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How do we gain confidence as a homeschool mom? We need to believe in ourselves, we need to feel okay about doing something for US! To gain confidence as a homeschool mom we have to be willing to embrace our calling.
We are sitting on my back yard swing, when she looks at me and says, “I feel like I’m a nobody”.
“What do you mean?” I reply.
“I’m JUST a mom, I don’t know anyone else who is JUST a mom, everyone homeschools, or works from home. While, all I am is JUST a mom”
This conversation can be repeated time and time again from moms across the country. Moms who don’t value their worth. Who believe the lie that all they are is JUST a mom.
This feeling comes from lack of confidence, and we all have to learn to believe in ourselves. While I may not have faced the same exact feelings as my friend, I have felt similar feelings.
How do we gain confidence as a homeschool mom?
Own Our Decision
One reason many of us homeschool moms don’t feel confident is that we have believed the lie that we are not good enough. We believe the lie that by staying home we are wasting our education. We believe the lie that we’d be better off somewhere else, or doing “bigger” things for God.
If you stay home, why do you do it? Did God lay this on your heart? Then embrace it. Believe in your ability. Find joy in your calling.
Moms, believe me when I tell you that poor self-confidence is a choice. No one can tell us how to feel. No one can make us doubt our abilities as a mom. We CHOOSE to believe the lies others tell us.
Once we own our decisions, no one else can tell us that we are not good enough, or that we should be doing something else.
Find Something that’s Yours
I think the biggest habit moms fall into is putting their all into their families. Yes, as a mom that’s what we often times feel like we should do, BUT when we do that, we leave nothing for ourselves. We need to have an identity outside of our kids and our spouses. What does that look like for you?
In Sarah Mae’s book Longing for Paris, she shares something that really made me embrace this space that God has given me:
God cares for our dreams…. Our dreams give us a vision. If you are in the waiting season ask God “What can I be faithful in right now to prepare me for the dream you have laid on my heart”
For many of us, we are in a waiting season as we care for our children. BUT, that doesn’t mean that we can’t find something that’s ours. Maybe it’s a longing to sew and make beautiful things. Take an online class, or read some books about designing a craft. If it’s a blog, or to write, begin writing now! Even 15 minutes a day can add up. So, ditch the mom guilt and find something that’s yours!
Get DRESSED for your job!
How many days a week do you stay in sweat pant, yoga pants, or pajama pants? Be honest. Okay, yea it’s probably too many, right? (GUILTY!)
Staying in our pajamas every day will not help our confidence. Neither will wearing clothes that don’t fit or our hair in a messy bun every day. After I attended a blog conference a few years ago, I made the decision to get up and get dressed every day (even if it was a CLEAN pair of yoga pants). I began shopping for me. I got my hair cut for the first time in a year! And you know what? I began to feel better about myself, and in turn, that gave me more confidence as a homeschool mom.
What makes you feel good about yourself? Is it getting up and getting dressed? Putting on a little makeup? Working out? Whatever it takes, do it! You don’t have to be a frumpy homeschool mom. I promise 🙂
Want to be more confident as a homeschool mom? Own your decision, embrace your role, and don’t let others tell you it’s not good enough! Find something to do for YOU. God gives us dreams, and we don’t have to sit on them. Get up and get moving. Find something that makes you feel good about yourself, and do it! These things will help you with your confidence as a mom, which in turn will make you better equipped to embrace your role every day.
Thank you! I agree with that, I feel SO much better when I get dressed 🙂
I’m not a mom yet, but I love the advice in this post. My mom always told me when you look good, you feel good so I also try to look my best. It’s something I try to employ in my life everyday whether I’m going to the gym, heading to a meeting or staying home. Hopefully, it continues once I’m a mom to help boost my confidence.
Oh Rachel I’m so sorry I’m sure that has been a difficult transition. Prayers to you and your kids. And isn’t it amazing how just fixing your hair can cause a huge change in your attitude? Good luck in the coming weeks!
Beautifully said! Reading this was great timing for me. I just sent my kids to public school after homeschooling them for a few years. It was a good thing for my kids, but I was left to face a loss of purpose and identity. I gave myself a week to just be, to grieve that loss, and remind myself that I don’t need to be anything other than me. I have started doing my hair every day and just that has made such a difference!
Great reminder, thanks! When we don’t have anywhere to go or be, we tend to get a bit lazy with the self-care. It’s so damaging to our sense of self.