I offer 7 effective tools to build boundaries (& why you require them).

My toddler was mostly satisfied strapped into his high chair with a bowl of cheerios, tossing them off the side until he needed more, and he made sure I knew when he did.

I needed a break, a little quiet, to sequester myself in the corner chair of my bedroom, pull out the box of Italian cookies hidden under my cushion, and scroll Pinterest for a few mindless minutes.

We homeschool mamas have a unique challenge & privilege at the same time: we signed up to be with our children.

So how do I create boundaries around my time, around disrespectful behaviour, around my need for quiet, around my need for separate toilet time, and maybe even a temporarily clean home?

Boundaries are simply this: you respect yourself, then expect others to respect you too.

The boundaries you maintain around your energy, needs, and goals will help you maintain…

When our needs and goals are met, we have energy and mental space to extend nurture to those around us too.

Consider that boundaries are subjective: what you value and what I value aren’t the same.

Maybe you don’t value a clean house. I’ve met that mom. She was so messy, but also far more content with her kids. To each her own. 

Some of us moms are trying to work from home while homeschooling. For my creative writing to expand, I like to write in quiet. Mwahaha. (You know where I’m going). This has been a challenge, to say the least. Over the years my kids have learned (most days) that if I am tapping on my laptop or my study door is closed, I am unavailable. 

I insist on fifteen minutes of early morning quiet for my brain to wake up with a cup of coffee, daily reading, and a journal entry. As I’m aging, I wake up in ridiculously early hours, so I don’t have to work at it. Teenagers don’t wake up at 5.

How to accomplish morning boundaries with younger kids: For some three-year-olds, fifteen minutes of quiet might be too long. Consider purchasing an alarm clock and setting the alarm to 7 o’clock. They’re up at six, you say. The alarm is for them to stay IN their room. Let them know when the alarm goes off, they can come to greet you then. Make sure they’re set up with a few toys, books, and a snack just for the morning, so they have something to do. (And I know, this idea would never have worked with one of my girls, but it worked with the other three.) 

Consider setting a boundary on your toilet time.

If the door is closed, no one can talk to you, unless the house is on fire.

And the house better is on fire. Stretch toilet time to ten minutes, then eleven, then twelve.

Bring in a book and a cup of coffee. (At what age do you start? If they don’t know what a fire is, or they don’t have the verbal skills to yell, “The house is on fire,” they’re too young.) 

When you’re not feeling the love from the general public or an unsupportive relative or when you regularly hear comments like “Why aren’t the kids in school? Is it legal? Do you have teaching certification?”

Remind yourself: you do not have to be a representative of the homeschool world.

People are often just surprised by an unconventional choice or wondering if there’s a holiday. They might benefit from hearing your reasons for your homeschool preference.

If you’ve been asked something regularly, be prepared to answer, but determine your answers in advance. No sass is required.

If you’re not an unschooler, and you’re occupied in your study routine, don’t answer the phone.

Determine your study hours, let the regular people in your life know those study hours, and they will learn to honour them as you insist these boundaries are as necessary as punching a clock in a workplace.

Maybe you want to teach your kids, “Keep your room clean, flush the toilet after you use it, wash your hands after you use the toilet, wipe the bathroom wall after you pee (boy mamas unite!).”

You can teach them whatever is essential to you.

Yes, the wall will still gradually yellow because they are learning. They’re not mini janitors. But you gotta start somewhere.

Expect great things from their sibling relationships and assume this is the ultimate training ground for their future relationships.

However, assume their immaturity in relating will continue throughout childhood.

If you have small children, the notion of boundaries is nebulous at best. What boundaries do you expect from a child who is six? Or ten? Just remember, kids don’t get magic boundary pills. You gotta teach ‘em.

Assume you really will be repeating yourself a million times.

Give yourself a break: expect boundaries won’t be established quickly or without mistakes.

A powerful tool for understanding ourselves is to sit and listen to our uncomfortable feelings. 

So you’re still, now you need to accept that you are human and humans feel all sorts of feelings:

Recognize that feelings often pass like clouds in the sky: they don’t stay static, yet they’re not entirely predictable either. 

Unlike any other self-care tip I offer, this one, “observing yourself,” is a profound one. It helps to unlock intense, uncomfortable feelings.

Do you have time to be with yourself, by yourself, on the regular?

Energizing activities.

For me, writing, gardening, reading, and nature.

For you, needlepoint, poetry, 1950s deco, clothing design, makeup techniques, or travel blogs? You tell me. 

Whatever it is, do it every day. Just 15 minutes. You can do that or you can learn to do that (and your kids will learn that you are indeed going to do that).

