Jonathan's first time seeing the ocean
I made rest a priority.
Not just for me, but for them, too.
This began with nap times--encouraging my kids to nap and then when I had multiple kids, encouraging them to nap at the same time.
I panicked a bit when it appeared that they were ready to drop nap time altogether. As an introverted, stay-at-home mom who intended to homeschool, going without any down time completely did not appear an attractive or realistic option.
And so I began the process of teaching the kids to have an afternoon rest time.
This is so valuable that I honestly could not imagine our lifestyle without it. In the beginning, it was about survival and stability.
In the beginning, it was not always easy. There were many interruptions (still are, come to think of it). There was gentle training. Some days it felt more like a training time than a rest time.
Now, it adds peace to our afternoons. Now, I am able to take a nap if needed and care for myself. Now, my children do some of their best reading and writing creative work during this hour and a half alone. I do much of my creative blogging work during this time as well.
Now, I'm able to know that I can continue to homeschool because I built rest into our day. I wanted to equip myself to stay in this for the long-haul, so early on, I made a plan. Now I'm at the point where the plan proves fruitful each day. You don't need to be a homeschooling parent to benefit from rest.
If you're an overwhelmed mama reading today, may I encourage you to make rest a priority? You deserve to enjoy your days as you serve your family--resting enables you to do just that.
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