Flourish at Home show

Flourish at Home

Summary: Mary Jo Tate—an international editor, book coach, and veteran homeschooling mom of four boys—wants to help you find peace in the space between the ideal and reality so you can stop struggling and start flourishing. Learn how to: · Stop the juggling act and find a balance you can live with · Minimize interruptions while being sensitive to real needs · Take care of yourself so you can take care of your family · Value and protect your time to do what matters most · Establish a pace you can maintain for the marathon of life.

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Podcasts:

 Training Our Children – Flourish at Home | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Flourish At Home Training Your Children Curious about training your children? People often ask me how I manage to homeschool and run a home business as a single mom. One of the most important factors is that I have taught my sons how to run the household. In this episode, I'll talk about how to train your children to be independent and responsible, how to take initiative, and how to serve others cheerfully. These four things will prepare your children well for adulthood and contribute greatly to building a balanced life for your whole family now. These sample chore charts will give you an idea of how I allocated housework and other responsibilities among my sons at different stages of our family life: Sample Chore Charts How do YOU teach your children responsibility, independence, initiative, and service? After you listen to the podcast, please leave a comment and share your best tips with us! Listen to these podcasts for additional resources: Homeschool Lifestyle Last Minute DIY Tips Money Saving Field Trips All About Teaching Raising Spiritually Strong Kids Six Homeschooling Insider Tips Best Staycations for Kids Avoid Curriculum Pitfalls Top 10 Parenting Secrets 45 Family Date Night Ideas Thanks to our sponsor, Harper Collins Christian, and the Kingdom Girl’s Bible Girls will discover the power of faith in this beautiful Bible that features women of the Bible. This is the ideal Bible for girls on their journey of faith! This special Bible is specifically crafted to highlight the stories and lessons of the inspiring, famous, and sometimes infamous women of the Bible. With over 400 engaging features, colorful illustrations, and helpful notes, this Bible is perfect for girls ages 8 to 12 as they learn about the strong and faithful women who came before them. Visit the website for more information.

 It’s Time for an Attitude Adjustment – FAH Replay | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

It's Time for An Attitude Adjustment Me? An attitude? Homeschooling moms are sometimes so busy training our children that we can forget to examine our own hearts. Do you ever struggle with guilt or fear? Are you paralyzed by perfectionism? Are you ever tempted to complain  about your own life or to envy someone else's? On this episode of the Flourish at Home show, we’ll be talking about how we can make a choice every day to honor God with our thoughts, attitudes, and emotions as well as our actions. Thanks to our Sponsor: Harper Collins Christian:   Kingdom Girls Bible Girls will discover the power of faith in this beautiful Bible that features women of the Bible! Here is the ideal Bible for girls on their journey of faith! This special Bible is specifically crafted to highlight the stories and lessons of the inspiring, famous, and sometimes infamous women of the Bible. With over 400 engaging features, colorful illustrations, and helpful notes, this Bible is perfect for girls ages 8 to 12 as they learn about the strong and faithful women who came before them. From Eve to Ruth, Esther to Mary, this Bible brings the stories of these women to life and shows how their faith and strength can still inspire girls today. Featuring a beautiful design and easy-to-read text, this Bible is a great resource for girls as they grow in their own faith and learn about the women who have impacted the world.

 Laundry and Dishes and Dust–Oh My! FAH Episode 8 (Replay) | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 18:24

