Avoiding the Perils and Pitfalls –and the mistakes we all
make
Beat off burnout, keep up the good fight, and come out a winner
Pitfalls: Fearful lies of our enemy
I'm not enough
Lie #1: That didn't count, because they weren't in REAL school!
Lie #2: Someone else could do a better job!
My children are not enough
Lie #3: Your children will grow up to be misfits
Lie #4: Your children will embarrass you after all the work you put into them.
My family is not enough
Lie #5: You CAN'T survive on only one income!
Lie #6: Home schooling families are ALWAYS happy-happy-happy!
Perils of Perfectionism
a) Who me? A perfectionist?
i) Symptoms of a perfectionist
b) What does the Bible say on the subject?
c) What is God’s standard for man?
d) 80/20 rule of organization • 6/7 – God’s
standards
Solutions:
e) Focus on the process, more than the _____________________________.
f) Focus on strengths more than on ______________________________.
g) Learn to live in _____________________________________________.
Balance breakdowns: ABC!
1. Loss of self __________________________________________________
2. Loss of routine _______________________________________________
3. Loss of laughter, love of life…. __________________________________
Balance Solutions:
A = Acknowledge the situation for what it is
B = Breathe: stop, think, and pray
C = Change whatever you can and accept the truth on the rest
Dear God, Please grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage
to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.
Teri Spray • www.teacheasyenglish.org • www.christaincottage.com • 303-688-6626
Love, God
Choose to live in love with an attitude of gratitude
Love your God:
Practice the presence of God throughout your day. Then you will be able to walk in love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control.
Love yourself:
speak blessings on yourself all day
take care of yourself
get healthy
Love your family:
Dare to confront: Boundaries are beautiful things
Speak God’s loving truth to ourselves and our families and our friends.
Dare to express: Understand and demonstrate
See your family through God’s “ROSE-colored lenses”
“Speak” Love Languages fluently to one another
(acts of service, gifts, words of encouragement, quality time, meaningful touch)
Teri’s 1 Corinthians 13 for Home Schooling
Though I teach with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love,
I sound like noisy brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I teach with a gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries,
And my children have all knowledge and excel on their college entrance exams;
And though I have all faith, so that I could move mountains;
But have no love in my home, I am nothing.
And though our family gives all of our goods and services to the poor and serve in the mission field,
And I sacrifice everything I am for my children and their schooling, but I don’t have love,
It means nothing.
Love is patient with wiggly children and struggling students,
Love is kind and understanding
Love does not envy other home-school successes
Love doesn’t boast and brag about our accomplishments
Love doesn’t behave badly or selfishly.
Love is not temperamental and irritable
Love is not critical of children or others.
Love always believes the best
Love hopes for the best
Love endures when days are long,
Love never fails!
Now I have put away my childish attitudes, and faith, hope and love remain,
But the greatest gift I can give is LOVE.
Let’s not worry about what others think or do, let’s relax and love our life while we
create a legacy of living, loving and learning together!
Teri Spray • www.teacheasyenglish.org • www.christaincottage.com • 303-688-6626