Category: Mom’s Journal

3 of the Best Ways Homeschool Mom’s can Relax and why they Should.

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I have learned after a few years of homeschooling that I really need to take the time to relax. I mean, as a Mother alone, it is hard work. Add 5 children’s education to the mix and you have one stressed Mama! Homeschooling with a toddler also has many challenges. So, I have been working on learning to relax more. You would think this would be easy but let me tell you, it is not. Mama, we have to take the time to relax, not just for ourselves but for our families.

I made myself a list of simple ways I can relax and that does not take too much time. I don’t have much of it these days! I chose my top 3 to share with you today. Are you ready?

Mindfulness

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Be more mindful throughout your day. Try focusing on one important task or activity. This allows you to let go of other obligations for a time. Once you give all of your attention to that one thing, your body is able to release unwanted stress and anxiety. There is always tomorrow to finish that to-do list. It is all about balancing your mind and taking control of what bogs you down. To be totally honest, I am still working on this one.

Diffuse Lavender Essential Oil

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I highly recommend diffusing oils for many things. For stress, lavender essential oil is amazing. If you have a diffuser, you should always have this oil on hand. However, if you do not, you can use a carrier oil and add the lavender to it. Apply it to your temples and wrists. When you breathe in this oil it will calm your body and help you relax. It is also great for headaches!

***Please be sure you know the safety of oil usage or seek a professional. Especially around babies and children. You can find more information by clicking here.***

Oh and I forgot to mention lavender tea! Have you a cup to calm your nerves.

Get Active: Walk, Run & Dance!

Sitting in front of a computer or standing for long hours can be draining. So can running after a toddler and helping four kids with their busy work! Oh and let’s not forget all those daily chores that tend to pile up quickly.

Just leave it be. Stop what you are doing and go for a walk. Maybe even turn on your favorite music and get jiggy with it! I’m totally serious. Getting your blood pumping will release those happy hormones and guess what else happens? You are much more relaxed and happy.

My kids love to join in. We are big on music around here. It is what motivates and relaxes us.

If you are lucky enough to get away for an hour to run, that is even better. We all need some time to recharge. Especially us homeschool Mom’s!

Why you should take my advice…

Well, because I’ve been there and I really wished someone would have reminded me. I spent countless days and months stressing over so many small things. It did no good. In fact, I was making life harder for my family.

I wasn’t taking care of me. I still have a lot of training to do on myself. We deserve to take time to relax and feel good. This helps us focus on the positive and motivates us to keep going. I honestly get so excited to learn and griw with my children.

When I finally remember to relax, whatever that may be at the time, I feel like Super Mom again.

I hope this serves as a positive reminder to love yourself enough and take the time to relax.

Wait!

Before you go try some of my tips, do you have any to add?

What are some things that help you relax and recharge?

Mom’s Journal: The 1 year old

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Hey there.

I had to come on here and tell you a little about baby life presently. You would think after 4 other babies that it would be easy peasy the fifth time around. Well, it isn’t. I didn’t consider personality at all. The most out going, loud and independent one year old I’ve ever had.

I have four other children who were born in March and May. Along comes this December baby. Before he made his grand appearance, I thought to myself “This will be so easy. I know what to expect and I have more people to help me around the house.”, yada, yada, yada. My older children do help quite a bit. He gives us all a run for our money!

Have you seen the movie Baby Boss? The kids mentioned how he is our baby boss. Yes, he is bossy because he knows what he wants and he knows how he feels and he will let you know too! Added to that is the sweetest, most loveable, huggable and funniest boy. He is the best fifth baby, addition, member of this big clan. He fits just right, snug in between like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I have not one regret on choosing to have him. Number five or ten. I love him so. Even when he smacks my face because he’s trying to get my attention or when he screams because he had to have the remote to the television but sister is trying to get it. I wouldn’t trade any of those hectic moments. Why? Because those arms that wrap around my neck melt me into submission and that smile wins every time.

