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Mimi Rothschild Brings You “5 Steps to Beating Burnout”

Apr 29, 2010
Miscellaneous

Mimi Rothschild Brings You “5 Steps to Beating Burnout“

Author: Pat Fenner
Homeschooling can be a physically exhausting undertaking. Even for those who have been “in the trenches” for years and are firmly rooted in their commitment, there are days or seasons when the homeschooling parent – and in most cases we’re talking moms – tire easily or frequently.

Burn-out is usually characterized by, among other things, low frustration tolerance, an inability to focus, loss of interest/joy in activities, and of course, low energy or enthusiasm. If you’re finding yourself suffering from some of these symptoms, here are some areas to examine and adjust so you can extinguish exhaustion and get your energy back!

Are you getting adequate quiet time first thing in the day?

I have to tell you right up front – I’m a Christian. The first thing I do each day is spend a few minutes in prayer and Bible reading. Some days it’s not much, but even then, I leave strengthened, grounded and ready to focus. No matter what your spiritual orientation, however, quiet time is useful for getting your act together and getting ready for whatever’s coming down the road that day!

What’s your schedule look like?

Are you planning too much for yourself? For the kids? One of the things that can be most exhausting is constantly trying to get the kids moving to the “next thing”. If there’s too much on the calendar, everybody moves in slow motion eventually – and having to keep pushing everybody can be lethal for mom’s energy level. Some evening, write down everything you have planned for each day of the week, and then take out your red pen and cross some stuff out! I had a good friend who always used to ask me “It’s all ‘good’, but what’s the ’best’?”

Are your sleep needs being met?

This seems like an obvious question, but in my experience, when there’s too much to do in a day, my bedtime is the first thing I push back – bad idea! You know that saying “When mama’s not happy, nobody is”? Well, when mama’s tired, she’s not happy! Take a few nights to experiment with how much sleep you need. If you’re sleep deprived already, it may take more than “a few” nights! Most health professionals agree an adult needs at least 7 hours to function well.

Take a look at your diet; consider vitamins or supplements

Even with a good diet, the foods we eat today are full of hormones, fertilizers and other chemicals. A good multi-vitamin is a must for busy moms; check with your health professional to see if other supplements may be necessary for you.

Do you get outside and get some exercise – every day?

I find that if I get a mid-afternoon slump, my best defense is a walk around the block with the kids, or raking leaves, or a jump on the trampoline. Besides the boost in energy that comes from it, I’m making fun memories with my kids.

If none of these tips work for you, it may be time to see your doctor. Chronic exhaustion may indicate a more serious issue. And your health is critical to functioning at your personal best. Homeschooling demands our best, even in the best of health, and no matter what your reasons for homeschooling, don’t you want to give your family the best you can?

Pat Fenner offers encouragement to homeschoolers.

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Mimi Rothschild Brings You “Finding Your Daily Motivation: Homeschooling Challenge”

Apr 29, 2010
Miscellaneous

Mimi Rothschild Brings You “Finding Your Daily Motivation: Homeschooling Challenge“

As with any job or task, we often find ourselves becoming complacent and homeschooling your child is not different. Sometimes you might wake up thinking to yourself that this is becoming more of a job than an adventure. It is certainly okay to feel that way from time to time but it can also be a deterrent to continuing your child’s education at home if you wake up feeling this way every day.

Some of the ways that you can get your motivation are also going to be determined by what is going on in your life at the time and how your health is holding up. If you have been sticking to the same type of schedule for an extended period of time, then a time to change that schedule is now.

Having the same schedule constantly is definitely one of the ways to find yourself feeling this way all of the time. So instead of starting your day at 8 a.m. every day, try an earlier time or a later time. Be sure that if you do this you are informing your child of the change so that they are not thrown off guard and feel free to explain to them why there is a need for the change.

The next thing to do is change the order in which you start the daily studies. For example, if you typically start your day with reading, change that to doing math. One of the things I used to do to get me motivated and make every day different and unique is to ask my child what they wanted to start with everyday. They do not always want to start out with math or reading every day and this way, I was able to accommodate them as well as keeping me on my toes because I never knew what their choice of first topic was going to be.

If after trying some of these suggestions, you feel as though you still are not motivated enough, then that is actually a sign that you really do need a break. After all the kids in school take breaks all of the time and being a homeschooler is no different. You do need a mental break from all of that knowledge and your children will be sure to appreciate that break as well.

Set a reasonable time frame and make plans to go do something that is completely nothing but fun!

