True Presence: Helping Overwhelmed Catholic Moms Design a life of Purpose and Presence | a Catholic Podcast

If you're feeling overwhelmed by teaching multiple children with varying ages, this episode is perfect for you. We'll share practical strategies to make your homeschooling journey smoother and more effective.

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1. Early Years: If your kids aren't reading yet and don't have established habits, don't worry. Young children learn a lot through everyday activities like cooking, walking, and reading together. Focus on quality interactions rather than replicating a traditional school setting at home.

2. Balancing Work: Organize your children's work into lessons (you actively teach), independent work (practice), and question time. This lets you provide targeted attention when needed and encourages self-learning.

3. Mixed-Age Learning: Combine lessons like science, history, and literature for multiple ages. Tailor activities to each child's level. Older kids can help younger ones, creating a supportive learning environment.

4. Including Little Ones: Create a safe space for focused learning. Use nap times and play hours for teaching. Involve babies and toddlers in simple activities to manage distractions.

5. Flexibility Matters: Remember, homeschooling is adaptable. Customize routines to your child's preferences—morning, afternoon, or evening. Flexibility nurtures individual growth and learning.

Conclusion: As a Catholic mom homeschooling kids of different ages, embrace flexibility and collaboration. Simplify lessons, involve younger siblings, and adapt routines to each child. Your tailored approach will create a rewarding homeschool experience.

For more guidance on intentional living, visit truepresence.life Let's make this homeschooling year the best one yet for you and your family.

Thanks for tuning in to True Presence. Happy homeschooling, Catholic moms!

Join host Kelsey Pasquarell l in this episode as she delves into the challenges of being a present parent. Kelsey explores common pitfalls that hinder our ability to be fully present to our children.

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Episode Highlights: - Introduction (00:00:00) - Welcome to "True Presence for Catholic Moms" with Kelsey Pascal. - Mission: Helping Catholic moms design purposeful days with the Lord. - The Journey of Being a Present Parent (00:00:30) - Reflecting on the challenge of being fully present as a parent. - A moment shared with a two-year-old climbing stairs and the significance of presence. - Embracing the True Presence (00:01:30) - Drawing parallels between the true presence of the Eucharist and the presence of parents to their children. - Delving into the incarnation as a model of God's love and closeness to humanity. - Emulating God's Patience (00:02:45) - Imagining God's patience as parents walk alongside their children. - The importance of embracing slowness and unhurried moments with children. - Preparation for True Presence (00:04:10) - Sharing a personal story of moving to a new house with limited internet and its impact on presence. - Emphasizing the need for proactive preparation to avoid reactionary escapism. - Intentional Time Management (00:07:00) - Encouraging structured time for personal rest, prayer, and rejuvenation. - Exploring options for finding support or assistance even without traditional childcare. - Balancing Productivity and Presence (00:09:30) - Discussing the trap of measuring self-worth by productivity and accomplishments. - Embracing St. Therese's "Little Way" philosophy of doing everything with love. - Shifting Perspectives on Setbacks (00:14:00) - Transforming setbacks into opportunities for growth and love. - Reflecting on St. Francis de Sales' wisdom on inner peace and calm spirit. - Surrendering to God's Presence (00:18:00) - Recognizing the need to seek God's presence and grace for true presence as parents. - Embracing humility, acknowledging human limitations, and relying on God's strength. - Conclusion and Invitation (00:20:00) - Recap of key takeaways: proactive preparation, balancing productivity, and embracing God's presence. - Inviting listeners to embark on the journey of true presence in their motherhood.

Tune in to "True Presence for Catholic Moms" and discover how to navigate the challenges of parenting with grace, love, and a deep sense of God's presence. Subscribe to the podcast for more insightful episodes on thriving as a Catholic mom.

August is here, and the school season is upon us. Join us as we share valuable insights to help you navigate this school year with confidence and purpose. From education goals to relationships, we've got you covered.

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1. Crafting a Vision for Education

Start with a clear vision: Begin by envisioning the type of education you want for your children. Consider what values, virtues, and skills you want to instill in them.

