5 Ways We Can Include Self-Compassion for Homeschool Moms Homeschool Mama Self-Care: Nurturing the Nurturer

How does the book, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, inform my homeschool?







Let’s learn from Kristen Neff to learn self-compassion.







Here’s actually how Kristen Neff informs my homeschool as I learn to incorporate self-compassion for homeschool moms.







Straight up, we homeschool mamas need to treat ourselves as kindly as we want to treat our kids. (Cause we can’t practice on our kids what we’re not practicing with ourselves.)

















Get your Big Emotions Audit for Homeschool Mamas































Self-Compassion for homeschool moms in 5 mindsets:







1. Kristen Neff informs my homeschool with this: “With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and care we’d give to a good friend.”







I often share with homeschool mamas that if they’re particularly heated with their kids, they should head to the bathroom mirror.







Stand in front of the mirror.







See that sad, exasperated, angry face?







What would you say that sad, exasperated, angry face if it were your friend?







So, you might say:









* You look sad. I’m sorry you’re frustrated.







* I care about you. Know that I’m with you.







* I’ve been there, done that. (Even maybe this morning).







* You’re a good mom; I see how you engage most of the time and you care about your kiddo.









What you wouldn’t say is this:









* Girlfriend, you’re a horrible mother.







* Why did you have a child?







* You’re such a screw up.







* When will you ever learn how to parent with kindness/gentleness/self-control/you-fill-in-the-blank?









Nope, words you’d never utter to a friend.







So WHY are you doing that to yourself?







(FYI we all speak more harshly to ourselves than we do to others, but we should practice not doing it.)







How do you want to speak to your friends?







Look back to your face in the mirror: speak to that “friend” in the mirror.







I came by this practice on a day when I couldn’t access my husband by text. (Because I would have waxed and waned, complained and bellyached as though it were therapeutic).







So what did I do?







I tried to text my good friend too.







But she wasn’t available either.







What to do??







Who was I going to talk with?







Myself. In the mirror.







I’ve since discovered that a useful, though odd, approach to calming myself down is talking to me.







And when I’m calm?







I can decide how to intentionally respond to my anger/anxiety/sadness/other intense emotion AND head back to my homeschooled kiddos and engage intentionally.







Self-compassion for the homeschool mama begins with treating ourselves like our own best friend.