Melissa Murdoch has a passion for life span development and education, and believes wholeheartedly that a healthy society begins at home.

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Mimi Rothschild Brings You”God’s Love Shown Through One Baby Girl

Apr 28, 2010
Miscellaneous
Mimi Rothschild Brings You

“God’s Love Shown Through One Baby Girl”
by Rebecca Springer

I was married at the young age of 18 and began my family before that. I tell most people that I loved life so much I that I hurtled right over into it. By the time I was 19 I was expecting my second child and I could never be happier. It all happened so fast that it takes me a minute just to remember the details. It is time for my husband and I to go to the doctor and I am so excited they plan on telling me what sex the baby is. I am sitting in the waiting room with anxiety, my legs are bouncing and it seems like my heart is going to jump out of my chest. I can’t hurry fast enough into the sonogram room when they call my name out loud to come back. “I am here let’s hurry and find out. Can that be the first thing you look for please I really want to know?” I say very impatiently.As the doctor comes in the nurse turns to him and has a look on her face that I can’t seem to get out of my head. He looks at the sonogram and sits what seems like ever so slowly in his chair and I remember a tear beginning to trickle down the side of my face. Something was wrong. He turns the monitor toward him as to get a better look at the screen. Than I hear the news that no mother wants to hear when she is pregnant. The doctor says he wants me to go see a specialist because he sees an abnormality with the baby’s heart. I beg him to tell me what it could be with no avail. I leave this day with sadness surrounding me and I feel as all hope is lost.

I wait nervously in the waiting room feeling tears whale up in my eyes, with all the ‘what ifs” going through my head. All I can do from breaking down is asking my husband to hold me. We are called in and we have to wait no longer Dr. Tabor is all ready waiting on us. The sonogram is confirmed the baby is missing the left ventricle of the heart and has fluid build up on the brain. Dr. Tabor stops in mid sentence and tells us that it is not too late to terminate the pregnancy if I should feel that this is too much to bare. My heart is broken I knew at this very instance that I didn’t want to loose my child. Dr. Tabor goes on to say that he wants to do an amneosynthesis to check for chromosomal abnormality. We agree and when it is done we leave there with 2 options. To terminate the pregnancy or to continue with the pregnancy with prayer that things may change.

It was not till later on this day that I went to church and asked for prayer. It is there that I felt like all would be ok. I felt God’s presence surrounding me in a way I never felt before. My husband at my side holding me up my preacher at the other I felt at peace when something that had never happened to me happened. A sweet little old woman began to speak in a way that no one understood. We looked at her in amazement by the way she spoke in these tongues. And then it happened. I man came forth and made himself known and began the prophecy. It was spoken over me that God himself would take care of this situation and that I need not worry for this child is in the palm of his hands. I had to turn this over to him. “Do not be afraid, nor fret my child. You lean on me and let me have this. This burden is not for you to carry.” I laid it at the cross that night. I would worry no longer but I would continue to go to the to high risk specialist with hope in my heart

On my very next visit to Dr. Tabor the nurse is amazed by what she sees. She has to call the doctor in to confirm. The fluid that surrounded the brain is down a considerable amount. I am filled with delight, joy and I began to cry once again. Only this time it would be with an over coming sensation of relief. The results from the amneo came back and all looks well. The doctor praised me for not even blinking an eye when it came to the decision of keeping the baby. Then I finally hear the news that I have waited to hear since my last visit with my regular doctor. My husband and I are being blessed with a baby girl.

Each visit to the doctor we received better and better news. We praised God each time saying you are an awesome Father and we can’t thank you enough for the miracles you are working in our lives, for the love that you are pouring upon us. At one of the last visits before I gave birth to my daughter Dr. Tabor stands in shock as he looks at the screen and sees no fluid around the brain. He has no words to describe what has happened. He seemed so sure of the words he had told me so many times before that she would be born with pressure on her brain caused by this fluid and now it is no longer there. “For lack of a better word I am stund and speechless” he says to me with a look on his face of what is happening. He moves on to say that when she is born they will have to do surgery on her heart but this is a common procedure and all should go well. Once again I leave with a since of relief, hope and pride that my God works in many ways.

