Parent Perspective Series

Does Anyone Need a Mood Reset?!

by Nicole Collins

The start of the year can bring about some serious feelings. Most of us are missing the sunny days spent outdoors and are trying our hardest to settle back into a routine. As we do this settling and start spending more time around the homeschool table, it can be a rough transition for all of us. When grumpiness hits or we just aren’t quite our positive and happy selves, (kids and parents included!) here are a few ideas to change our moods around while still allowing our kids to feel their emotions along the way.

• Move your bodies! Try a dance party, a Youtube workout or yoga video or go for a walk around the block. Do something that boosts the production of your brain’s feel good neurotransmitters, which are endorphins.
• Be silly! Instead of increasing the harshness of your instructions when a child is off task or refusing to work, try doing something silly to get and keep their attention. Perhaps you will put on a silly hat and use it whenever you are doing a subject your child has the most trouble with. You could try giving directions in a funny accent. Or, a tickle fight is always a win if your kids enjoy that. Whatever you do, just make them giggle and you might see a real change in their attitude.
• Breath! Find some breathing techniques that help your child find some calm or follow a Youtube breathing video for kids. Here is a quick 4 minute video you may find useful.
• Make space for your child to vent. Give your kids permission to share how they are feeling and why they are feeling it. You don’t have to solve all their problems or make dramatic changes to what you are expecting. Just being a listening ear will speak volumes to your child. You can also be proactive in this area by doing regular emotional check ins. Check out this resource from Seesaw called Mind Yeti.
• Play music while working. Turn on some music you all really enjoy while you are working quietly. If playing music during work time isn’t conducive to what you are doing, allow your child to listen to some music while coloring or drawing for even just 10 minutes. This may be just the relaxing activity they need.

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Source:  https://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/visual_imagery

I used to wake up hours before my kids. Yes, I'm serious. It was amazing!

I had time

• to plan our day
• to write
• to read
• to exercise

All that time made me a better homeschool mom.

Most days, I was on top of my game. We got stuff done. And then winter hit—it got cold and gray. Winter makes me tired. It makes me want to curl up, in my bed, with a good book. It does not make me want to put my feet to the freezing floor and do all the things.

At first, I just slept in a little bit—an extra twenty minutes here or there. But then those stretches grew longer and longer until now my kids are waking me up, forcing me to put my reluctant feet to the floor and do all the things (or, if we are being honest here, some of the things).

The end of winter is a trying time for a me as a homeschool mom. Gray skies, cold temps, kids with cabin fever, and homeschool fatigue can be a dastardly combination. Maybe your homeschool kryptonite is something different—a new baby, an extended illness, home renovations, a death of someone loved, or a big move. 

How can you get back on track? How can you feel a sense of homeschool success when you can’t seem to locate your motivation?

I’d like to share a strategy that recently worked in our home. I want you to think of what you are good at. C’mon, homeschool mama, everyone is good at something!

What is the one area of homeschool that you never have to worry about? What is that one area where you are always on track and confident?

• Do you love science experiments?
• Are you a math wiz?
• Can you write fantastic stories?
• Are you awesome at reading aloud?
• Do you have a theater background?

Whatever it is that you are good at, whatever it is that makes your heart sing—do that first.

I know it seems counterintuitive to start with the one subject where you are actually on target when you feel like you are behind in everything else. But hear me out. Here's what happens when you start with what you are good at:

• You cross something off that never-ending list.
• You start the day on a positive note.
• By engaging in something you are good at, you feel more confident.
• Confidence and success can spark motivation, even when that motivation is low.

Me? Remember how I said winter makes me want to curl up with a good book? That's because I rock at reading. I never feel like I'm behind in the reading department. Earlier this winter, when the fatigue was first settling in, I used to start off with math. I felt an urgency to catch up in math... and science... and history... and writing. This resulted in power struggles, crabbiness, and tears. But when I switched things up and started with the one thing we were really good at, an amazing thing happened: we started our day happy.

About the Author

Cait is a school psychologist, mom to three amazing children, and an unexpected homeschooler. She loves nature, good books, board games, strong coffee, and dancing in her kitchen.

That small shift was huge. It resulted in more cooperative kids. By starting off where we were ahead, we accomplished more during the day. Did we accomplish all the things? No, we didn't. But it's a start!