Laundry and dishes and dust--oh my! Laundry and dishes and dust! Do you ever feel like you're navigating a dark, eerie forest? Imagine, instead of facing the unknown threats of lions, tigers, and bears, you're up against a relentless onslaught of laundry, dishes, and dust. Thanks to our sponsor, A Fanthom Presents Film – The Ark and The Darkness – Movie Trailer here: NoahsFlood In theaters March 20-21! Noah’s Flood is preserved in ancient writings from every major culture around the world. Recent discoveries confirm what the Bible has said all along. Sevenfold Films and Genesis Apologetics present: The Ark and the Darkness. Laundry and Other Never Ending Chores Life's busyness often overwhelms us, tempting us to overlook our work's profound significance as homemakers. In this episode, we dive into the importance of homemaking with a grateful heart. We'll share practical tips for housework, organization, and cooking. Plus, we'll highlight the real significance of even the smallest daily tasks. Navigating through domestic challenges can feel like trekking through an unyielding mountain range. The endless chores can cloud our vision, making us forget the true value of our roles at home. Yet, these tasks, mundane as they may appear, are extraordinarily significant. Importance of Homemaking We dedicate this episode to the beauty and importance of homemaking. We aim to equip you with practical skills for mastering housework, organization, and cooking, making these tasks manageable. We'll also explore how to find encouragement and fulfillment in recognizing the importance of every task, no matter how small. Homemaking is more than cleaning and cooking; it's creating a sanctuary of warmth and love. It involves stewarding our spaces with care and intention, recognizing that each act of service contributes to a happy, healthy home. A Grateful Heart Join us as we journey through the dense forest of homemaking, armed with gratitude, practical wisdom, and a renewed sense of purpose. Let's uncover the beauty in the everyday, celebrate quiet victories, and remind ourselves of our work's profound impact on our loved ones.    

 REPLAY | Flourish at Home – Introduction to Homeschooling, Part 2 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 20:30

A special replay in honor of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network's 10th Birthday!   Are you committed to homeschooling but finding it hard to get it all done? Join Mary Jo Tate as she shares 6 of her best practical strategies developed over 18 years of homeschooling.   Check out these podcasts, too! A Letter From a Veteran Homeschool Mom to the Newbies\ Streamline Your Homeschool And this resources: HOMESCHOOL CALENDARS & GOAL SETTING BUNDLES  

 Replay | Organization – FREEDOM Tools part 5 – FAH episode 18 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 15:42

  How do you respond to the word organization? * Does it make you cringe? Do you feel guilty because you’re hopelessly disorganized and wish you could be more organized? * Does it make you smile, with a happy sigh that all’s right with the world? * Do you think a certain amount of clutter is a sign of a happy home? * Do you resist the whole idea of organization—maybe because it reminds you of a neat-freak friend who labels everything in her household, uses color-coordinated storage containers, and alphabetizes her spices? Whatever your reaction, this episode is for you. Organization is the sixth tool in my FREEDOM toolbox—7 tools for making the most of our time so we can live balanced, peaceful lives. Here’s a quick review of the tools: * Focus * Reflect * Educate * Eliminate * Discipline * Organize * Multitask Organization is essentially self-discipline applied in an orderly way to free you to focus on what's most important to you. Organizing your time, tasks, thoughts, and things helps you overcome and prevent obstacles to focusing on your priorities. How organized you are has a powerful effect on the atmosphere in your home. Disorganization creates chaos, while organization promotes peace. Which do you prefer? If one aspect of your life is unorganized, it spills over into every other aspect of your life. For example, if you can't find your car keys, you'll get flustered and be late for your appointment. If you're sleep-deprived or running late, you'll be much likelier to forget things and drop things, which will make you even later. Organization even affects your relationships. If you're running late and feeling frazzled, you may become irritated and impatient with your family. It's important to remember that there's no one right way to organize. What helps you function effectively may be completely different from what helps your best friend or your mother-in-law function effectively. Isn't that a relief? Ironically, it's possible to over-organize—to spend so much time on organization that it keeps you from focusing on your priorities instead of facilitating them. Take some time to reflect on your life to identify areas that hinder you, and commit to becoming more organized if it would help your life run more smoothly. If you struggle with managing your time and organizing your life to focus on your priorities, you’ll find many more strategies in my book, Flourish: Balance for Homeschool Moms, available at online retailers and through my website at www.FlourishAtHome.com.

