7 Summertime Suggestions for Refreshing a Homeschooling Mama’s Soul

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A guest post from Tiffany at Family at the Foot of the Cross

Hi there!  It’s a wonderful honor to be a guest writer here at Jen’s blog today.  She has asked me to share some ways a Homeschooling Mama might recharge over the summer.  I must say that I am seriously NO expert in this area, not even close.  If anything, I am writing this with the intention of making notes to myself!  I also solicited suggestions from a few homeschooling friends to help me out.  Many thanks to Joan, Peggy and Mary-Lynn who responded and offered a few things that have been incorporated here.


Taking a Mental Break


It seemed to be the consensus that taking some sort of mental break this time of year is extremely helpful, if not necessary. Even if you home school year-round, the summer months can be a natural season to take even a small block of time off from the school routine.  For me, as a mother of 5 children who has homeschooled K-8 over the last 8 years, I am always “done” by the time June rolls around.  To be perfectly honest, I look forward to closing up shop for awhile.  It’s a time to take the foot off the gas, slow down a bit, and regroup.  I hail this opportunity to regain some sanity by getting a few things done around the house, making time for family outings and most importantly, nurturing my faith.  Without my faith component, I am nothing. That being said, let’s pour a little something cool to drink and dream of ways to renew our spirits!


7 Ways to Refresh Over the Summer


1.  Take time off to visit your interior self…Be who God called you to be.

As a Catholic Mom, I have a few spiritual blogs I like to read and one is by Fr. Dwight Longenecker.  He recently wrote an article about how being good is not good enough, meaning that being good on the outside does not make us automatically holy on the inside.  This would be like putting the cart before the horse. That being said, as Christians, we are called first and foremost to be holy.  To be holy is not to be extra pious and prudish but to become who God truly intended us to be.  Through prayer and sacrifice and devotion, we should always be drawing ourselves nearer to God, and as we draw nearer we become more like the One we worship.  This is the primary work of the Christian, and as that work is done we are driven out to do those good works on the outside that are the mark of our calling and our vocation.  It reminded me that I cannot be a good wife, mother, homeschooling teacher, or anything else God calls me to be (on the outside) unless I take time to draw closer to Him (on the inside).  This is a constant work in progress.  Much like a regular physical workout to strengthen our bodies, we need a regular spiritual workout to strengthen our souls.

2.  Plant a faith garden within your soul!

I consider this the practical part of #1.  Along with our summer bucket lists, it would be beneficial to make a spiritual “ bucket list” for ourselves and our families, working from the inside out.  Soon you will have planted a beautiful garden on the inside that blooms on the outside. Keep it simple and realistic.  For me, I made a short list of things that I’d like to work on:

*Pick 1 spiritual book to read for the summer.  If I can recommend a book to the Catholic women out there, it would be Blessed, Beautiful, and Bodacious, By: Pat Gohn. Her whole theme is learning to live from the inside out and it’s a perfect summer read to do with a group or alone. It will certainly recharge your batteries as a Catholic woman.  You can see my review here.  As for my next summer read, I’m going with Imitating Mary, By: Marge Fenelon

* Pray. Start every day with prayer and the Word of God before checking my phone or computer.

*Begin and End the summer with the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

*Start my mornings outdoors with a Rosary prayer walk at least 3 times a week.

*Make a summer prayer list and commit to praying regularly for others.

*Continue to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at least once a week…Visit a new parish at least once.

*Attend daily Mass twice a week, in addition to Sunday Mass. 
  
3.  Get outside. Often.

This seems to be a necessity for recharging the batteries!  I know for me, my best mental days follow morning runs or walks where I’ve had time to connect with God through nature and His magnificent creation.  The good news is that there are many simple ways to get outdoors that are free…Let’s set our pocketbooks and spirits free! Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once wrote that when we “pause before the thought-provoking spectacles of nature, a wonderful book is within reach of everyone. In contact with nature, a person rediscovers his correct dimension, rediscovers himself as a creature, small but at the same time unique, with a capacity for God because he is open to the Infinite.”  

4.  Unplug.

Make a conscious effort to unplug by setting aside a block of time or cutting out the noise around us, computer, or using social media.  I plan to make more of an effort to read my book instead of reading my phone while I’m waiting for my kids at their sports practice…Let’s ponder the things of our hearts and not our hand-held devices!  I heard one Mom calling it a “Ministry of the Moment!” One of my favorite authors noted, “God speaks silently, God speaks in your heart; if your heart is noisy, chattering, you will not hear.”~Caryll Houselander  Yikes, I shiver at the thought of how many times God received a busy signal on my end of the call!?

5.  Attend a Homeschool Conference, Retreat, or Bible study.

If this is impossible, re-read a favorite homeschooling book that inspires you.  Definitely revisit your reasons for homeschooling and write them out.  If you don’t have “homeschooling mission statement”, sit down with your spouse and design one. Stating the reasons you have been called to this journey will renew your spirit.  Look into a bible study for the next “break” if you can’t find one now.

6. Carve out quality family time, even if it’s simple and inexpensive.

For me, the summer months are opportunities to slow down and focus on the family.  There are less formal activities going on in our lives, leaving room for ample family dinners, family prayer, and time to savor simple moments.  I’m looking forward to the little things, longer nights outside, and time to reconnect.

7.  Reach out to someone in need. 

Think of one other Mom or homeschooling Mom that you’ve been meaning to reach out to.  We all know what it feels like to be lonely or on “an island,” so to speak.  We aren’t meant to walk this journey alone. In the recent words of Pope Francis, “It is terrible to walk alone, terrible and boring.  Walking in community with friends, with those who love us, this helps us and helps us get to the end.”  
Ultimately, we’re all on this walk together, whether we it like it or not!

I hope you may have gleaned a few ways to refresh your soul.  Be kind to yourself and keep on truckin, Mamas!  Remember that God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.


Tiffany loves to write about her faith and family at Family At The Foot of the Cross.

Comments

  3. Patty says

    I’m looking forward to doing more of idea #1 myself! May you both enjoy your summers, Jen and Tiffany. Enjoy the down time, the spiritual time, the renewal :)

    Reply

  4. Tracy Bua Smith says

    Oh this was so wonderful to read Tiffany! All your points are what I need and want to do! Thanks for sharing! Tiffany and Jen have a wonderful summer with your family, friends and a renewed spirit! God bless!

    Reply

  5. Tracy Bua Smith says

    This was a great post Tiffany! Thanks for sharing! Tiffany and Jen may you have a wonderful summer with family and friends and a renewed spirit! :)

    Reply

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