Long-term and short-term goals: Establish both long-term and short-term goals for the school year. Think about what you want your children to achieve by the end of the year and how it aligns with their overall educational journey.

Tailoring education: Choose methods and curricula that match your children's learning styles and preferences. Remember that flexibility is key to achieving your vision.

2. Learning from the Past for Future Success

Reflect on the past: Take a look back at the previous school year to assess what worked well and what didn't. Identify successes and challenges to better plan for the future.

Problem-solving: Use insights from the previous year to troubleshoot potential issues in advance. Adjust your approach based on what you've learned to create a smoother school year.

Overcoming obstacles: Understand that challenges are normal and can be overcome. Plan for the unexpected and be prepared to adapt your strategies as needed.

3. Prioritizing Relationships and Self-Care

Emphasizing relationships: Focus on nurturing your relationship with your children. Find ways to spend quality time together, engage in activities they enjoy, and communicate openly.

Strengthening marriage: Prioritize your relationship with your spouse. Maintaining a strong marital foundation positively impacts the family's overall well-being.

Self-care and time management: Invest in self-care to ensure you're your best self for your family. Implement effective time management strategies that allow you to be present and focused.

Conclusion:

This school year, Catholic moms can achieve success by setting a clear educational vision, learning from past experiences, and prioritizing relationships and self-care. By focusing on these aspects, you'll create a harmonious and purposeful environment for your family. For further guidance and support, consider enrolling in the True Presence course to empower yourself with practical tools for a peaceful and purposeful year.

For more information and to enroll in the course, visit truepresence.life/course Let's make this school year your most impactful yet!

Today we have a special guest, Sterling Jaquith, of Made for Greatness who will be sharing her expertise on unschooling – a unique approach to homeschooling that empowers children's natural curiosity and interests. We'll dive deep into the concept of unschooling, its benefits, and how it can be applied in a Catholic homeschooling environment. Check out the Masters Program at Made for Greatness

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Episode Highlights:

1. Exploring Unschooling: Sterling shares her journey into homeschooling and unschooling, even before her religious conversion. She recounts her fascination with midwives and waterbirths, which led her to explore countercultural living. This early interest in alternative approaches to learning laid the foundation for her eventual exploration of unschooling.

2. The backstory: Sterling explains how her views on education were shaped by the history of traditional schooling, particularly its origins in World War II-era factory-oriented education. This historical context highlights the need for a more personalized and child-centered approach to learning, which is central to unschooling.

3. From Skepticism to Embracing Unschooling: Transitioning from a traditional homeschooling approach to unschooling wasn't an instant decision for Sterling. She reflects on her initial skepticism when introduced to the term "unschooling." Over time, as she faced challenges and resistance in traditional homeschooling methods, Sterling was drawn to the idea of child-led learning through unschooling.

4. The Essence of Unschooling: Sterling breaks down the concept of unschooling – a child-led learning approach where children's interests guide their education. She highlights how her children's passions, such as chickens and baking, become avenues for learning various subjects, including math, science, and even writing.

5. Overcoming Concerns and Nurturing Independence: Kelsey and Sterling discuss common concerns about unschooling, including worries about chaos, disorganization, and delayed learning. Sterling emphasizes that while it may appear chaotic initially, children catch up quickly as their interests drive them to learn independently.

6. Navigating High School and College Preparation: Sterling provides insights on addressing concerns about unschooling's compatibility with high school and college preparation. She encourages parents to focus on nurturing emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and critical thinking skills. For college-bound students, Sterling suggests teaching essential skills like test-taking strategies, preparing for standardized tests, and exploring dual enrollment opportunities.

7. Embracing the Future: In a rapidly changing world influenced by artificial intelligence and technology, Sterling emphasizes the importance of cultivating skills like asking insightful questions. She cites AI-powered chatbots as an example of how knowing how to ask the right questions will become a valuable skill in the future.

8. Trusting the Unschooling Process: Sterling wraps up the episode by reaffirming the transformative power of unschooling. She encourages parents to trust the process, embrace uncertainty, and recognize that children's innate curiosity and desire to learn will naturally lead them to knowledge and growth.