 What Should We Read? How to Choose Good Books – FAH 24 – Replay | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 20:47

There are millions of books available today. How on earth can you choose what's best to read? In this episode, we'll consider how to choose good books—both for yourself and for your children. This is part 2 of a series on why, what, how, and when to read and why and how to build a home library. Three Types of Books To be able to choose good books, you need to understand the different types of books. Apart from the usual categories of fiction and nonfiction, there are three main types of books: * Living Books - A living book is written by an author who loves the subject; it is challenging and inspiring. Focus on these! * Reference Books - Atlas, dictionary, almanac, etc. These are useful to have on hand even if you also look things up online. * Twaddle - This is Charlotte Mason's term for dumbed-down, diluted, silly, easy-reading books with poor writing and sometimes tacked-on morals. Avoid these. What Is a Good Book? * In general, older books are likelier to be living books. New books are often politically correct and likelier to contain offensive material. * Great books feature excellent writing and thought-provoking ideas. They often have an impact on other literature and culture. * "Safe" does not equal "good." All great literature involves conflict; otherwise there's no plot. Literature can provide both positive examples to emulate and negative examples to avoid. Use books to teach your children discernment. * It's OK to read non-Christian authors (even ancient pagans). All truth is God's truth. * Include a mix of challenging books and easy books. * Every person's and family's standards and tastes will differ. Choose good books in accordance with your own standards. Guides to Help You Choose Good Books Here are some of my favorite guides to help you choose good books: * Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt * How to Grow a Young Reader by Kathryn Lindskoog and Ranelda Mack Hunsicker * Who Should We Then Read? (Volumes 1 and 2) by Jan Bloom * Read for the Heart  by Sarah Clarkson For a longer list of my favorite books about how to choose good books, as well as my favorite books about homeschooling, visit my blog for booklovers at

 Flourish At Home – Making Memories | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 19:03

Ironically, when your family is together almost all the time, it can be challenging to pull away from the demands of homeschooling to just enjoy being together and have fun as a family. But taking a break is good for parents and children alike. In this episode, I'll share some of my favorite ways to make special family memories, including building family traditions, spending one-on-one time with each child, exploring the world, and enjoying the journey as well as the destination. I'd love to hear from you. What special family traditions do you enjoy? Joyful Balance for Busy Moms Are you exhausted? Overloaded? Teetering on the brink of burnout? Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, or homeschooling mom, it’s easy to be paralyzed by an overwhelming to-do list. False guilt only adds to the burden. Mary Jo Tate—an international editor, book coach, and veteran homeschooling mom of four boys—wants to help you find peace in the space between the ideal and reality so you can stop struggling and start flourishing. Learn how to: · Stop the juggling act and find a balance you can live with · Minimize interruptions while being sensitive to real needs · Take care of yourself so you can take care of your family · Value and protect your time to do what matters most · Establish a pace you can maintain for the marathon of life Visit the show page for replays here

 What Should We Read? How to Choose Good Books – FAH 24 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 20:48

How to Choose Good Books   There are millions of books available today. How on earth can you choose what's best to read? In this episode, we'll consider how to choose good books—both for yourself and for your children. This is part 2 of a series on why, what, how, and when to read and why and how to build a home library. Three Types of Books To be able to choose good books, you need to understand the different types of books. Apart from the usual categories of fiction and nonfiction, there are three main types of books: * Living Books - A living book is written by an author who loves the subject; it is challenging and inspiring. Focus on these! * Reference Books - Atlas, dictionary, almanac, etc. These are useful to have on hand even if you also look things up online. * Twaddle - This is Charlotte Mason's term for dumbed-down, diluted, silly, easy-reading books with poor writing and sometimes tacked-on morals. Avoid these. What Is a Good Book? * In general, older books are likelier to be living books. New books are often politically correct and likelier to contain offensive material. * Great books feature excellent writing and thought-provoking ideas. They often have an impact on other literature and culture. * "Safe" does not equal "good." All great literature involves conflict; otherwise there's no plot. Literature can provide both positive examples to emulate and negative examples to avoid. Use books to teach your children discernment. * It's OK to read non-Christian authors (even ancient pagans). All truth is God's truth. * Include a mix of challenging books and easy books. * Every person's and family's standards and tastes will differ. Choose good books in accordance with your own standards. Guides to Help You Choose Good Books Here are some of my favorite guides to help you choose good books: * Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt * How to Grow a Young Reader by Kathryn Lindskoog and Ranelda Mack Hunsicker * Who Should We Then Read? (volumes 1 and 2) by Jan Bloom * Read for the Heart  by Sarah Clarkson For a longer list of my favorite books about how to choose good books, as well as my favorite books about homeschooling, visit my blog for booklovers at