Baby Life keeps me so busy. Every waking and sleeping moment revolves around him and that’s okay. One day it will be no more. No more cooking breakfast with one hand. No more screaming for bite bites. No more kicks in the face…because co-sleeping. No more showers with Mama. No more ripping up my books. No more waking up countless times for booby. No more laughing at Mamas goofy looks. And no more bedtime snuggles. He will grow up in a blink of an eye…just like his siblings.

Bittersweet memories of the 1 year old is all I will have left.

Mom’s Journal: What Christmas means to me.

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Christmas is upon us!

It is amazing to me how fast it comes every year. It seems that 365 days gets shorter and shorter the older I get. I understand now what my parents use to say about time. It goes on by in a blink of an eye.

I love the holidays! The colder weather, music and baking I get to do with my children, all bring me such joy and memories that last a lifetime. What I could do without is the stress of buying presents and wondering if my children will be happy come that big morning. I feel like that kills my spirit for Christmas.

Is it just me or is this more along the lines of how most people feel these days? Wouldn’t it be great to celebrate this time of year with not a care and no strings attached? Christmas isn’t about the gifts after-all!

I guess it seems like I’m complaining. It is really not my intention. I have reminded myself that I am not the only person feeling a little low this time of year. There are those without families, relatives that passed away previously, some just trying to stay warm and others may not have money for a big Christmas dinner. When I think about how others are far worse off than myself, my attitude changes.

Christmas 2015

So what does Christmas mean to me?

When I look back on my childhood, I remember lots of family and many gifts. I also remember being told about Jesus and how we celebrate it for his birthday. That is all I remember learning when it comes to the real reason. Santa Claus was the main focus of Christmas time. I believed in flying reindeer and elves. I was told the old story of St.Nick., which I am sure wasn’t anywhere near true.

Christmas growing up was really the best. My Mom spoiled us rotten. I didn’t need so much but she was always determined to make it huge. I can’t seem to match that. Granted, I do have more kids than she does but there is still that feeling of, “it’s not enough”. 

What Christmas means to me is family time, food, comfort, love and helping others. Those are the true gifts! I wish I had learned that as a child. I am trying my best to teach my children that those are the things that truly matter.

“Our time with family and the love we show everyone are the best gifts of all.”- @whw_jessica < Click to Tweet>

I don’t want to leave out Jesus. He is the true reason for the season right? I know it’s so controversial because technically he wasn’t born on December 25th. Christmas is a Pagan holiday but it doesn’t mean we should stop celebrating and forgetting Him. It is good to be aware but better to know the heart and love that Jesus has given us!

I asked some of my readers & friends what Christmas means to them. Check out what they had to say and see how beautifully blessed they are!

“Christmas is seeing the joy in my children’s faces when they wake up every morning knowing that Christmas is about giving and helping others. I love that they pick out gifts for children at the children’s hospice every year and they know that they put a smile on another child’s  face.  They know Santa can not send them to them because he does not want to make them sicker, so Santa asked us to help each year. I want my kids know about the spirit of Christmas. When that day comes and they found out. They still believe in the spirit of Santa Claus like I do, because I still believe.”-Jennifer M. Brown

“Christmas means alot things in my household, but we really love the traditions we hold on giving back” -Candie Randolph

“Christmas means the sounds of baby laughs, jingle bells and family. The smells of cinnamon, orange and pine. The twinkling of children’s eyes, the colored lights and cherished ornaments.” -Deni Kidwell

“To me, Christmas means love. It means family, traditions, baking cookies, magic, decorating, getting a picture with Santa, get togethers, snow and so much more! It’s my absolute favorite holiday because I’m able to let the people closest to me know how much I love them.” -Amy Breen

“Family and Peace.” –Melanie Geravis

“Christmas means to me the excitement of cooking traditional and family heritage recipes like buñuelos (fried dough) and natilla (custards),  the joy of listening grandpa’s stories and the genuine family heartfelt love.” -Alexander Lopez

“Christmas to me, is celebrating life. Celebrating the year’s up and down, the rollercoaster of whatever we went thru. To see the joyous smiles on my daughters’ face as they open gifts we worked hard to buy. To bake and decorate cookies together. To read together. Christmas to me is my family. My family I created and love more than anything in this world.”-Samantha Smith