In this episode, we delve into the importance of setting healthy boundaries for Catholic homeschooling moms. Emily Brown, a seasoned homeschooler and life coach, shares insightful tips on protecting your peace and fostering a more balanced homeschooling journey. Discover how to define boundaries, why emotions play a vital role, and how to embrace a more intentional approach with your children. Learn how to transition from being a doer to becoming a mentor and consultant in your children's educational journey. Get Emily's Creating Healthy Boundaries worksheet HERE.

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Episode Notes:

Understanding Boundaries: - Boundaries are often misunderstood. Emily explains that they are about protecting your peace, not controlling others.

- The goal is to have peace within yourself and to decide how you want to show up in any situation.

- Understand what is within your control: thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Implementing Boundaries in Homeschooling: - Emily shares her experience of starting homeschooling and feeling overwhelmed with trying to do everything. - She recommends transitioning from a doer to a teacher and eventually a mentor and consultant as children grow. - Determine the best time for learning based on your child's unique needs and creativity.

Preparing Ahead of Time: - Emily suggests setting time aside in your daily preparation to remember what you love about your kids and how you want to show up for them. - Teaching From Rest by Sarah McKenzie is an excellent resource to ease overwhelm in homeschooling.

Applying Boundaries to Chores: - Emily realized she was guilting and shaming her kids to do chores, leading to overreacting. - By adopting an employer-employee approach, she detached emotionally from the outcome and allowed natural consequences to play out. - Children become more responsible when they experience the natural consequences of their actions.

Conclusion: - Remember to prioritize relationships over tasks in homeschooling. - Get Emily's free download, "Creating Healthy Boundaries" worksheet, to explore your desires and show up intentionally in your homeschool journey. - Check out the Happy Holy Mama podcast and explore life coaching options at fiatlifecoaching.com.

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Summary: Kelsey introduces the concept of time thieves, which are sneaky things that steal our time and prevent us from accomplishing our goals. She discusses six common time thieves and provides insights on how to overcome them. These time thieves include avoiding our feelings, neglecting our health, multitasking, resisting reality, focusing on unspoken goals, and prioritizing urgent tasks over important ones.

Key Takeaways:

• Time thieves can prevent us from achieving our goals and leave us feeling unproductive and overwhelmed.
• Avoiding our feelings can lead to unintentional time-wasting behaviors, such as excessive smartphone use.
• Neglecting our health can drain our energy and mental clarity, making it difficult to accomplish tasks.
• Multitasking is not as efficient as focusing on one task at a time, as our brains switch between tasks, resulting in time and quality loss.
• Resisting reality and failing to accept and plan for recurring situations can lead to wasted time and frustration.
• Unspoken goals that are more important to us than our stated goals can distract us and lead to time mismanagement.
• Focusing on urgent tasks instead of important ones can keep us in a reactive mode and prevent us from making progress on our goals.

Quotes:

• "You don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems." - Atomic Habits
• "Neglecting our health takes more time in the long run than taking small steps to care for ourselves."
• "Multitasking is a time thief. Our brains can't truly multitask, and switching between tasks comes at a cost."
• "Resisting reality leads to repeated unexpected situations. Acceptance and planning can save time and reduce stress."
• "Climbing the wrong mountain wastes time and effort. Align your actions with your most important goals."
• "Focusing on urgent tasks instead of important ones keeps us in a reactive mode and hinders progress."

Resources: For more on productivity and intentional living, visit Truepresence.life

Amazing news: True Presence is on Feedspot's list of the Top 15 Catholic Mom Podcasts!!!! Thanks for everyone who tunes in.

In this episode, Kelsey interviews Denise Jelinek about the concept of a sacred self-image and the importance of self-care for women. Denise emphasizes the need for women to prioritize their own well-being and recognize their unique value and purpose. She explains how societal influences and external expectations often lead to self-neglect and offers practical steps to develop a healthier self-image.

