How Mom Can Get a Break While Homeschooling

Homeschooling is a normal course of action for many households now. It doesn’t mean that it is significantly better than other options, but it can be truly beneficial if organized correctly. Organization is important not only for children but also for parents, as they also can burn out easily. Here we gathered advice from real moms who have homeschoolers to deal with. 

#1. Delegate unpleasant work

Penelope Trunk, an entrepreneur, and mother of two homeschoolers, believes burnout occurs if you do work that you don't like. If you like to work in the garden, you will work in the garden around the clock and not get tired. But if all this fuss with grass and bushes annoys you - hire a gardener, direct your forces where you really want, and just admire a beautiful garden. Do you understand where she is inclining in? If you don't like teaching children, hire a tutor, or look for a family class. If you like teaching, but it's annoying that nobody canceled cleaning the house after your classes - find a way to delegate this responsibility. If you are like being a mom of a homeschooler, dealing with projects, but you hate dealing with papers, address SmartWritingService, a professional essay writing service online. You can do it yourself, just to see how your kid should deal with his or her writing assignments. You can order papers online of different types and use them as practical samples.

#2. Decide when your school day ends

Book author and journalist, mother of many children, Jessica Fisher recalls that in the early years of home schooling for her children, she planned the school day in great detail and did not calm down until all the plans were deleted from the list. This often exhausted her and the children. Now her school day ends at exactly 15:30. No matter what happens, the bell rings at this time, and the home school closes.

#3. Discuss your problems with your spouse

We often get very tired of putting all our soul and all our strength into homeschooling, and stop noticing much. Marianne Sunderland, the mother of eight homeschoolers, argues that her husband often has a more objective point of view on some issues of homeschooling. And if you listen to what your husband says and follow his advice, family life can qualitatively change for the better.

#4. Study yourself

Often, the abundance of simple and daily repetitive "mummy" functions (washing, cooking, cleaning) in the case of homeschooling is supplemented by another - children's education. This is especially true for elementary school, where sometimes you just have to get stuck with a child on some primitive topic. The mother of four homeschooler teenagers and blogger Brandy Vensil recommends devoting yourself to self-development for at least 30 minutes a day. Even if it is something related to homeschooling: a book on a new teaching methodology, a webinar, reading a scientific article. It will help you feel better. When you feel more knowledgeable, you feel more confident, and it helps to be more relaxed about the whole process.

#5. Sometimes have an unplanned day off to relax

Jamie Martin, a writer and mother of many children, believes that the freedom of homeschooling lies in the fact that we have no need to force ourselves when there is no energy to teach children. Sometimes this is the best thing that can be done for the whole family - to postpone their studies for a while and do something that is not related to the school curriculum at all.

We hope these tips will be helpful to you. We would like to hear what helps to replenish the strength for you. Don’t be afraid to sound silly - we all need to share our tricks!

Dads Can Write for Parenting Pubs, Too!

Recently a friend of mine told me how her husband is a good writer but doesn’t really know where to get started. I told her if he can write short essays about dad-hood, he can break into some local parenting pubs, who are often dying for quality content written by fathers. They seem to already have so much written by moms, and they like to have a variety of voices to choose from for their monthly spots that need filling. As long as he knuckles down and gets writing and does some research on how to sell your novel, he can be a really big success.

Check out my post over at The Published Parent for more on this topic and a great resource!

3 Easy Ways to Give Your Kitchen a Farmhouse Feel

Upgrading your home doesn’t have to break the bank or even take a lot of effort. You don’t have to be a contractor, handyman, have a lot of experience in “home repair,” or know all the best Flooring Liquidators. What you do have to have is a little bit of creativity!

The farmhouse/cottage trend isn’t going anywhere any time soon. It’s a great way to blend classic and modern styles, make your home feel cozy, and even boost the value of your home if you ever plan on selling it. 

So, if you’re not necessarily the “fixer-upper” type but you want to make some farmhouse upgrades to your kitchen space, what can you do? Let’s look at three hacks that can completely change the look of your kitchen. 

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1. Ceiling Tiles

Have you ever been in an old building that’s been restored to its original glory? Many places used to have intricate ceiling tiles that would bring texture, warmth, and an interesting element of design. By adding ceiling tiles to your kitchen, you can provide that same warmth and antique look with just a weekend of work! 

Choose cream-colored or white tiles for a more neutral look. Or, go bold with a bronze look to offset a neutral wall color. You can then accent that bronze color around the rest of the kitchen with something like a copper kettle on the stove, etc. 

2. Add Antiques

You can add a rustic, farmhouse touch to almost any kitchen simply by decorating it in a different way. Adding an antique or “distressed” piece here and there is a great way to bring the theme together without having to know anything about design, repair, etc. 

Hit up some local antique shops or thrift stores for anything that might spark your interest. Once you find one piece, you can look for others that would go with it. Get creative with your shopping. Don’t be afraid to mix-and-match items. Quirky is good in a country kitchen!

