned into a box of cereal and you already snapped when your kids accidentally kicked you in the nose when they were jumping on your bed trying to get you to get up.

So, lower your expectations. Will the holidays be magical? Maybe. But are you going to sacrifice your mental well-being in order to make it that way? No.

9. Keep Things Simple.

This point really goes along well with number eight. Aim to keep things simple. The holidays don’t need to be extravagant and mind-blowing. In fact, keeping the holidays simple will bring more joy to you and your whole family. Because you’re taking that painful pressure off of yourself.

10. Let Go of Resentment.

The holidays sometimes can bring up some feelings that aren’t exactly joy inducing. Thinking about how your mother-in-law didn’t even call the kids to say hello. Or about how your partner didn’t bother to get you a gift again. These feelings of resentment will poison your state of mind and cause the joy to seep right out of you. Give yourself the gift of letting it go. People aren’t perfect, you’ll always be able to find some way that things didn’t go right because of someone else. Please do yourself a favour, and let it go.

“The heart is like a garden: it can grow compassion or fear, resentment or love. What seeds will you plant there?”
Jack Kornfield

11. Let Go of the Bad Moments.

Sometimes it can seem like for every good moment you have, there are ten bad moments that cloud it. Our minds seem to be susceptible to negativity. Being drawn to the bad will only make the good that much more invisible. Will you have bad moments during the holidays? Probably! But not all moments will be bad, truly there will be some wonderful moments that you can remember and focus on with joy.

12. Keep Up With Healthy Habits.

Please don’t be confused by this. I know that number one of the 15 ways to find joy during the holidays was “Let go of the schedule”. However, healthy habits are a different category completely. During the holiday season there are so many treats, and so many opportunities to give up on healthy habits that we have set for ourselves. Let me encourage you not to do that. Make healthy eating, adequate amount of sleep and exercise a part of your holiday traditions. It can be so tempting to devour the box of chocolates that your friend gave you. Or skip exercise entirely.

Healthy Habits are gifts that your body needs to feel great during the holidays. Taking away those healthy habits will only cause you to feel like you aren’t grounded. So stick with it!

Schoolio has a really neat Healthy Choices Challenge that you and your child can participate in. You can check it out and download the neat freebie here: https://schoolio.io/product/holidayhealthychoiceschallenge/

Schoolio Holiday Healthy Choices Challenge

13. Connect With a Loved One.

The pandemic has made connection and community something that is few and far between. I never thought I would be unable to see my family, until the pandemic happened. While it may still not be safe to connect with your entire family, you still have the gift of technology. Set up a time for your family to video chat a loved one. Share laughs, stories and moments. It won’t be the same as the in-person visits you’d love to have. But it will still be worth it for the whole family.

14. Let Yourself Feel the Feelings.

Maybe you are just really struggling with finding joy. But the fact that you are struggling is making you feel more anxious because you feel like you shouldn’t be feeling that way. Did you follow that? It was a little confusing. Listen, if you’re struggling to find joy and you’re ashamed of yourself because you think that you should be exuding joy right now, just know that your feelings are valid. Please don’t try to push those feelings way deep down. Instead, embrace them for what they are. Life is different now, the holidays can be challenging. It’s ok to not be feeling ok. Talk to a friend, family member, or licensed therapist about your feelings.

15. Be Kind to Yourself.

We place such a huge emphasis on being kind to others, but we often forget to include ourselves in the equation. Please remember to show yourself kindness. Please don’t condemn yourself just because you forgot to buy the eggnog. You’re doing a great job, you’re an amazing parent that just wants the best for your family. So, please be gentle with yourself.

Bonus: Are your kids bored? Keep them Entertained for Free!

Is your kids boredom driving you slightly nuts? It can be so much more difficult to find joy when your kids are whining to you about their boredom. Try some of the free special interest units by Schoolio!

Currently on The Schoolio Marketplace you will find these products for free:

Christmas in North America – Special Interest Unit – https://schoolio.io/product/christmas/
All About Hanukkah – Special Interest Unit – https://schoolio.io/product/hanukkah/
All About Kwanzaa – Special Interest Unit – https://schoolio.io/product/kwanzaa/

Check out these amazing free units to help your kids learn and have fun this holiday season. Additionally, we have some pretty amazing, discounted units available for your child to enjoy this season.

