Every mom has one of those days. You know the one I mean. The day when the toilet gets clogged, the coffee maker breaks down, and Junior discovers the sharpie markers and paints masterpiece in the hallway. Sometimes it’s perfectly fine to have a mental health day and skip school. Snuggle on the couch with some good books, explore nature outdoors, and wait for the plumber.
But what if you’re having one of those weeks, or worse…months? What if there are no major disasters, you just have a good old-fashioned case of the blahs? It happens to even the greatest moms, and homeschoolers aren’t excluded.
For this reason, I have come up with a homeschool survival kit that every mom should have. When I first began teaching preschool, the teacher training me had a bin in the cupboard with a label that read “Teacher Supplies.” I expected to find staples and scissors inside, but when she opened the lid, grinning, I saw a mountain of chocolate.
Why not have a “Teacher Supply” box of your own? We all have things on hands for our kids’ sick days, rainy days, bumps and bruises. What about your rainy days, bumps in the road…days when you look out the window as the school bus pulls away with other people’s children in it and ask yourself, what was I thinking?
Ideas for your toolbox:
• A packet of a sweet coffee mix, hot chocolate, or your favorite tea bag.
• Your favorite candy. Or two.
• A couple of cards or letters from your husband or kids. (If they haven’t made you any lately, ask them to!)
• Your version of Post It notes. Am I the only mom obsessed with paper supplies? A fresh new pack of sticky notes would do my heart good! What would be your post its?
• A copy of your family mission statement.
• Some of your favorite quotes, poems, or scripture verses on teaching.
• A CD of uplifting music.
• An inexpensive timer. Set it for thirty minutes and take a well-deserved break. Usually, the days when you think you can’t afford a break are the days you need one most!
• A small journal or notebook to collect thoughts.
What would you include in your box?
Angela tries a little bit of everything as she homeschools her two girls and is finding that she’s not as smart as she thought. You can catch her blogging at Angela Mills.
This post is linked to: Works for Me Wednesday and Thirsty Thursday.
photo by KennethMoyle.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Absolutely wonderful article. Yes, we ALL have those days and I think your survival kit sounds just right. I keep Celestial Seasoning's Tension Tamer Tea on hand. It is a must have!!
Thanks for sharing this great article. :)
EXCELLENT idea!
Amy @ Raising Arrows
I will create my basket tomorrow…I needed it yesterday. I have one thing to add-
A Hike.
Fresh Air, Nature, Quiet, Stillness, Movement.
A few pictures of family or friends that make you smile would be a good addition. : ) Good idea.
Terrific post.
Wonderful post…we had a day like that last week.
Wonderful idea, one that I would definitely benefit from implementing. In my basket I'd likely include a favorite novel…but I think that if I did, that 30-minute time would prove useless. I doubt I'd return to homeschooling for the rest of the day!
Great ideas!
So true! I have a bag of carmel Dove chocolates stashed by my computer right now:)
The idea of a tool box is great! And if I may, it does not have to be for home schooling moms alone. Kids feel this way too. Somewhere in a month, a year, a day, they can feel a down day too. The chocolates are a good way to making them feel good again and a couple of toys. And so that they don't totally skip school, I've read about a creative writing program that makes it fun for kids again. With these in the tool box, I don't think the day is all that of a unpleasant.
Angie – You have such a ministry! God bless you and your heart and you continue to so richly bless me and mine.
Miss you!
A box of inspiration, what a great idea, though chocolate and sugar tend to compound the problem for me—maybe a video you enjoyed as a child to share with the kiddos, a cd with some inspiring music. Some scrapbooking supplies and some old photos you can share with the kids while you scrap. Some new recipes to try.