Homeschooling can be overwhelming, can’t it! I was listening to a podcast recently about clearing the clutter in our homes and I heard this line:
“Overwhelm comes from having too many ideas, too many things to do, and no plan.”
And I thought…Wow, that could be describing Waldorf homeschooling in a nutshell! Too many ideas, too many things to do, and no plan.
Hey there, I’m Jean, homeschooling mother of three and founder of Art of Homeschooling. And today, I have three tips for you on how to conquer homeschooling overwhelm. Because, well, I’ve been there!
Watch the video below. Or, if you’d prefer to read instead, the summary is right underneath.
Overwhelm can strike any time. Perhaps you’re coming off holidays, or transitioning to a new season or a new grade with your child. Or you have a sense of seemingly endless materials you need to prepare. Maybe you just scrolled through Facebook and suddenly you feel like you don’t measure up to other homeschooling Moms.
These three tips can help you feel reassured rather than intimidated by Waldorf homeschooling.
Tip #1: Don’t Feel Guilty About Doing Less
If things aren’t working right now, don’t be afraid to simplify and scale back until you have success. Then focus on adding one thing at a time.
Really and truly, less can be more. When we try to do it all, all at once, it can be much harder to sustain Waldorf homeschooling over the long haul. But if you look at this as a long game, you have months, even years to bring all of the arts and hands-on activities to your children. Start small to increase your chances of success.
Here’s a quote from businessman Warren Buffet,
“If you have too many goals, all of your productivity declines.”
Tip #2: Stop Trying to Re-Create a Waldorf Classroom at Home
Waldorf homeschooling is not the same as school at home. Don’t make that mistake.
This method was created for the classroom, but we need to remember that we are homeschooling. What is the natural flow to our days? Think more in terms of a rhythm than a rigid schedule like you might find at a school.
Some days might seem unproductive. There will be dirty dishes, laundry in your learning space…There may even be yelling.
My homeschooling friend Sheila says, “there will be yelling.”
But remember, showing up and being present is the starting point.
Waldorf schools and classrooms aren’t perfect either. We only see them that way in our minds. In fact, many of my one-on-one clients and participants at the Taproot Teacher Training come because they have recently pulled their children out of a Waldorf school.
There are pros and cons of both the classroom and homeschooling. Embrace wherever you are right now.
Tip #3: Let Go of Being Perfect
This may take a lifetime of work. But it’s OK wherever you are right now, right this second. Accept that.
I love this quote:
“Acceptance is the answer to all of our problems today.”
No shame, no guilt, no despair is going to help. Just accept yourself, and learn to love yourself for who you are. Know that your children chose you. Or if you don’t believe that, at least know that you are bringing them all that they need right now.
There’s beauty in imperfection. That’s what makes life so interesting. So let go of being perfect. You can Waldorf homeschool with what you know and the skills you have right now.
I hope these 3 tips will help you to conquer the homeschooling overwhelm. It’s very real and it happens to all of us.
Be gentle with yourself.
Join me and an amazing community of homeschoolers inside the Homeschool with Waldorf mentorship. It’s the anti-overwhelm membership! Where you get a new masterclass, coaching, and planning support every month to help you learn and get support as you’re homeschooling and connecting with your children.
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