3. Make it Smell Like Home

Scent is a powerful thing. The things we smell can remind us of certain places, people, or even very specific events. One great trick for making your kitchen feel more “homey” is to make it smell more like home!

What does that mean? 

Well, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you imagine a country kitchen? Aside from the way it looks, it’s hard to think about farm living and not consider all of the delicious food. From freshly-baked loaves of bread, cookies, and pies, to the smell of a crackling fire that could be coming in from the next room, scents that are inviting and make people feel warm can change the entire atmosphere of your kitchen without having to do anything more than lighting a candle. 

You see, you don’t have to make major changes to your kitchen to create a farmhouse vibe. With just a little bit of creativity, you can build the atmosphere of a country kitchen where you’ll love spending your time each day. 

Tips for Hosting a Successful Social Evening

There’s nothing better than inviting people around for a fun evening at your house. While there will always be bars and restaurants and so on to attend, there’s just something that’s more intimate about inviting your loved ones into your home. But of course, while it’s nice to have them around, it’s not as if you can just get them into your home and hope that you stumble upon a night of fun. Simply being together will give you fun for some time, but a whole night? That’ll require more. Below, we take a look at a few ways how you can host a successful social evening with friends and family.

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Create the Space

We’re used to our homes being spaces where we cook, relax, watch television, and so on. They’re spaces designed with our needs in mind. But that won’t be of much help when you’re hosting people. Then, it’s best to have a designated social space for everyone to enjoy. If the seating in your living all currently point towards the television, then make some changes! There are layouts that are more conducive to conversation. Alternatively, you can look at the open-plan kitchen layout, which is especially good for social evenings.

Grab the Supplies

You can’t have a great night with friends without a few supplies! Of course, the type of supplies you have will depend on the type of evening you’re hosting. You won’t need quite as many snacks if you’re going to be serving dinner, for example. It’s always a good idea to keep some snacks in the pantry so that you’re always ready to host. For drinks, opt for a selection, including beers, wines, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks. That way, everyone will be happy!

A Warm Welcome

The best social evenings are the ones where people feel welcome from the first moment they walk through the door. So be sure to give people a warm welcome when they arrive! Some people are more forthright with their needs when they’re in other people’s homes, but many people hold back. Be sure to offer them a drink, take their coats, and let them know that they can do whatever they need to feel comfortable. It’s the best way to ensure that you get the most out of your social evening, rather than having to wait for everyone to feel comfortable before the fun begins.

Games and Fun

You’ll spend some time talking and catching up, but at some stage, it’s best to introduce more guided activities. One of the best and most fun games to play is charades. Divide the group into two, and use a random word generator to select the word. You’ll find that everyone gets into the spirit of the game!

Easy Logistics 

Finally, you can make your night a resounding success by taking care of the logistics, such as how people will get home. Order taxis for a specific time, or give people the option to spend the night in your spare room. 

The Smartest Things to Pack in Your Hand Luggage

If you are planning a business trip or a vacation anytime soon, then it can be hard to decide what kind of luggage you need to take. Do you only need to think about hand luggage, or will you really need to have a checked bag? But if you only take hand luggage, how do you pack everything that you need but still abide by the hand luggage rules, like liquids under 100ml and so on? Planning ahead is a must, so that you can have a happier trip and manage to take all that you need. Here are some things to think about and ideas of what to pack.

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• Reusable water bottle: as we know, the liquids that you take in your hand luggage need to be under a certain amount. But if you don’t want to buy a lot of plastic bottles once you have gotten through security, then take a reusable water bottle with you. You can then drink up before you head through the security gates, and then refill from a tap once you get through security. Then you’ll have it with you on your travels, so there will be no going thirsty.

• Toiletries: it is handy to have some toiletries with you in your hand luggage, even if you have some checked bags with you. You could pack some toothpaste if you are going on a long-haul flight, or just like to freshen up after you have eaten something. If you are someone who is an anxious traveler, then it could be a good idea to pack a CBD 1000mg size, so that it adheres to your hand luggage rules, then you can take some drops as and when it is needed. Other good toiletries to have are face wipes and lip balm; they can go a long way to help you feel refreshed on your travels.

• Phone charger: if you are traveling, then it is a great idea to make sure that you have your phone charger with you. You might want to check your car rental details once you’re at your destination, call someone to pick you up from the airport, or use the GPS on your phone to find where you need to be. So make sure that you have your charger with you and then it can help in a number of ways. The same thing goes for tablets and laptops, make sure that you have your chargers!

• Clothing for your destination: you might be heading to somewhere warm, but where you have just left from is cold. So having a change of clothing for when you arrive at your destination is a great idea. Likewise, if you are heading somewhere cold from somewhere warm, having some layers with you that you can throw on once you have arrived at your destination. Airplanes can be a little chilly too, so make sure you have a hoodie or a cardigan, as well as some socks, if you are someone who feels the cold easily.