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Homeschool Burnout Isn’t Real!

ORGANIZED UNDER: Faith // Women

Recently, a homeschool mom received her planner and, upon browsing through it, wrote me with her thoughts. She indicated disappointment that a “Christian” homeschool planner had areas of “Self Care.” She reflected on an entitled generation all about themselves and emphasized the need for women to give more, do more and think of others more.

Now, I’m sure this gal had good intentions, but let me explain why I included self care in my planners this year. My children are now mostly grown, and reflecting back over my homeschool days, hindsight being 20/20, I realize I struggled with burnout. And wait for it…. sometimes this led to bouts of depression. I powered through because I was taught that being a good Christian mother and wife meant always putting my own wants, and even needs, on the back burner.

I was up at the crack of dawn, and until late into the evening all of my energy was spent giving, doing, and thinking of others. I don’t regret doing for my children and family, but when I have heart-to-hearts with my grown daughters, I emphasize their need to take time for themselves in order to care for others. Jesus left us examples in the Gospel of taking time away to rejuvenate!

My planners this year for homeschool moms, prayerful moms, and busy moms all have an area of self-care that I hope moms will use frequently. Do we have an entitled generation? Yes, but homeschool moms are the ones who give until they can’t give anymore, and that’s not Well Planned!

With five kids in their teen and early adult years, Rebecca shares the many ups and downs of parenting, homeschooling, and keeping it all together. As the Well Planned Gal she mentors women towards the goal of discovering the uniqueness Christ has created in them and their family and how to best organize and plan for the journey they will travel.

  • Merrita Fraker-Marble

    I want to say thank you. There is so much truth to what you say about forgetting ourselves as Mom and forgetting about sometimes taking time for ourselves to reenergize. Several times I have fallen into this trap and my son has actually been the one who has suffered. When I got this years planner it was sitting on the counter when my husband came home he flipped through a few pages and pointed out the Self Care section and said you really need to use this. We sat down and prayed about how I was going to use it and how he was going to hold me accountable. We also decided that these time can be as simple as working out, getting my hair cut, or taking a 15 minute walk. Thank you for the gentle reminder that I need to fill my cup so that I can give to my family.

    There is definitely truth to the fact that the current generation is a very entitled, but as parents I think we should show our children how to balance caring for others (our families) by giving which we do every day but also by spending time on ourselves so we have more to give.

    August 22, 2018 at 10:56 am Reply
  • Kelly Little

    Hello Rebecca, As a wife and homeschooling mother of three I couldn’t agree with you more. Self-care is an act of love. It not only extends from the person giving (Moms) but we are also teaching our children the importance of quiet, rest, and trust. If we are always on the go go go – aren’t we creating an anxiety filled home. Where we worry if all things aren’t getting done? This is not the type of home that the Lord wants for us. It states clearly in the Bible not to be anxious about anything. Now when there is no rest – surely this sets in – among other symptoms.

    I think that we cannot afford to neglect our bodies, mental, and emotional state. Our entire family counts on our strength. If we do not take the time to stop and reflect – how can we be blessed with the peace and joy that is robbed when we are consumed with exhaustion. If we work until we cannot give anymore, then we are working from a perspective of burn out, resentment and simply not giving our very best. Only the Lord has this awesome power. It is up to us to trust HIM fully and learn to stop to rest in order to receive from HIM so we can then give.

    I love the self-care reminder! I noticed that if I take even 15 minutes several times a day to do something that is important to me – I am refreshed. It is so differently defined for everybody what that self-care is., but because I do love my family – I take the time to do it.

    Finally, in discussing the generation of the entitlement attitude. I’ve thought about it and wondered that the reason this came to be was simply because those parents that “raised” that generation were so exhausted from the go go go, that it was just easy to give superficially to their children, instead of truly and purely giving from a rested state of mind.

    August 22, 2018 at 11:04 am Reply
  • Beth Smith

    Well said! I struggle with this and often forget about taking care of a simple thing like enough sleep. I believe if a mom doesn’t take care of themselves in the midst of everything, at least to some extent, how are they going to have full energy to take care of their loves of their family?

    August 22, 2018 at 8:26 pm Reply
  • Leslie Hatheway

    I absolutely LOVE the Well planned Day Homeschool Planner. This is my 4th year using the planner and I am so grateful you included a self-care section. Even though I do get out of the house by working part time in the evenings, I still need that reminder to take time for myself.

    August 23, 2018 at 10:26 am Reply

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