Here are two podcasts with two seasoned homeschool mamas:

How we speak to ourselves matters. Funny that in regular conversations about boundaries, we’re often referring to the boundary-breaking of OTHER people, but sometimes the worst boundary-breakers are ourselves.

We have to practice thinking the right thoughts. So stick this thought care checklist into your journal and assess how you’re speaking to yourself.

Include your daily homeschool mama affirmations to be intentional in your thoughts each morning as you brush your teeth.

Access a homeschool mama coach (me) or a counselor/therapist to help guide our boundary challenges into boundary freedom.

Check out the interactive, self-directed course for Homeschool Moms wanting to build boundaries, foster stronger connections, and get your needs met…

Begin a transformative journey with the self-directed course, “Foundations of Homeschool Mom Fulfillment: Building Boundaries for the Homeschool Mama.” Tailored for homeschool mamas seeking fulfillment, stronger relationships, and intentional living, this course empowers you to clarify your needs, navigate relationship challenges, and rediscover your identity. With practical tools and actionable steps, this course is designed to address boundary challenges, foster stronger connections, and guide you toward becoming a more intentional and fulfilled version of yourself.

I help homeschool mamas shed what’s not working in their homeschool & life, so they can show up authentically, purposefully, and confidently in their homeschool & life.

Call to Adventure by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3470-call-to-adventure
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post 7 Effective Tools to Build Boundaries (& Why You Require Them) appeared first on Capturing the Charmed Life.

Jen and I talk about working from home while homeschooling.

Once I started breaking those confinements that I placed on myself, hedging myself in to one way to making this work. Once I stopped doing that, homeschooling was so much more fun.

Introducing Your Ultimate Wellness Guide, an ideal guidebook for homeschool moms seeking effective strategies to maintain physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. This comprehensive guide offers practical tips, actionable steps, and easy-to-follow instructions to help you prioritize self-care, manage stress, and enhance your overall homeschool experience. Get your copy now and take the first step towards a healthier and happier homeschool mom life!

I help overwhelmed homeschool mamas shed what’s not working in their homeschool & life, so they can show up authentically, purposefully, and confidently in their homeschool & life.

Call to Adventure by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3470-call-to-adventure
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post How to successfully balance working while homeschooling appeared first on Capturing the Charmed Life.

Stacy Wilson graduated with an AA in Sports Medicine and then her BA in Health Science with an emphasis in Personal Health and Lifetime Wellness.

After college, sports coaching tapered off as she had more children. She returned to health after her fourth baby was born (after she was tired, depressed, and unhappy). She began coaching in-home workouts, and nutrition, with accountability. 

It’s hard to make yourself a priority. It always will be. It’ll never get easier to make yourself a priority. It’s usually inconveniencing someone else. But the more you do it, the more you’ll see the benefits of it and so will your family.

Build Boundaries in Your Homeschool (& Life) Journaling Workbook

Ready to homeschool with purpose and confidence? This workbook guides you through setting boundaries that bring clarity, reduce overwhelm, and align your homeschool with your authentic self. Discover how to reclaim your time, improve relationships, and confidently advocate for yourself—creating a life and homeschool that truly reflects your values. Filled with journaling prompts and practical exercises, this workbook empowers you to establish boundaries that nurture both your family’s needs and your own well-being.

I help homeschool mamas shed what’s not working in their homeschool & life, so they can show up authentically, purposefully, and confidently in their homeschool & life.

Call to Adventure by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3470-call-to-adventure
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post Building Boundaries and Requiring Time Outs with Stacy Wilson appeared first on Capturing the Charmed Life.

So how do you address doubt in your homeschool choice?

You sign up for doubts and fears when you hold that little one in your hands for the first time. A world of fearful possibilities enters your mental space when you become a parent. 

Doubt exists in every choice, whether we homeschool or not.

We feel the serious responsibility of imprinting a human, teaching her what she needs to know…

All this and we’re trying to just keep them alive through the toddler and teenage years. 

Not following the grain of the culture would naturally make anyone question themselves.

You don’t need to have a constant stream of questions on homeschool socialization and academics to encourage your uncertainties.

(Although, a constant dribble of outsider worries manifested in helpful questions does assist the homeschooler in fueling doubt.)

Be surrounded by 99.7 out of a 100 people that are doing something different than your family (those are the stats for registered homeschooling families where we live), and even the most fearless would surely doubt themselves at some point.

This was despite her child’s attendance in a high school level science class (at age twelve), despite his gobbling up books on renaissance art and Aristotle, despite memorizing the elements of the periodic table, and despite learning to play the trumpet that impressed a national judge.

This child loves adult conversation, can engage in any conversation, can even eclipse adults in academic discussions, and yet happily plays child-based games in his backyard.