The Schoolio Marketplace Discounted Special Interest Units:

Christmas Math Activity Book – https://schoolio.io/product/christmasmath/
Evidence Investigation – https://schoolio.io/product/science-evidence-investigation-special-interest-unit/
Thoughts and Feelings: Learning to Manage How I Think and Feel – https://schoolio.io/product/managingemotions/

Additional Resources for the 15 Ways to Find Joy During the Holidays:

Psychology Today: Tips for Holidays and Parenting – https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-older-dad/201111/tips-holidays-and-parenting-letting-joy-win-over-stress
Cathy Taughinbaugh: Find Joy This Holiday Season – https://cathytaughinbaugh.com/find-joy-this-holiday-season-even-when-your-family-is-addicted/

Homeschool Mom Self-Care

Guest Blog by Rebecca Miller

In the last few years, self-care has become an internet buzz-word. The word itself tends to conjure visions of bubble baths, manicures and spa days. Oftentimes, self-care seems like just another chore on an endless list of jobs that exhausted mothers are expected to complete. We can feel added pressure to make sure we are fitting in yet one more thing. As homeschool mamas, we have so much on our plates. After taking care of our household, our children and our jobs. So how can we be expected to prioritize a pedicure? But what if self-care, as in real self-care, doesn’t look like that at all? What does self-care look like as a homeschool mom?

What is Self Care?

Self-care is something all of us practice daily, or at least we should practice daily. Self-care includes brushing our teeth, fuelling our bodies with food and water. And believe it or not, even paying bills can be a form of self-care. Essentially, self-care is taking care of your whole self. You whole self including, physically, emotionally, socially, practically and spiritually. When all areas of our lives are in balance, it helps us have a general sense of wellness. Alternatively, when one or more of these areas is lacking, we can often feel rundown, tired, stressed or depressed. These feelings are ones that you want to avoid, which is why homeschool mom self-care is especially important.

What Self-Care is Not

Self-care is not just about pampering yourself. Because even things that feel awkward and uncomfortable can be forms of self-care. For example: Setting boundaries, washing dishes, and even having a difficult conversation can be considered self-care. Because these will benefit you in the future, despite the fact that they are not enjoyable in the moment. Contrary to popular belief, the term “Self-Care” doesn’t mean selfish. As a parent, it can be extremely difficult and guilt-inducing to practice self-care in the beginning. For people who have been raised to be people pleasers, it can feel uncomfortable and strange to put themselves first. I have personally felt the “mom guilt” creep in when I have taken much needed time for myself to recharge.

Self-care does not have to cost money.

There are plenty of activities that can fill your bucket without affecting your wallet. If you are just starting your self-care regimen. And are finding it difficult to put yourself first, you are not alone. A helpful tip for keeping guilt at bay, is to reframe your self-care in a way that benefits your children. For me, I know that I have much more patience when I am well-rested. So I tell myself “this nap will benefit the kids, because I will have more patience when I am not tired.” When I know that my actions are benefitting my kids, it can help quiet that inner critic. Which makes homeschool mom self-care so much more obtainable.

Why is Homeschool Mom Self-Care Important?

Self-Care is important for everyone, especially during the uncertain times we are facing during the pandemic. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 38% of Canadians say their mental health has declined due to Covid-19. Reports of anxiety and depression have risen in both children and their parents during the pandemic. Self-care is about taking care of your health so you can be the best version of yourself. It also helps you be the best parent you can be for your kids. The fact is, parents who are well-rested and have full buckets, have more and tend to be more optimistic than those who are tired, stressed and emotionally depleted.

Is it selfish?

While it may feel selfish to take time for yourself. It’s especially important, because showing our kids that we are prioritizing our health, can help them grow into adults that will do the same. We already know that kids tend to mimic what we do, rather than what we say. Therefore if we are constantly neglect ourselves, while telling our kids that they need to make healthy choices, they are likely to think, “well mom doesn’t do that, why should I?” However, when our kids see us taking time to sit and enjoy a cup of tea or read a book, they begin to think “Ok, this is what mom does to recharge.” This is especially true when we include our kids in the conversation. Because even young children can understand when you say, “Mama is really tired right now. I am going to lay here on the couch while you watch your show. I am resting my body so I can have more energy to play with you later!” And while little ones may not catch on right away, in time they will begin to normalize self-care as well.

When I was growing up.