 Why Should We Read? 12 Benefits of Reading – FAH 23 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 12:16

12 Benefits of Reading Why should we read? You probably already know some of the benefits, such as education and entertainment, but there are many more. This is part 1 of a series on why, what, how, and when to read and why and how to build a home library. Why am I doing a series about reading on the "Flourish At Home" show? Because reading is an important part of a flourishing life! Education is one of my 7 FREEDOM tools that we discussed in episode 15, and reading is a great way to take care of yourself by destressing and relaxing. So let's dive in to 12 of the most important benefits of reading—for both children and adults! Benefits of Reading * Changes your life by building wisdom and growing your character. * Helps you learn facts and builds your personal storehouse of knowledge. * Develops and preserves your mind and your memory and helps prevent or slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease or dementia. * Improves your focus and concentration in a world that normally scatters your attention in a million different directions. * Builds your vocabulary and improves your grammar skills—almost by osmosis! * Helps you become a better writer. * Inspires creativity and expands your imagination. * Helps you learn by example—both positive and negative examples. * Helps you develop empathy and understand real people's feelings better. * Lets you travel to new places—both real and imaginary. * Reduces stress and promotes relaxation. * Provides a relatively inexpensive source of entertainment. Put simply, reading is a pleasure. What are YOUR favorite reasons to read? Be sure to leave a comment! Visit my blog for booklovers, Eclectic Bibliophile, and sign up for a free report with my favorite books about choosing good books and my top ten recommendations for books about homeschooling. That will also put you on the list to be the first to find out about my new e-book about books, coming soon. And if you wish you had more time to read, you'll find encouragement and practical tips for time management in my book, Flourish. Stay tuned for our next episode, when we'll discuss WHAT to read.

 Just Say No to Interruptions, part 1 – FAH episode 21 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 16:53

It’s hard  to get anything done when you’re constantly being interrupted. You know exactly what I’m talking about, don’t you? You’re desperately trying to accomplish some task, and the phone rings. The dryer buzzes. The baby cries. You hear a mysterious crash from the kitchen. The doorbell rings. Calgon can’t even take you away because it’s impossible to get 5 minutes alone in the bathroom. No matter how well we manage our time, our best efforts are often undermined by interruptions. I’m defining interruptions broadly as anything that keeps us from doing what we need to do by distracting us from our priorities and making us lose our focus. Interruptions can come from strangers, acquaintances, business associates, friends, family...and even from ourselves. They can involve bad or good news, illness, ordinary events, or enticing opportunities. Whatever the source, they distract us from what we have planned to do, hinder our productivity, and upset our balance. They can trigger bad attitudes and make us frustrated or irritable. Even worse, they can confuse us about what is really important. Today we’re going to look at ways to handle the interruptions and distractions that come from outside our homes, especially through technology. Perception of Moms at Home When you spend most of your time at home, some people assume that you are available anytime.  Homeschooling and working from home are so different from our society’s norms that many people don’t take them seriously. They may call you or drop by your house although they would never call or drop by if you worked in an office. It’s important to show God’s love by serving people, but you simply can’t be available on demand for everyone all the time without neglecting your own family. It’s essential to establish some boundaries, or your true priorities will be completely undermined. Telephone and Texting What’s your most common interruption? For many people, it’s the telephone. Cell phones have made it even worse by creating an expectation that everyone should be instantly available all the time. Here are a few tips for making the phone your servant, not your master: * Ignore the phone. * Turn off the ringer. * Use caller ID. * Use an answering machine or voice mail. * Use call waiting. * Reply to phone messages by e-mail. Doorbell * Just ignore it. * Put a note on the door. * Use the peephole like caller ID. * Answer the door with work in your hands. E-mail and Social Media The Internet is a wonderful tool, but it can also be a hindrance. Discipline yourself ot use e-mail and social media wisely and intentionally. * Don't go online first thing in the morning. * Create rules to automatically sort incoming e-mail messages into folders. * Act on most e-mails right away. * Create a folder for action items. * Minimize incoming messages. Technology has made it possible to stay in touch with friends and family and make new acquaintances from all over the world. Used wisely, social media can be a tremendous tool for relaxation, fellowship, business networking, and ministering to others. Used carelessly, it can be a distraction and a hindrance to focusing on your family and other priorities. Remember the value of your time and use your time online with discretion and self-discipline. On the next episode of the Flourish At Home show, we’ll continue talking about interruptions and what we can do about them. Meanwhile, I want to hear from YOU! What interruptions bug you the most? How do handle them? Be sure to leave a comment and share your best ideas with us!

