So you say you're feeling overwhelmed by this whole parenting thing? Your child is intense, strong-willed, has big emotions, and you are just hanging on? Or maybe they are slow to warm up and getting them to do anything new feels like a struggle... Wherever you are, it can feel isolating when everyone around you seems to have it so easy. And they're so full of advice, but it just doesn't work for your child. Welcome, friend. The Lifeline is my weekly-ish email for parents just like you. You are not alone, and you don't have to grit your teeth and just get through it. You can change the dynamic within your family. You can reclaim your life. One day at a time. One email at a time. I can't wait for you to join us.
Finding the right fit
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Hello Reader, It's 7:06 AM. I have no idea how much time I have, but I know I need to start somewhere. I've been practicing what I preach and honoring this transition back to homeschooling with space. But if I'm honest, there's been a creeping fear of saying the wrong thing. It's been small, but steady, and it's been easier just to stay quiet than to say my world has been fundamentally rearranged. I didn't want anyone to question it. I didn't want sympathy either. I wanted celebration. And time. I wanted the time I'd been missing out on while my daughter was in school and the time that I'd missed with her after school when she needed space to decompress. So time I've been taken. We've celebrated, made new friends, found a new rhythm, and we're reviving our love of learning. Together. I often talk about not letting outside voices get in the way of listening to your own voice, and I needed to practice this, too. So I removed my voice, took myself off the air so to speak, to keep extraneous voices from getting in. Because there's no need for sympathy - this was a conscious decision, not a last resort. We love homeschooling. We love the freedom it gives us and how easy it is to meet individual needs. This decision wasn't a result of failure to thrive or anxiety that got too extreme. It wasn't for lack of love for her teachers and what they had done for her. It was simply a decision rooted in the recognition that what worked well for her last year was no longer the right fit. It was time to adapt and figure out what the right fit was. Of course, there are bits and pieces we are still figuring out, but I'm feeling grounded enough to write to you all. To open the windows and let the world back in. I always ask myself as I'm writing how this is relevant to you, and here's what I've got this morning. You may never choose to homeschool. That's totally up to you and your family. But you will face challenges as a parent. Your kids will face challenges on their own, and it will ripple through your family. When these big life moments arise, the best gift you can give yourself is a support system and the personal skills to get through it. You want someone in your corner who can help you build the skills you need to get through, someone who will help you hear your own voice - and your child's - clearly. In those moments when you want to close the windows and weather the storm, don't wait. Reach out. Find someone to bring a little light to your world. As a coach, that's exactly what I'm here for: helping you face your life and parenting challenges with grace and confidence, so you can continue to build the connection you already have with your child. My door is open to you. To take the first step forward in coaching together, go to https://juliamcgarey.com/#work and schedule a consultation. You'll find information about my prices on the website, too. Your partner in parenting, Julia McGarey |
The Lifeline
So you say you're feeling overwhelmed by this whole parenting thing? Your child is intense, strong-willed, has big emotions, and you are just hanging on? Or maybe they are slow to warm up and getting them to do anything new feels like a struggle... Wherever you are, it can feel isolating when everyone around you seems to have it so easy. And they're so full of advice, but it just doesn't work for your child. Welcome, friend. The Lifeline is my weekly-ish email for parents just like you. You are not alone, and you don't have to grit your teeth and just get through it. You can change the dynamic within your family. You can reclaim your life. One day at a time. One email at a time. I can't wait for you to join us.
We have had a few weeks full of life, y'all. This photo was taken a few weeks ago in the waiting room at the hospital. My husband had major surgery — it was a long day, but he came home a few days later, and we were so relieved. Once he was home, he needed a lot of help. That made it hard to flow with our regular homeschool routine, so we decided to slow down and just focus on getting through it. And honestly? Sometimes that's the most important thing we can do for our kids -- slow down....
Hello Reader, Can we take a moment to breathe together? (Inhale, exhale). There's a LOT happening in the world right now. Actually, it's been quite an eventful year. There's been a lot to process. And that's just on the national and global stage. I've found it difficult to write about parenting and kids, honestly, because there is so much happening beyond the walls of our homes, and because sometimes the most impactful thing we can do is narrow our focus to our own communities, our own...
Hello Reader, We've all been there. You made the plans. They know the plans (although, it's debatable whether or not they're fully on board). The time comes to execute the plan, and they're giving you a full-bodied no. They won't go, and now they're in full-blown meltdown mode, crying on the floor or curled into themselves under a blanket. What can you do? Most parents have one of two reactions: Are you kidding me?! Faced with a sudden meltdown, they feel blind-sided. They had a plan and...