And his mama was doubting.

Doubt arises in all sorts of homeschool forms:

Just like clouds in the sky, our feelings pass quickly if we wait patiently.

Deep breathe. Take a deep breath and allow that doubt feeling to pass, again. Sometimes there is nothing we can do to make the uncertainty go away. We need to accept that not knowing is part of the human experience. We cannot determine everything.

There are so many ways to parent and live the family life, so many passionate declarations in books and courses and magazine articles and TedTx and blogs We need to own our reasons for doing what we do.

You’ve chosen the homeschooling path, because you want to. So, you get to practice being confident in your choice.

There is no way not to doubt your choices. Doubt is a human experience. We experience doubt in all sorts of realms. 

We weren’t designed to play God for our children. We were intended to lead, guide and direct, love, nurture and provide. But perfect parenting isn’t a possibility, because we aren’t perfect.

Do what you can with what you know. When you know to do better, do better. Thank you, Maya Angelou.

Our children are one of our mirrors in life that help us see ourselves more clearly. Just as we were placed specifically in our children’s lives, our children were placed in our lives to teach us something too. What we see will not always be pleasant, but when we set ourselves on a path of growth, we will grow. We will never have it all figured.

What compelled that decision? What did we expect were the positive benefits? What were we hoping we would gain from homeschooling? 

Sometimes the reasons we start homeschooling aren’t the reasons we continue.

We may have tripped into homeschooling because we saw something lacking in the conventional path or something that our children needed that we saw was missing. In the first week, we saw a transformation in our child, and we didn’t want to return to convention because we were simply more at ease.

Perhaps we saw overall family harmony increase (no, not perfect family harmony, just more harmony). Or we identified the interesting education we were gaining, as well as our children. Or we recognized the increased time we gained in snippets throughout our weeks, both in our schedule and in our children’s.

Or we realized that our children were more confident and secure.

Or we saw the endless memories we created together that we didn’t have when they were in school.

If it weren’t enough that we doubt ourselves, we also take on the doubts of everyone around us. Too easy to fall into that trap in many areas of life. If we judge ourselves through the eyes of others, we will always find something to question ourselves. Be still, most people don’t actually care about our choices as much as we might think. This has been one of the most freedom-creating practices I have instilled in my life, learning to set mental boundaries with what other people think, and recognizing that there is far too much energy expended caring about what other people think.

Be still. Listen to the still, small voice. Speak to the one who made you, speak to the one who planted this particular purpose inside you, and listen to the one who is leading you still. This step right here will cement certainty beyond anything else.

You will continuously fine-tune what you’re doing the longer you’re doing it. You’ll also fine-tune why you’re doing it. So just get on with doing it.

For all the efforts you put into your family, enjoy the process, enjoy watching the moments of connection between your children and absorb the moments of connection with them, enjoy watching your child explore new areas of life, and relish in all the activities of your homeschool world.  

So enjoy the journey, enjoy your path, and enjoy your kiddos: no more doubt in your homeschool choice!

“The New Homeschooler’s Quick Guide: 9 Mistakes to Avoid for a Stress-Free First Year” will help you confidently begin your homeschooling journey! This Quick Guide, crafted by an experienced homeschool parent, is your roadmap to a successful start.

Inside, you’ll discover:

– Strategies to navigate legal requirements and curriculum choices

Perfect for new homeschoolers or those in their early years, this guide addresses real concerns like socialization, patience, and unrealistic expectations. Learn to trust your instincts, embrace flexibility, and celebrate progress.

Don’t let doubt hold you back. With practical advice and encouraging wisdom, you’ll build a strong foundation for a fulfilling homeschool experience. Welcome to the rewarding world of homeschooling—you’ve got this, girlfriend!

I help overwhelmed homeschool mamas shed what’s not working in their homeschool & life, so they can show up authentically, purposefully, and confidently in their homeschool & life.

Call to Adventure by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3470-call-to-adventure
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post How to Address Doubt in your Homeschool Choice with Confidence appeared first on Capturing the Charmed Life.

We chat about how to develop self-confidence as a homeschool mom with Sarah Gorner.

If you don’t take care of yourself, how can you really hope to take care of your kids? That is how you can be the best you can be for your kids and set them up to succeed.

Introducing Your Ultimate Wellness Guide, an ideal guidebook for homeschool moms seeking effective strategies to maintain physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. This comprehensive guide offers practical tips, actionable steps, and easy-to-follow instructions to help you prioritize self-care, manage stress, and enhance your overall homeschool experience. Get your copy now and take the first step towards a healthier and happier homeschool mom life!