 To Co-Op or Not to Co-Op – FAH episode 20 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 20:31

Homeschooling is primarily a family endeavor. Even the name "homeschooling" has the word "home" in it! One of its greatest benefits is the ability to customize one-on-one instruction with your children instead of the less personal group instruction they'd get in an institutional school. So would it be inconsistent to move some of your homeschooling back out of the home and into a homeschool co-op? Not at all! Co-ops aren't a good fit for some families, but they're a great blessing to others. Of course, participating in a co-op (a short form of "cooperative") requires that you cooperate. You have to give up some flexibility in exchange for sharing the planning, activities, and teaching, but the trade-off can be worth it. Co-ops can range from very informal to highly structured. Some co-ops focus on field trips, activities, and enrichment, while some cover a few academic subjects, and others cover all academic subjects, often with a full day of classes every week. I've just begun my 19th year of homeschooling. Some years we homeschooled completely on our own, and some years we were in more casual co-ops for a few subjects. For the past 9 years we've been part of a formal classical co-op that was a huge blessing to our family, but this year we're flying solo again. So I've had the opportunity to experience the many pros and cons of co-ops. First, here are some of the many benefits of co-ops: * fellowship / community / socialization * accountability for both parents and students * structure * sharing the load of lesson planning and teaching * learning from other parent-teachers in a classroom setting (good preparation for college!) * delegating messy hands-on activities like oil painting or science labs * expert instruction in advanced subjects like chemistry or rhetoric * opportunities to make speeches and present projects to a group * group discussion Of course, there are disadvantages too: * less flexible schedule * less customization of curriculum for individual students * may focus on co-op subjects and neglect at-home subjects * socialization may bring peer pressure * some instructors aren't as good as others * cost—time and/or money * can over-delegate and become too dependent on co-op teachers Participating in a co-op can be a help, a joy, and a blessing, OR it can become a hindrance, a crutch, and a burden. There is NO One Right Way to Homeschool. You have to decide what is best for your family. Consider your strengths and weaknesses, what kind of help you may need, what kind of schedule and commitment are a good fit, and what your local options are. Whether or not you choose to join a co-op, I encourage you to be involved in some kind of local support group. It can be a wonderful source of fellowship, encouragement, and sharing ideas. Have you participated in a homeschool co-op? How has that worked out for your family? I'd love for you to leave a comment and share your experience with us! Remember, you'll find encouragement and practical tips for managing your busy life as a homeschooling family in my book, Flourish: Balance for Homeschool Moms, available at FlourishAtHome.com.    