My beautiful baby girl, Emyli, was born on April 4, 2002. I had longed to hear her cry out but there was nothing not a sound made. I prayed and cried out to God please make her cry I want to hear my child and in that instance Emyli cried hard and long. My love burst from my chest across the room and met with my child. They rushed her out and with a glimpse of her I knew again something was wrong. Hours go by and I hear nothing no one has come by to tell me what is going on. Her doctor finally makes an appearance in my door way and ask if he can sit. He comes in and tells me the horrifying news. Emyli has been born with no eyes but to everyone she looks like she is sleeping, the bone in her nose that allows her to breath has not separated, she is missing her pituitary gland and the left ventricle of her heart. She was born with septo optic dysplasia. I was broken.

Three days later my precious daughter passed away. I cried and I begged God for an answer. “Why God!!! Why did you take her from me? Why did you lie to me and say that you would take care of her and that I didn’t need to worry God!!!! WHHHY!” I was crushed and angry. I felt as if God had let me down. At Emyli’s funeral many people came from all over. I had never seen some of these people. I kept asking myself “who are these people?” “Why are they here?” I wanted them to go away. They had no right to be there they didn’t know me or my child. I kept repeating it in my head over and over again “Just go away.” “My baby is here I see her, I want to hold her, smell her, and I want to take my baby home.”

I became very withdrawn from God. I became so withdrawn that I wouldn’t attend church, pray, and I locked my bible away in hopes that I would never see it again. Soon I wouldn’t sleep in fear that I would have the dream that I had had over and over again. ‘A man calls out to me in a distance. When I turn I see him and he is holding my baby. He says to me “Becca I don’t understand if you want her fight for her just come take her from me.” I would walk forward. The faster I walked and then ran the further away he seemed. There was no end and no hope to catch him.’ I tried so hard and ran so fast that even when I woke up in the morning I would feel like I just ended a race.

One year went by and I learned that my husband and I were expecting another child. I cried myself to sleep that night wondering how I can give birth to a healthy child and love this baby as much as I had missed my Emyli. In that night my dreams had changed. ‘A man calls out to me in a distance. When I turn I see him and he is holding my baby. He says to me “Becca I don’t understand if you want her fight for her just come take her from me.” Then I hear a voice a tiny little voice calling out “Mommy no don’t.” When I look to my left I see another man that shines so bright I can hardly see and walking hand in hand with a beautiful little girl. She again cries out “Mommy I am here. That is not me there in his arms I am here. I am with Jesus please Mommy don’t run anymore. I am here.” When I turn to walk away from the man that is standing in front of me he drops the blanket that has been in his arms and nothing is there just as my little girl had said.’ When I wake up that morning I knew that I have been chasing nothing and that my Emyli is where she belongs “sitting at the feet of our Lord”. I realize that God did do exactly as he said he would do. He did take my daughter and welcome her home. I also realized that he sent her here not just for me but for everyone to hear her story.

I began to open the letters that were sent to me after her death and again reading them but this time listening to what they said. Letter after letter I read how Emyli had touched their heart and brought them closer to God. How just being at her funeral they asked God to be their hearts and number in their lives. I was touched and new that Emyli touched each and every person that was there that day. Her body had lain in a casket lifeless but her spirit had moved across the rows of people. God’s spirit along with hers and finally into people’s heart. I still have each letter that was written to me and I like to read over them now again to show me that God can move through anyone; even a child. This is my daughter Emyli’s story of how God’s love is shown through one baby girl.

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Mimi Rothschild Asks “Are Your Children Growing UpToo Fast”?

Apr 27, 2010
Miscellaneous
Mimi Rothschild Asks

Are Your Children Growing UpToo Fast?
by Kimberly Chastain

Each time our children graduate from one stage to another (i.e. crawling – walking, preschool – school, highschool – graduation) we as parents are excited and a little sad as well. We want our children to grow up, but we reminisce about the “good old” days. I think those mixed feelings are normal for all of us. My question for you is – “Are your children growing up too fast emotionally and socially?” We can’t stop their physical growth, but we can affect their emotional and social growth.

Our society is compressing childhood more and more to where children are not children for very long. We only have 18 years in our entire life to be children. We struggle as parents to keep our children innocent. Unfortunately, the events of September 11th stole away even more of our children’s innocence.
Children are not little adults. Often, children dress like adults in miniature. Children want to emulate their teen or adult heroes in dress and talk. As parents we are fighting a raging river in keeping our children young and innocent. Society, schools, and parents are pushing children to grow up too fast.

Answer the following questions to see if your children are growing up too fast?

1. Do your children want to wear clothing that is designed for much older children?

2. Do your younger children want to watch TV shows designed for teenagers? Do your teenagers want to watch adult TV shows that contain sex and violence?