Call to Adventure by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3470-call-to-adventure
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post How to Develop Self-Confidence as a Homeschool Mom with Sarah Gorner appeared first on Capturing the Charmed Life.

Here is a love letter to you, encouraging words for homeschool mom…

You get to watch them learn chess moves at three and win chess games with their dad at eight.

And you get to see their vivacious, animated personality create a successful YouTube channel.

You get to watch their fascination with dolphins turn into online biology classes.

And you get to observe their people-watching passions turn into a social sciences degree. You get to watch their history reading preoccupation history reading turn into a Greek and Latin History minor.

If you’re interested in Greek mythology, you can buy a book, read the book with your kids, take courses online, build Greek columns from sugar cubes, wrap yourself in white sheets, make a crown of grape leaves, and have your kids feed you grapes, olives, and wine on the living room floor, and call that Social Studies.

You get to dabble in your interests, just like you encourage your kids to dabble in theirs.

There’s even an opportunity for you to start home businesses, start Etsy shops, create a work-life around your homeschool, or a homeschool around your work life.  

Isn’t it funny how outsiders think we’re tethered to all things uncomfortable; meanwhile, our homeschools slowly, but steadily move toward all things hygge?

Homeschooling can be a challenge to maintaining mama’s self-care, but the homeschool lifestyle can also be a charmed life that encourages mama’s self-care. 

So, let’s keep working towards turning our challenges into our charms.

xx

Teresa

Are you a homeschool mom navigating the ups and downs of daily life with your kids? Introducing the Homeschool Mama’s Toolbox—a powerful resource to help you manage big emotions like anger, guilt, or overwhelm with clarity and intention.

This journal features guided prompts, mindfulness practices, and Dr. Amen’s three questions for self-reflection, all designed to encourage emotional awareness and purposeful living. You’ll also find a Thought Care Checklist and daily meditation practices to help you handle challenging situations and sharpen your mental tools for a more balanced homeschool journey.

Start your journey to emotional well-being today with this empowering journal created specifically for homeschool moms. Enhance your homeschool experience and show up with purpose for yourself and your family.

I help overwhelmed homeschool mamas shed what’s not working in their homeschool & life, so they can show up authentically, purposefully, and confidently in their homeschool & life.

Call to Adventure by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3470-call-to-adventure
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post Encouraging Words for Homeschool Mom appeared first on Capturing the Charmed Life.

Tamara Strijack, of the Neufeld Institute, educated her two daughters at home for the majority of their schooling years. Connection, relationships, nature, and play are all central themes in her life, both personally and professionally.

You have to have some flexibility in yourself. What is working? What isn’t working? Instead of getting stuck in what isn’t working and deciding what has to be that way, I still believe in that idea of reevaluating: “Is it working?”

Are you a homeschool mom navigating the ups and downs of daily life with your kids? Introducing the Homeschool Mama’s Toolbox—a powerful resource to help you manage big emotions like anger, guilt, or overwhelm with clarity and intention.

This journal features guided prompts, mindfulness practices, and Dr. Amen’s three questions for self-reflection, all designed to encourage emotional awareness and purposeful living. You’ll also find a Thought Care Checklist and daily meditation practices to help you handle challenging situations and sharpen your mental tools for a more balanced homeschool journey.

Start your journey to emotional well-being today with this empowering journal created specifically for homeschool moms. Enhance your homeschool experience and show up with purpose for yourself and your family.

I help overwhelmed homeschool mamas shed what’s not working in their homeschool & life, so they can show up authentically, purposefully, and confidently in their homeschool & life.

Call to Adventure by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3470-call-to-adventure
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post Building Connection with Tamara Strijack of the Neufeld Institute appeared first on Capturing the Charmed Life.

Julie Bogart draws from her work with tens of thousands of homeschool families over the last twenty years, and her own homeschool journey to enrich the homeschool and parenting experience.

She is also the author of the best-selling book The Brave Learner and host of the popular podcast “A Brave Writer’s Life in Brief.”

“One of the dangers of being the kind of person who is attracted to homeschooling, is that you’re clearly a person who is willing to serve others and who gets a lot of joy in watching other people thrive, and the danger is to put your focus on those children, to locate your joy in their performance or in their success.”

Introducing Your Ultimate Wellness Guide, an ideal guidebook for homeschool moms seeking effective strategies to maintain physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. This comprehensive guide offers practical tips, actionable steps, and easy-to-follow instructions to help you prioritize self-care, manage stress, and enhance your overall homeschool experience. Get your copy now and take the first step towards a healthier and happier homeschool mom life!

I help overwhelmed homeschool mamas shed what’s not working in their homeschool & life, so they can show up authentically, purposefully, and confidently in their homeschool & life.