Sometimes we accept the worst solution because we can't have the best. But the better thing is available and right in front of us. You decline $40,000 because you can't have $80,000. Because you can't save $20, you end up spending $30. You might stay up too late, and instead of going to bed, you… Continue reading Good Enough
Humor in Misfortunes
Recently, I've been learning how to laugh at myself and my life. A few weeks ago, I hit a deer. While on a deer hunt. In a new-to-us minivan that we had literally just replaced the brakes and tires in a few days before. It was so completely unfortunate that I found it hilarious. A… Continue reading Humor in Misfortunes
Guilt and Apology: Letting Go of Unrealistic Expectations
Have you ever said that you were sorry when you didn't actually do anything wrong? I have. Sometimes I find myself constantly apologize for myself, as if I was a constant inconvenience and never doing as well I need to. Apologizing can be necessary and a really good thing to do. Saying I'm sorry when… Continue reading Guilt and Apology: Letting Go of Unrealistic Expectations
Progress
The first year of homeschooling was difficult for me. It did not always go well. We had some amazing days, but at the end of it, I just felt like a failure. (I wasn't a failure, though. My sister challenged me about why I felt I had failed, and I had to reframe it in… Continue reading Progress
Challenge the voices you hear
I read a few articles lately about people leaving their 9-to-5 jobs in order to live the life of their dreams. And it sounds like a good story. It makes me question for a minute: would I be happy if we were financially independent and self-employed in some creative task? I think the answer is… Continue reading Challenge the voices you hear
Balance of shame and pride
I've been happier lately, and part of the reason is because I stopped shaming myself for not being perfect. I dealt with a lot of shame in my life, feeling that I was never quite good enough: I never did enough when I was homeschooling. I never kept my house clean enough. I never balanced… Continue reading Balance of shame and pride
The important things on your to do list.
Sometimes I feel silly putting things like time with my husband and kids on my to-do list. It's important. But it's not urgent. And it's not something that I just check off and I'm done with it. It's important and ongoing. But when I start putting the important things on my to do list, I… Continue reading The important things on your to do list.
Selfishness and Happiness
Today I was a bit angry and I said, "I never get time for myself!" That is a lie. I get plenty of time for myself. I take classes, I exercise, I read a lot, I go to book club. I enjoy cooking and hiking and I get to watch the movies I like. I… Continue reading Selfishness and Happiness
Schedule or Routine
I recently read a homeschooling book (The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart) that said that you should focus on routines instead of schedule. What's the difference between a routine and a schedule? It's time for some definitions from Google: A routine is "a sequence of actions regularly followed" A schedule is "a plan for carrying… Continue reading Schedule or Routine
Teaching Children
This started with the book 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson. One of his rules is, "Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them." He goes on to say that we should discipline our children and teach them social norms. He says: Because children, like other human beings, are not… Continue reading Teaching Children