 Multitasking – FREEDOM Tools part 6 – FAH episode 19 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 11:41

Moms are masters of multitasking. We have to be in order to survive! Multitasking is the final tool in my FREEDOM toolbox—7 tools for making the most of our time so we can live balanced, peaceful lives. Here’s a quick review of the tools: * Focus * Reflect * Educate * Eliminate * Discipline * Organize * Multitask Does it seem strange for the tools to begin with focusing and end with multitasking? Isn't that contradictory? No, it's not. The challenge is that you have to figure out when to focus and when to multitask. Multitasking has gotten a bad rap for the past few years. Some people claim that if you can multitask while you're doing something, it's not worth your time to do it. That might apply in the context of running a business, where it could indicate something you should outsource. But in the daily life of a mom at home, somebody has to wash the dishes and match the socks, so multitasking is essential. Another criticism of multitasking is that it undermines your focus and makes you less efficient, not more efficient. That's a legitimate concern, but it applies primarily to mental multitasking—especially to digital distractions like computers and smartphones. I'm not advocating mental multitasking. Rather, I'm suggesting that you look for ways to combine physical tasks with light mental tasks. This is the right kind of multitasking, and if you use it wisely, it can help you do more with your 24 hours a day. As organizing expert Eileen Roth says, "I sincerely believe that you can only do one thing at a time well, but how well do you need to wait in line?" For example, you can quiz your child on multiplication facts or spelling words while you're cooking dinner, or you can dust or fold laundry while you're talking on the phone or listening to a podcast. Closely related to multitasking is using small blocks of time wisely. In the podcast, I share over 40 things you can do in 5 to 15 minutes. What are your favorite ways to multitask and use small blocks of time wisely? Please share them with us in the comments! If you struggle with managing your time and organizing your life to focus on your priorities, you’ll find many more strategies in my book,Flourish: Balance for Homeschool Moms, available at online retailers and through my website at www.FlourishAtHome.com.    

 Organization – FREEDOM Tools part 5 – FAH episode 18 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 15:12

How do you respond to the word organization? * Does it make you cringe? Do you feel guilty because you’re hopelessly disorganized and wish you could be more organized? * Does it make you smile, with a happy sigh that all’s right with the world? * Do you think a certain amount of clutter is a sign of a happy home? * Do you resist the whole idea of organization—maybe because it reminds you of a neat-freak friend who labels everything in her household, uses color-coordinated storage containers, and alphabetizes her spices? Whatever your reaction, this episode is for you. Organization is the sixth tool in my FREEDOM toolbox—7 tools for making the most of our time so we can live balanced, peaceful lives. Here’s a quick review of the tools: * Focus * Reflect * Educate * Eliminate * Discipline * Organize * Multitask Organization is essentially self-discipline applied in an orderly way to free you to focus on what's most important to you. Organizing your time, tasks, thoughts, and things helps you overcome and prevent obstacles to focusing on your priorities. How organized you are has a powerful effect on the atmosphere in your home. Disorganization creates chaos, while organization promotes peace. Which do you prefer? If one aspect of your life is unorganized, it spills over into every other aspect of your life. For example, if you can't find your car keys, you'll get flustered and be late for your appointment. If you're sleep-deprived or running late, you'll be much likelier to forget things and drop things, which will make you even later. Organization even affects your relationships. If you're running late and feeling frazzled, you may become irritated and impatient with your family. It's important to remember that there's no one right way to organize. What helps you function effectively may be completely different from what helps your best friend or your mother-in-law function effectively. Isn't that a relief? Ironically, it's possible to over-organize—to spend so much time on organization that it keeps you from focusing on your priorities instead of facilitating them. Take some time to reflect on your life to identify areas that hinder you, and commit to becoming more organized if it would help your life run more smoothly. If you struggle with managing your time and organizing your life to focus on your priorities, you’ll find many more strategies in my book, Flourish: Balance for Homeschool Moms, available at online retailers and through my website at www.FlourishAtHome.com.

