Just a quick note for a quick check-in…

I am “Going to St. Joseph” these days of Advent and asking him in particular to protect your beautiful family.

I am currently re-reading many of the meditations that pertain to this season of preparation in Father Calloway’s book, Consecration to St. Joseph  I also recite the Litany of St. Joseph daily too! It has been so powerful.

This quiet man loves us, and is so special in his intercession as the Head of the Holy Family, Glory of the Domestic Life, and Terror of Demons.

How is your homeschooling going? 

I always found this time of year to be particularly challenging. As we head into more darkness with winter solstice (here in North America) and the pressures to “do it all” for Christmas, we can get overwhelmed and frustrated.

My kiddos always seemed to be stuck at this point, impatient for Christmastide, frustrated, and bickering with each other.

They just wanted to play. They just want Christmas!

We too seem to be riddled with so many demands and concerns, many outside our control. And how many have we needlessly put on ourselves?

We are all having trouble staying focused, communicating, and being patient with each other!

Here are a few quick things that are helping us right now:

• Don’t fight nature, instead work with it. Make your preparations count. Baking is math and chemistry. Card and decorating are art, and even handwriting exercises. Listen to Advent music. Praying the St. Andrew Novena together and make Spiritual bouquets for loved ones! You get it!
• Affirm what actually has to be done, what assignments are critical to say learning has been accomplished each day(remember – less is more.)
• Overbooked? Can’t travel to everyone this year? Do FaceTime, Zoom sessions, etc. for FUN with their friends and family, and put it on your calendar to MAKE it actually happen!
• Have at least one meal per day where we ALL sit down to a leisurely meal without tech and lots of conversation.
• Make a dinner/clean-up chart, sharing in the household duties with everyone, no overburdening mom. (We are all making messes more often – think Christmas baking and crafting.)
• Designate the quiet zones in the house for the times total concentration is needed or quiet for a rosary or meditation.
• Spend some part of each day outside in our yard, neighborhood, or local park soaking in the fresh air.
• Plan future events and vacation for the new year.

Remember the Advent season will end with a Trumpet blast of JOY, how glorious a hope we have in the the new born King, Christ our Lord.

Please be assured of my daily prayers for all of you! I hold you close in my heart as I pray my daily rosary!

Please, please comment below! Or direct message me in the Catholic Homeschool Community.

I would love to know how you are doing and if you need any help or have any particular challenges.