Denise highlights the significance of tuning into one's feelings and needs as a starting point for self-care. She introduces a five-day challenge, encouraging listeners to ask themselves two questions throughout the day: "What am I feeling?" and "What do I need?" This simple exercise helps individuals become more aware of their emotions and real needs, separate from self-sabotaging behaviors such as overeating or excessive phone use.

The conversation delves into the root causes of self-neglect, such as society's emphasis on external measures of success and the avoidance of uncomfortable feelings. Denise encourages listeners to embrace their quirks and explore their unique qualities, acknowledging that each person has a specific role and purpose in the world. By understanding and valuing themselves, women can better care for others and live a more fulfilling life.

The episode concludes with practical suggestions for fostering a healthier self-image, including engaging in introspection, practicing stillness and reflection, and inviting the Lord into the journey. Denise invites listeners to write a letter to themselves, expressing God's love and perception of their unique qualities. She also encourages individuals to create moments of stillness, where they can ask the Lord for guidance and gain insight into their true selves.

To learn more about Denise Jelinek and her work with emotional eating and weight loss, visit her website at turntogodnotfood.com.

Key Points: - Self-care is essential and aligns with the Lord's teachings. - Society's focus on external measures leads to self-neglect. - Tuning into one's feelings and needs is crucial for self-care. - A five-day challenge: Ask yourself, "What am I feeling?" and "What do I need?" - Embrace quirks and unique qualities to develop a healthier self-image. - Engage in introspection and invite the Lord into the journey. - Create moments of stillness to gain insight and guidance.

Resources: - Denise Jelinek's website: turntogodnotfood.com

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Have your kids been complaining about boredom? What's the best response? We're making two bold claims today: First that boredom is good for your kids, and second, that with just a little empathy and coaching, they can figure out what to do with their time and learn to handle boredom on their own.

Introduction: In this episode, we discuss the importance of teaching kids how to handle boredom, fostering their creativity, and why it's essential for their development. Join us as we dive into the research on the benefits of boredom and explore practical ways to guide your children in finding their own solutions.

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Episode Highlights:

1. Boredom: Not a Bad Thing After All - Discover how boredom can be beneficial for children's self-directed learning and curiosity. - Learn why summer vacations without structured schedules can be challenging for kids who are used to constant direction and entertainment.

2. Teaching Kids to Be Self-Directed - Understand why it's crucial to give kids opportunities to practice handling boredom regularly. - Embrace the discomfort of hearing "I'm bored" and see it as an opportunity to raise resilient problem solvers.

3. Empowering Kids to Make Decisions - Learn how to respond to your child's boredom with curiosity instead of providing immediate solutions. - Discover the importance of sparking your child's thinking process without giving them direct answers.

4. Building Confidence in Creativity - Explore the power of open-ended activities, like playing with a cardboard box, in fostering creativity. - Find out how being real and hands-off can help build your child's confidence in their creative abilities.

5. Nudging Kids in the Right Direction - Understand the value of asking open-ended brainstorming questions to help your child discover their interests. - Learn to be patient and empathetic as your child explores their options and finds their own solutions.

Conclusion: Boredom can be a valuable teacher for Catholic kids, helping them develop self-directed learning and creativity. As Catholic parents, our role is not to entertain them constantly but to guide them in finding their own solutions. By responding to their boredom with curiosity and asking open-ended questions, we can empower them to take ownership of their time and explore their interests. So the next time your child says, "I'm bored," embrace the opportunity to help them become self-sufficient, creative problem solvers.

What do you do if your doctor tries to push you to do something that goes against your faith? What about your kids? Nurse Coach Nichole Haugen is on the podcast today to share all about how to navigate the world of health care as a catholic. We're covering how to know your rights as a patient and parent, the language to use and listen for, and how to prepare your children for medical decisions. Check out her webinars for nurses HERE

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Introduction: In this enlightening podcast episode, Kelsey and Nichole Haugen, a Catholic nurse coach and mother of six, discuss the current healthcare atmosphere and its intersection with Theology of the Body and the dignity of the person. As healthcare workers face burnout and cultural shifts, Catholic parents grapple with questions about their parental rights and ethical decisions, including issues surrounding birth control and abortion. Nichole offers valuable insights and advice to empower Catholic moms in making informed healthcare choices.

