Do you ever feel pressured to create a Pinterest-perfect Christmas? Let go of burdensome expectations and focus instead on creating meaningful traditions that you and your family can enjoy year after year . . . without losing your sanity!

In this episode I share some of my own favorite Christmas traditions: keeping Christ in Christmas, decorating the tree and the house, collecting special ornaments, giving gifts, sending Christmas cards, and enjoying delicious food. I also share my family’s favorite Christmas books, movies, and music, as well as funny stories, like the time our tree fell and why we outsource our turkey to Texaco. Finally, I offer encouragement to those who are alone at Christmas, as well as ways others can help bless them.

For a list of the books, movies, and music mentioned in the podcast, along with a couple of my favorite holiday recipes, visit http://flourishathome.com/making-christmas-memories-without-sacrificing-sanity/.

I’d love to hear about YOUR family’s favorite Christmas traditions!

The post Making Christmas Memories without Sacrificing Your Sanity – FAH Episode 10 appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Homeschooling moms are sometimes so busy training our children that we can forget to examine our own hearts. Do you ever struggle with guilt or fear? Are you paralyzed by perfectionism? Are you ever tempted to complain  about your own life or to envy someone else’s? On this episode of the Flourish at Home show, we’ll be talking about how we can make a choice every day to honor God with our thoughts, attitudes, and emotions as well as our actions.

The post It’s Time for an Attitude Adjustment – FAH Episode 9 appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Laundry and dishes and dust–oh my! Laundry and dishes and dust!

Do you ever feel like you’re walking through a dark, creepy forest, but instead of the unknown threats of lions and tigers and bears, you’re facing a never-ending mountain of laundry and dishes and dust?

Sometimes the busyness of life can overwhelm us and tempt us to forget the profound significance of our work as homemakers. In this episode, we’ll consider the importance of homemaking with a grateful heart; learn some practical tips for housework, organization, and cooking; and find encouragement in the real significance of even the seemingly small tasks of our daily lives.

The post Laundry and Dishes and Dust–Oh My! FAH Episode 8 appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Ironically, when your family is together almost all the time, it can be challenging to pull away from the demands of homeschooling to just enjoy being together and have fun as a family. But taking a break is good for parents and children alike. In this episode, I’ll share some of my favorite ways to make special family memories, including building family traditions, spending one-on-one time with each child, exploring the world, and enjoying the journey as well as the destination.

I’d love to hear from you. What special family traditions do you enjoy?

The post Flourish At Home – Making Memories appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Flourish At Home

People often ask me how I manage to homeschool and run a home business as a single mom. One of the most important factors is that I have taught my sons how to run the household. In this episode, I’ll talk about how to train your children to be independent and responsible, how to take initiative, and how to serve others cheerfully. These four things will prepare your children well for adulthood and contribute greatly to building a balanced life for your whole family now.

These sample chore charts will give you an idea of how I allocated housework and other responsibilities among my sons at different stages of our family life:

Training Your Children – Sample Chore Charts

How do YOU teach your children responsibility, independence, initiative, and service? After you listen to the podcast, please leave a comment and share your best tips with us!

The post Flourish at Home – Training Our Children appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Are you committed to homeschooling but finding it hard to get it all done? Join Mary Jo Tate as she shares 6 of her best practical strategies developed over 18 years of homeschooling.

The post Flourish at Home – Introduction to Homeschooling, Part 2 appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Are you considering homeschooling and wondering whether it will work for your family? Are you trying to choose curriculum? Are you an experienced homeschooler who could use a reminder of the benefits and a little encouragement? Join Mary Jo Tate as she explores the why, how, when, and where of homeschooling. You’ll learn that there is NO One Right Way to homeschool because the right way for YOU to homeschool is what works best for you and your family.

The post Flourish at Home – Introduction to Homeschooling, Part 1 appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Have you ever thought, “I could get everything done if I just had more than 24 hours in a day?” I’ve certainly fantasized about having more hours in my day! Time is our most priceless resource because we can’t get any more of it. Each person has exactly 168 hours a week—no more, no less.

Think about the most productive people you’ve ever known or heard of—prolific authors, political leaders, military commanders, dedicated missionaries, CEOs, brilliant inventors, tireless volunteers, and so on. Now think of the least productive people you’ve ever known or heard of. They all have exactly the same amount of time each day. And so do you.

The difference is that some people use their time much more efficiently and effectively than others. Learning how to protect and prioritize your time will help you be a good steward of the time you’ve been given and use it for what’s most important.

In this episode, we’ll look at ways to evaluate how you’re currently using your time and practical strategies to help you value, protect, and use it better.

The post Flourish at Home – Where Did My Time Go? appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Does your life seem like a juggling act? Do you feel like you’re always dropping the ball? You’re not alone!

In this episode of the Flourish At Home show, Mary Jo Tate shares how to give up the juggling act, stop giving in to the tyranny of the urgent, and find a pace you can maintain for the long haul. You’ll learn why balance isn’t a myth, how to change the way you think about time, and how to find peace in the space between the ideal and reality.

Join us if you’re ready to trade in the juggling act for a more balanced life.

The post Flourish at Home – Give Up the Juggling Act! appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

What is the Flourish At Home show about?

Join your host, Mary Jo Tate, as she discusses the challenges faced by homeschool moms, work-at-home moms, and stay-at-home moms and shares her story of moving toward a more balanced life. She promises to be realistic and offer you an attainable standard while providing encouragement, inspiration, and motivation to help you balance your busy life!

The post Flourish At Home Introduction appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.