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Connect with Sarah Collins

• Follow Sarah on Instagram @homeschoolOT
• Join the Facebook Group: Homeschool and Occupational Therapy with Sarah Collins, homeschoolOT
• Visit the Homeschool OT Website

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In this episode, I'm joined by two friends, Trish and Julie to talk about the world of self-care, sensory regulation, and the intricate dynamics of homeschooling during crises. Both have homeschooled through crisis and we are lucky to have them joining us to share their experiences today.

Trish will share how she finds peace and balance through nature and faith while navigating her family's needs during her husband's health battles. Julie opens up about her journey with chronic illnesses, sensory overload, and the innovative ways she adapts her self-care rituals to maintain balance. I'll also share how understanding the vagus nerve can enhance our self-regulation practices.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Homeschooling through crises and maintaining balance.
• Trish's Approach to Peace and Balance
• Importance of spending time in nature.
• Engaging with her faith as a self-care practice.
• Role of the vagus nerve in regulating the body's responses.
• Trish’s intuitive self-care practices.
• Julie's Struggles with Neurological Issues
• Adapting self-care rituals to cope with changes in mobility.
• Managing sensory overload and its sensations.
• Julie’s Sensory Overload Management
• Learning to advocate for oneself over time.
• Meeting Sensory Needs within a Family Unit
• Julie's solutions for balancing her needs and her children's.
• Using To-Do Lists to Regulate Anxiety
• Sense of control during homeschooling and crises.
• Completing tasks like going to the DMV during upheaval.
• Staying calm and maintaining a positive attitude.
• Crises revealing core values and what truly matters.
• Julie's Challenges with Invisible Illnesses & difficulty in explaining symptoms.
• The husband’s role in tracking symptoms using a calendar.
• My suggestions for children struggling with interoception.
• Teamwork in Managing Illness
• Julie’s use of verbal processing.
• Impact of Family Needs on Trish’s Regulation
• Family's needs for touch and conversation.
• Strategies to stay regulated.
• Coping with Husband’s Health Conditions
• Balancing family needs during crises.
• Maintaining structure and support during upheaval.
• Chronic illnesses and their impact on homeschooling and family life including multiple miscarriages, celiac disease, and neurological issues.
• Explanation of co-regulation and impact of nervous system reactions.
• Supportive community's role in thriving despite chronic illness.
• Transition to survival mode during husband’s brain cancer diagnosis.
• Homeschool routine centered around family and faith after diagnosis.
• Emphasize the importance of self-regulation, community support, family balance, and faith during crises.

Links and Resources From Today's Show

• Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?
• Self-Care & Sensory Regulation Tips for Parents
• Sensory Balanced Homeschool Focus Group
• What is The Polyvagal Theory?
• Homeschooling Through Grief
• Homeschooling Through Trauma
• Online Webinar: Trauma-Sensitive Homeschool
• Episode 16: Navigating the Interoceptive Sense: Insights and Strategies for Parents