When I was growing up, I remember how hard my mom worked keeping the house tidy, making meals and taking care of the household. I don’t remember her taking time to relax or care for herself. When I became a Mom, that image stuck with me, and I felt that I needed to be that way as well. Unfortunately, as many of us find out, when I neglected myself, I had little to give anyone else. Can you relate?It took years for me to get over this false idea that I needed to put myself last. It really is something that so many of us are conditioned to believe is true. Once you can put down those ideas, you will find it easier to practice self-care.

Let me tell you a story

Last year I was working a lot at my job as a support worker. I was trying desperately to stockpile funds for Christmas, so I was taking on lots of extra shifts. I knew from experience that it was going to be hard on me mentally, so I made sure to schedule time to refill my bucket. One day I came home from work to find that my oldest daughter had taken every single article of clothing out of her closet and thrown it around her room. There were clothes and toys everywhere. In my line of work, they teach us that all behaviour is communication. So I knew that my daughter was trying to communicate with me. My initial instinct was to get upset about the huge mess, but because my bucket was full, I was able to approach the situation in a much different way. So, instead of reacting with anger, I was able to step back and realize my daughter needed something from me. And this was her way of telling me that she did. I asked my daughter, “What’s up, kiddo?” and invited her to help me reorganize her closet as we talked.

Remaining calm changed the situation.

I am not sharing this story because I want a pat on the back. Alternatively, I’m sharing this story because the truth is, if I hadn’t prioritized self-care, my reaction would have likely been very different. I don’t think I could have remained calm and thoughtful if I was at the end of my rope. Through sharing this story, I want you to know that by putting yourself first sometimes, you are also doing what is best for your family. Homeschool mom self-care is so important.

Finding Time for Homeschool Mom Self-Care.

Treating self-care as a priority is key. Some homeschool moms wake up before their kids so they can have 10-15 minutes of quiet time as they drink their coffee. Other homeschool moms stay up after their kids go to bed for the very same reason. Another option, depending on the ages of your children, is to tell them that you will be busy for a certain amount of time and they need to work on their schoolwork or activities independently. During this set time you can go for a walk, have a shower, or do whatever self-care activity you’d like. As long as it fills your bucket.

Another Option.

You can also practice self-care in the same room as your children. While your children are in the living room watching a movie, or playing with their toys, you can have your earbuds in while you sit with them, and listen to your favourite podcast!Scheduling self-care activities and treating them with the same importance as any other appointment, can really help as well. I have started blocking off times on the calendar for self-care so I don’t forget. The harsh reality is that we tend to find time for things that are a priority. When we say “I don’t have time” it simply means it is not a big enough priority.Therefore, putting self-care on the calendar is one way to make it part of your daily routine. Additionally, another way is to set reminders on your phone, to remind you that it’s time to take care of yourself. And you could also set an intention each morning to practice one (or more) self-care activities, depending on what you feel like doing that day. Let’s face it, some days organizing the closet feels more like a chore than self-care!

Where Do I Start With Homeschool Mom Self-Care?

The type of activities you choose as self-care will be entirely up to you. Based on your individual tastes and things that you enjoy. It’s really important not to judge your choices. If watching a silly video because it makes you feel good is self-care for you, then do that! No one is allowed to judge your form of self-care. Are you looking for ideas for homeschool mom self-care?

Here are some examples of homeschool mom self-care activities that don’t cost anything.

Self care examples:

Speak with a therapist
Talk to a friend
Go for a walk
Make healthy food choices
Take some alone time
Have a hot shower
Spend time in nature
Spend time with pets
Laugh
Move your body in a joyful way
Snuggle with your kids or significant other
Sit by the water
Journal
Meditate
Have a cup of tea
Listen to an uplifting podcast
Organize
Plan a real or imagined future trip
Look at funny memes
Go for a drive
Make a vision board
Paint
Sing

Important Reminder: Self-care doesn’t have to cost money and it doesn’t have to be elaborate. Whatever it is that makes you feel energized, joyful and healthy is your self-care. I’d love to hear your self-care ideas and strategies. And I want to encourage you that you’ve got this, Mama.

Schoolio Guest Blog

About Rebecca Miller:

Rebecca Miller is a seasoned homeschool mom of four children. She has a beautiful passion for delight driven, heart based learning. Rebecca’s goal is to inspire other home educating parents. While creating and fostering a supportive and inclusive community. We are so thankful for her contributions to the Schoolio Guest Blogs!

You can learn more about Rebecca and Heart Based Homeschoolers on her website: www.heartbasedhomeschoolers.ca