Happy New Year

Or is it?

How are you doing?

When I was homeschooling my kids, I had a "down" period after the holidays. Somewhere between New Years and Valentine's Day, I was likely to ask myself if "teaching my own" was a big mistake.

Even when I knew my annual slump might be coming, I was caught up short. The negatives always seemed so real, so overwhelming, that I struggled to see past them and remember why I had started homeschooling in the first place.

I even taught seminars about burnout and warned other moms about the winter blues. They agreed with me: we are more vulnerable to discouragement at this time of year. Whether it's because we've spent ourselves into a depleted state during the holidays, or we've suffered with seasonal flu and viruses, or we've been teaching long enough to grow weary, it's common to hit the road in January with a sickening thud and a sinking heart.

It can seem like we aren't going to reach any of our goals for the year. Our students can be in a bad mood or suffering from post-holiday lethargy. The schedule can look overwhelmingly full. We can have trouble finding motivation and energy to tackle all the challenges. How can we possibly do it all? What were we thinking when we made our plans and commitments?

Rest assured. If I've just described your experience, you have plenty of company. It's normal, and understandable to feel this way.

While you can't eliminate the winter blues, some simple adjustments can do much to ease the suffering and propel you into happy productivity.

I plan to be here to cheer you on and give you tips for managing these weeks of deep winter, so that you can enjoy school and home together. So check in here every day during the week over your favorite steaming cup and chat with me.

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So, how are you? What's happening in your home right now?