“Christmas means spending quality time with family. There’s also that special magic in the air from the colder weather, the excitement of the birth of Jesus, Santa’s nocturnal visit, and the presents carefully arranged under the tree waiting to be discovered by little eyes, hands and hearts.”-E.L. Lane 

“Christmas to me is a time when families come together to celebrate life, love, and to eat so much your pants pop open.”-Tamara Faith

“For me it’s the last big family celebration before the new year. Eating, listening to music, laughing. Still enjoy seeing the kids excitement even though they are older.”-Keith Chait 

“Family and Food.”-Vicki Simmons

Mom’s Journal: Thanks & Giving

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Good morning!

I cannot believe it is that time already. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! The day we give thanks for all that we have. For our families, home and life. The history of Thanksgiving is a bit sketchy. Something I have been wanting to learn more about. I am not talking about what we were taught in grade school. BUT I am not going to get into that today.

Today, I want to say that we should ALWAYS be thankful. We do not need just one day to be grateful. We need not forget our blessing every single day. I am not saying we should not celebrate our Thanksgiving. It is the perfect time to make TIME to get together with our families and enjoy ourselves. I just believe we all need to be reminded that being thankful should always be on our minds and shown from our hearts.

I also want to add that Thanksgiving is also about GIVING. When we give our time, love and attention to others, we are giving them a reason to be thankful.

No matter how hard life can be, we all have something to be thankful for! I personally have a very long list. Regardless of some hardships, I will always try my best to remind myself how blessed I am…..every single day.
I am thankful for:

  • Being a Mother
  • Being a Wife
  • Knowing truth
  • Having a brain to think for myself
  • Homeschooling
  • Still having my Mother
  • Having friends in many places
  • A chance to share my point of view
  • My husband
  • My family

The list goes on and on, and in no particular order. I am so thankful that I can feed my family an amazing meal and spend quality time together. I am also grateful to be able to do this every day.

So, today I will keep a smile on my face remembering all I continue to be thankful for, and get ready to fill up on some amazing comfort food. How about you?

What are you thankful for?

Mom’s Journal: Weary Thoughts

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Weary thoughts…

I have many. So many thoughts that my mind becomes weary and my eyebrows feel tight. Never a moment feeling relaxed in my thoughts. One small and meaningless thought turns into a million more. Never letting me relax. I think, “How can I solve this?” and “How can I make them happy?” 

What must I do to make life more fulfilling and possibly more exciting? What should I make for dinner? Will it be enough? Tomorrow I will write that blog post or finally tackle cleaning the cupboards. Will tomorrow be easier? Will I finally let my soul relax? 

Should I be more transparent? We know that I am leaving out many thoughts. So many, in fact, that they would leave you feeling overwhelmed and anxious. Writing helps….

When I write about just about anything it helps me feel calmer. I greatly need calmness and peacefulness in my life. Otherwise, I cannot function in a kind and helpful way for family and friends. If anyone comes around me full of nerves, hostility or anger I will not stick around. My soul depends on peace.

Intuition, empathy, and emotional sensitivity….

What do these mean?

Intuition is the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. That gut feeling you get when someone is lying to you or when something is about to happen…good or bad. Do you ever listen to yours?

Empathy is the psychological identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts or attitudes of another. When you know by feeling and understanding others. 

“Emotionally sensitive people have a deeply sensitive perspective of the world, such as being connected to animals and nature more than most. They are generally attuned to the emotions of others and can exhibit both excessive tolerance and intolerance.”-(source: Karyn D. Hall PhD)

Having these traits or whatever you’d like to call them, can be a really beautiful gift. However, it can also be stressful, painful and draining to my mind, body and soul. I am working on this every day. Taking time to do things for myself, having quiet time and staying away from negative things and people have helped. Just learning and taking it one day at a time.

I found a really good article I’d like you all to read here, 5 Gifts of being highly sensitive.

💜 Jessica