Homeschooling is hard, sometimes isolating, work. We can all use encouragement and an outside perspective.
Throughout the month of September, Julie Bogart, the creator of Brave Writer, read an essay a day from her book A Gracious Space, Fall on Facebook Live. Even though you can’t tune in live, you can still watch the replays. They are available on the Brave Writer YouTube channel. It’s still worthwhile to “Like” the Brave Writer Facebook page so that you can get notifications of Julie’s other live workshops.
These more informal, personal essays aren’t about homeschooling philosophy or even specific direction on writing. Julie Bogart’s project is wider than that. She says that “writing growth happens in direct proportion to how safe the space is for writing risks.” And the only way for that to create that safe space is through support and connection. These essays are a breath of fresh air. Gentle reminders of the path we want to walk. (If you are interested in more formal presentations, Brave Writer released Nurturing Brave Writer Families, a collection of talks from the Brave Writer Retreat. Here’s my review!)
It would be a great self-care practice to find a half hour pocket of time and watch a video each day. Though quiet can be a hard thing to find as a homeschooling mom, maybe you could plan to wake up a little earlier than the rest of the house or maybe you can watch during naptime or while you make dinner. You might light a candle or make a cup of tea for yourself. You might even want to record a response of your own in your journal.
Of course the tea and candle aren’t necessary. But the little touch of ritual can be a signal to you to slow down and savor the time. We’re in it for the long haul and need to nourish ourselves for the challenges we’ll face. Listening to Julie Bogart’s essays is like sharing a cup of hot tea with a dear friend–much needed encouragement!
Kortney Garrison lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. Her days are filled with stories and poems, nature walks, drawing, and pots of tea. She writes about homeschooling through the church year at One Deep Drawer.
What a wonderful idea. As the saying goes, “You can’t pour from an empty pitcher.” Nothing rings truer for a homeschooling mom. Time spent focusing on yourself, no matter how brief, is paid back in multiples by giving you energy, strength and renewing your spirit for the wonderful task at hand.