What Is Gratitude? What Are The Benefits For Homeschooling?
If you’re wondering what is gratitude, come and see how being thankful makes all the difference to how you feel about homeschooling.
What Is Gratitude?
In it’s simplest form, gratitude is all about appreciating whom you are and the wealth that is already present in your life
“Grateful for my health. After not feeling well, it’s easy to see how much we take for granted daily.”
~ Beth, Courageous Homeschooling Facebook group
Beth’s quote is so apt. We’re all guilty of going through days (and weeks!) bemoaning what we don’t have while conveniently ignoring all the good things in our lives.
It’s a shock to think how much we all assume is ours by right without realizing what a privilege it is that we have it.
Making a cup of coffee, taking a shower, having more than enough to eat – these are things we just stop noticing.
It’s a sad fact that our brain seems much better at tantalizing us with everything we need to strive for rather than sitting back, taking stock and congratulating ourselves on the richness that is already there.
That’s especially true when you are homeschooling. Many parents would say that their biggest regret is missing out on their children’s childhood.
So, whatever the trials and tribulations of your teaching day, it’s wonderful to take a moment to ground yourself and realise how fortunate you are to have been given this wonderful opportunity to spend precious time with your children.
Make A Gratitude Jar
“I have been really down recently so I am starting a prayer, wish and good things that happen jar so I can dip into it when things are getting me down. Going to get the kids involved so that we can read their happy memories too.”
~ Sheryl, Courageous Homeschooling Facebook group
Sheryl has shared her lovely Gratitude Jar as a wonderful way to make yourself feel better. Writing things down is a proven way to reduce stress, get more energy and help yourself sleep better.
It’s simple to make too!
- Find the sweetest jar you can
- Take different colored index cards
- Punch a hole in them to make a book
- Use the different colors for each thing you want to write about
You can see more ideas from Sheryl and follow her homeschooling journey here.
Gratitude Journaling
Turning your mind to what you are grateful for is one of the best ways to increase your sense of fulfillment and joy.
And writing down what you are thankful for has double the effect!
Research has proven that just spending two weeks writing a daily list of three things you are grateful for increases life statisfaction.
This page has lots of brilliant journaling ideas from pledge journaling to junk journals and how to start a homeschool journal.
Once you start writing what you are grateful for you will gain a sense of plenty. That hollow empty feeling that you are missing out begins to dissolve as you look round and realize the richness that is already in your life.
“I finish everyday thinking about the things I am grateful for – I have found I sleep much better.”
~ anonymous, Courageous Homeschooling Facebook group
I asked the 2,000 members of my Courageous Homeschooling Facebook group to pick out their favorite inspirational sayings and quotes to make this beautiful lined journal you can use in any way you want.
Please note that the book links on this page are affiliate links so if you buy I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Being Grateful To Homeschool
Feeling fulfilled yourself when you are homeschooling can be difficult, even if you know you’re doing the right thing for your children.
So it helps to hear from other homeschool Moms so you can remind yourself all there is to treasure about homeschooling and how much there is so much to be grateful for.
I asked members of my Courageous Homeschooling Facebook group for permission to quote them in our Handbook.
“I’m thankful for my family and the privilege to have my kids stay home to learn.” ~ Jami, Courageous Homeschooling Handbook
“The thing I like most is that we are free to work along our own schedules. I really disliked having to take my child in 5 days a week at set times. Some days I just wanted us to do something else and enjoy each others company when he was not tired from a whole day at school! Life is too short to give your children up to others to be raised!” ~ Saadiya, Courageous Homeschooling Handbook
Their words are ones that give us all encouragement. They show that when we take a calm moment in our day to be grateful then petty squabbles and the day-to-day ups and downs recede into insignificance.
The Courageous Homeschooling Handbook
Please note that the book links on this page are affiliate links so if you buy I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
“I wouldn’t send my kids to school for anything. I think it is wonderful that you homeschool and get to enjoy each moment of their progress. I just love the freedom that homeschooling gives us.” ~ Lisa, Courageous Homeschooling Handbook
The Benefits Of Gratitude
Being grateful is probably the biggest ingredient to happiness.
Positive thinking has enormous benefits for homeschooling.
“The struggle ends when gratitude begins,” ~ Eva, Courageous Homeschooling Facebook group
Research proves:
- Gratitude improves your health, both physical and psychological
- Being grateful increases the amount of empathy you feel towards others
- It helps you sleep
- And improves your self-esteem
It has similar advantages to celebrating our achievements. Thinking all the things you have achieved in a day is a far more encouraging way to spend your day than writing out a To Do list, and homeschool Moms have plenty of things to celebrate as you’ll see!
“It’s a silly one…but I am grateful for my smoothie maker 🤗 I know I’m eating some form of goodness even when I have no time or inspiration to make real food.”
~ Eva, Courageous Homeschooling Facebook group
Gratefulness is a vital part of being happy because when we find alternative ways fo thinking we create a better environment which allows positive changes to happen.
Gratitude Letters
According to scientific research on how gratitude changes the way your brain works, one way to increase the benefits of gratefulness is to write a gratitude letter – or dash off an email.
Why not send a quick email or text to someone thanking you for making you smile and brighten your homeschooling day?
It will help remind you of the good things that can and do happen to you.
What Are Homeschooling Moms Grateful For?
“I’m grateful for loving and supporting friends.
Grateful for life choices to keep toxic people out of my life.
Grateful for being able to homeschool and keep my kids away from harm.”
~ Bianka
“Grateful that after nine years of waiting, acknowledging her anxiety, and following my daughter’s lead in her own time, she is now ready to let my husband occasionally do bedtime so that I can go out……
I went to a yoga class last night….hurrah!”
~ Charlotte, Courageous Homeschooling Facebook group
“I’m grateful for my husband who goes to work to provide for us, my car being back on the road and having food in the house. Love of family and friends.
I am grateful for the love I receive from my children and that the sun is shining.”
~ Katie , Courageous Homeschooling Facebook group
“Today I am thankful for having this opportunity to home educate my daughter, where she can drive her own learning, where we can go at our own pace and take a break when we want to.” ~ Sheila, Courageous Homeschooling Handbook
Happiness Challenge
Take a moment to write down what you are grateful for and you will immediately see a lift in your spirits.
That’s exactly the sort of transformation that each of the Challenges in my Homeschool Happiness book seeks to achieve.
You can see all the Happiness books here.
Want to remember this? Post this Gratitude page to your favorite Pinterest board!