 Self-Discipline – FREEDOM Tools part 4 – FAH episode 17 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 10:42

Discipline—self-discipline, that is—is the fifth tool in my FREEDOM toolbox—7 tools for making the most of our time so we can live balanced, peaceful lives. Here’s a quick overview of the tools: * Focus * Reflect * Educate * Eliminate * Discipline * Organize * Multitask Self-discipline is a major factor in how you exercise stewardship over the gifts and responsibilities God has given you—including how you manage your time. It's the tool you use to implement the priorities that you've decided to focus on and to eliminate the time-consuming clutter that gets in the way of your goals. In episode 11 of the "Flourish At Home" show, we talked about setting goals for focusing on your priorities in three major areas: (1) personal, (2) family, and (3) business. Those three categories are also helpful for considering the areas where you need to exercise self-discipline. Personal Self-discipline helps you avoid the false guilt that moms often suffer when you take care of yourself wisely and avoid the true guilt that comes with self-indulgence and laziness. To be able to handle all of your responsibilities, it's essential to make time for personal rest, renewal, and recreation. Make sure you're getting enough sleep, exercising, eating right, and drinking plenty of water. Another personal area that requires self-discipline is managing your attitudes and emotions. Work hard to overcome fear, perfectionism, discontentment, self-righteousness, and negativity. If this is a tough challenge for you, episode 9 goes into greater detail on how to honor God with your thoughts, attitudes, and emotions as well as your actions. Family Freedom and flexibility are wonderful benefits of homeschooling, but you have to be careful not to abuse that freedom. Whatever your state's regulations on homeschooling, you are accountable to God for how you train and educate your children. It's also important to train your children to become increasingly self-disciplined as they grow older. Learning good habits such as diligence, obedience, responsibility, and promptness will help them throughout their lives. Business Self-discipline is essential for entrepreneurs. After all, freedom to do things your own way, on your own schedule, is a major benefit of having your own business. Without the built-in accountability of reporting to an employer, you must be diligent to work hard and honor your commitments to your customers and clients. If you want struggle with managing your time and disciplining yourself to focus on yoru priorities, you'll find many more helpful strategies, along with encouragement and inspiration, in my book, Flourish: Balance for Homeschool Moms. It’s available on my blog at www.

 Eliminate – FREEDOM Tools part 3 – FAH episode 16 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 12:00

In the previous two episodes, we've been talking about my FREEDOM toolbox–7 tools that help us make the most of our time so we can live peaceful, balanced lives. These are the tools: * Focus * Reflect * Educate * Eliminate * Discipline * Organize * Multitask Today we’ll look at the fourth tool: Eliminate. Have you ever struggled with trying to do it all? The truth is NO ONE CAN DO IT ALL. We all have to be selective about how we use our time and energy. If you want to focus on your goals and priorities, you have to eliminate things that don't support them. This includes counterproductive mindsets, such as the way you think about time; bad attitudes like fear, perfectionism, and negativity; stuff—the physical clutter that slows us down; and activities. In this episode, we'll focus on eliminating activities. You can eliminate activities by never beginning them in the first place or by stopping them if you're already involved. How? Just say no! Saying no is HARD, isn't it? You don't want to let people down or disappoint them. But not everything that needs to be done is something that YOU need to do. Often you can delegate tasks—such as housework, laundry, or cooking—to your children. Or you can outsource responsibilities by paying other people to take care of them for you. This might include lawn care, housecleaning, piano lessons, math tutoring, errands, and so on. Remember that opportunity does not equal obligation. If you say yes to every opportunity that comes your way, you'll have to say no to the priorities and goals you have already chosen. If you're always the person who takes care of everything for every organization you're part of,  you may find that bowing out allows someone else to step up and use her gifts. This episode of the "Flourish At Home" show includes practical tips and real-life examples of what I've learned about the importance of saying no to too many activities. And you'll find many more strategies in my book, Flourish: Balance for Homeschool Moms, available at online retailers and through my website at www.FlourishAtHome.com. See you next time on the "Flourish At Home" show!

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