3. Are the books your children are reading age appropriate?

4. Are your children involved in so many extra-curricular activities they have no down time to just explore or goof off?

5. Are your children losing that wonderful “childish” sense of wonder about the world or do they know it all?

6. Do your find your children are growing increasingly inpatient and have to be entertained? Do they often say I’m bored?

7. Can you remember the last time you told your child you are not old enough to know about a certain topic and we will talk about it when you get older?

8. When was the last time you told your children, “No, you can’t do that until you are older or that outfit is not acceptable to wear in our family?”

9. Do you monitor what music your children listen to, computer games they play, Internet sites they visit – are they age appropriate?

10. Do your children hang out with much older kids who are not a good influence?

Hopefully, these questions have caused you to stop and think about how quickly your children are growing up. Due to society’s pressures you will have to make a concerted effort to keep your children innocent. There will be parent and child peer pressure to force your children to do things early. You may not be a popular parent when you say No to something “everyone else is doing.” Parenting is not for the fainthearted or a popularity contest.

In closing, let me relate a recent example. I was watching a morning news show and they were discussing summer camps for kids. The guest said more and more kids are looking for computer and science camps, in order to improve their resumes for college. I found myself yelling at the TV – “Why can’t you just enjoy camp, instead of it looking good on a resume. When did camp stop being fun and start being work?”

Remember the wise words of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Childhood is a precious time and it is all ready much too short, keep your children innocent and protect their childhood.

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Mimi Rothschild Brings You “Another Kind of Special Needs Child”

Apr 22, 2010
Miscellaneous

Mimi Rothschild Brings You “Another Kind of Special Needs Child”
by Linda Krueger

If you’re like most people – myself included – when you hear the term “special needs,” you probably start thinking of a certain type of person; one who may be physically or emotionally handicapped. And in fact, until very recently this is the only definition of special needs that I was aware of. But while trying to find out more about our son’s giftedness I found something very interesting. It seems that the more profoundly gifted a child is the more that child could be considered special needs; not in the traditional sense of the definition, but special needs none-the-less. Initially I didn’t much care for this label for our son, but the more I thought about it the more it made sense. And the more it made sense, the more freedom I found.

Our son’s chronological age doesn’t seem to have much bearing on either his cognitive reasoning or his emotional maturity and it is the great difference in these areas that makes our son a special needs child. While it can be quite a delight to teach him and see him absorb information almost as fast as I can feed it to him, because of his ability to communicate at a level on par with a 12 or 13 year old I have a tendency to treat him as though he were older than he is. This can cause quite a lot of frustration on my part, especially when he starts behaving like a 3 or 4 year old, which is about where he is emotionally. It’s sort of like have three kids rolled into one – and boy can it be tiring!

To look at an asynchronous child – one whose emotion, intellectual and chronological ages are on different levels – you might not think that the child was different from any other. But then they talk to you and you soon realize that something is different. Our son is much like that. He looks like a normal 5 year old boy. Then he opens his mouth and it’s all over. For the parents of asynchronous children life becomes an unusual symphony – trying to be the intermediary between your child and the world, and vice versa.

My husband and I are the ones who have to explain the world to our son; not only the world, but his place in it. We also have to explain to our son why he can’t do the things that he wants to do because he’s just too young to do them. It’s times like these that his asynchronisity is most evident. His intense emotions are easily frustrated by his advanced intellectualism. When these worlds collide inside our son, all we can do is be there for him, hold him and comfort him.

Just the other night my husband said that he wished our son could just be a little boy. I have often felt cheated out of our son’s toddler years, and even this time when he should have no cares, no worries other than which toy to play with first. But when your child teaches himself to read by the age of two and a half, when he takes six weeks to complete a full year’s kindergarten curriculum before he’s three, and learns his states and capitals by his fourth birthday, what can you do?

We have never pushed our son academically. On the contrary, it has been our son who has run so far in the lead that at times my husband and I merely try to keep up with him. I won’t deny him intellectual stimulation just because society says that a child his age should be doing X, Y or Z. And we’ve found that if he doesn’t have something to challenge him intellectually, he becomes bored and then, watch out!

Parenting a “normal” child is a big balancing act. Parenting a child with special needs, whether society would call them handicapped or gifted, can be a three-ringed circus. But with God’s help and guidance, and learning as much as you can about the uniqueness and intricacies of your child, it can be the greatest show on earth!

Reposted from faithwriters

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