Key Points: 1. Understanding the Current Healthcare Atmosphere: Nichole highlights the burnout and stress faced by healthcare workers post-pandemic, leading to various challenges, including issues concerning parental rights.

2. Know Your Parental Rights: As a Catholic mom, it is crucial to be aware of your parental rights in your state. You have the right to refuse treatments and services for your children, ensuring they receive the care that aligns with your values.

3. Asserting Yourself Gracefully: In countercultural situations, it can be challenging to assert your beliefs without feeling judged. Nichole advises using respectful language and having go-to phrases to confidently communicate your decisions without the need for extensive explanations.

4. Recognizing Disguised Terminology: In a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, some terms may be used to downplay the ethical implications of certain treatments. Nichole warns about how terms like "conception" have been redefined and how that may hide the abortifacient nature of treatments like the morning after pill, and encourages asking questions and seeking advice when uncertain.

5. Educating Children about Ethical Healthcare: As a mom, Nichole emphasizes the importance of educating children about their bodies and healthcare choices. Honest discussions about the Church's teachings and using informative resources help prepare them for future medical decisions.

Conclusion: This podcast sheds light on the challenges faced by Catholic moms in navigating the healthcare system, preserving their parental rights, and making ethical decisions. Nichole's insights and advice provide valuable guidance for Catholic parents to confidently advocate for their children's well-being while remaining true to their faith.

Find Nichole Haugen: Website: www.catholicnursecoach.com Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok - @catholicnursecoach Find True Presence on Threads and Instagram- @truepresencepodcast

Janna Kerr shares how Catholic moms can reclaim their energy holistically by paying attention to the things that deplete and refuel them and making small adjustments that pack a punch.

Want to learn more about Janna? Check out Atthewellcoaching.com

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In this episode, host Kelsey interviews Janna Kerr, a health coach with expertise in Integrative Nutrition. They discuss how to nourish the body and maintain energy levels amidst the challenges of motherhood. Janna shares valuable insights on primary and secondary food, habits, and the importance of awareness. Through her practical approach, she helps moms find balance in their lives and develop a positive relationship with food. Here are the key takeaways:

**Introduction to Integrative Nutrition** Janna explains that Integrative Nutrition focuses not only on the food we eat but also on primary foods, which include spirituality, career, finances, physical activity, relationships, and more. These aspects can nourish or deplete us even more than the food we consume.

**Building Awareness and Establishing Healthy Habits** Janna emphasizes the importance of being aware of our daily routines and habits. By recognizing areas that need improvement, moms can make positive changes that contribute to overall well-being. Developing healthy habits that fit into their busy schedules is key to sustainable progress.

**Bio Individuality and Personalized Nutrition** There is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition. Janna encourages moms to experiment and discover what foods and eating patterns work best for their unique bodies. She helps them tune into their bodies' signals and requirements, taking into account factors like blood type, preferences, and lifestyle.

**Overcoming Guilt and Diet Culture Pressure** Janna addresses the guilt many moms feel about their food choices and body image. She emphasizes self-compassion and advises moms to focus on nourishing their bodies with wholesome foods while allowing themselves occasional treats without judgment.

**Embracing Holy Curiosity** Instead of fixating on strict rules or diets, Janna advises moms to approach their nutrition journey with "holy curiosity." This mindset fosters openness to learning, experimenting, and finding what truly nourishes their bodies and souls.

**Upcoming Program: The Exhausted Mom Solution** Janna is launching a new 12-week program called "The Exhausted Mom Solution," which focuses on helping moms regain energy, balance, and overall well-being. The program addresses various aspects of daily life, from bedtime routines to breakfast choices, and empowers moms to make sustainable changes.

**Conclusion** By paying attention to their body's signals and being open to experimentation, Catholic moms can cultivate a nourishing relationship with food and lifestyle. Janna Kerr's approach emphasizes self-compassion and balance, guiding moms towards a more energized and fulfilling life.

To learn more about Janna's upcoming program and get valuable tips on nourishing energy, visit her website and join the beta test waitlist.