Today we talk about how to give yourself grace as you work from home and school from home.

In this episode, we’ll dive into:

  • Grace for when you’re struggling logistically to work and help your kids get situated
  • Grace for when you’re struggling with expectations
  • Grace for when you’re struggling with the concept of “Good Mom”
  • And grace for when you’re struggling with your identity as a multi-faceted woman who loves her kids and her work.

 

We’re talking about:

    • Boundaries
    • Priorities
    • Mom-guilt
    • And how God created you as a multi-passionate try-hard girl

 

Let’s start by talking about how to live in grace when you struggle with getting your work done and helping your kids complete school work

Set boundaries. Set boundaries around when you work and set boundaries around when your kids have access to you. 

So what are practical and grace-filled ways, we can set boundaries? 

  1. Start by accepting that you need boundaries because you have limits. It’s okay to accept the truth of that statement. It doesn’t make you a slacker, it makes you a very wise human. 
  2. Figure out what is driving you the craziest. 
    • Is it the constant interruptions? That means you need a boundary around time and access.
    • Is it the neediness? That means you need a boundary around what you are able to do and a cue to teach your child how to do certain small tasks on their own.
    • Is it the text message from work at 6 p.m. when you’re trying to put dinner on the table? That means you need a boundary around access and availability.
  3. Think through the natural rhythms of you and your kids. Then leverage them. So think about: 
    • When do my children need me the most? In the morning? Afternoon?
    • When do I do my best work?
    • What is my child’s natural rhythm?

Now let’s talk about how to live in grace for when you’re struggling with expectations.

So what are practical and grace-filled ways, you can set new expectations? Ask yourself these questions in the presence of Christ:

  1. What expectations make me feel overwhelmed?
  2. What can I practically do to let them go?
  3. What would freedom look like right now? 


Let’s move on to how to live in grace for when you’re struggling with the concept of being a “Good Mom”

Here’s what God called you to do as a mom:

  • Train your children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6)
  • Discipline and correct them (Proverbs 23:13, Proverbs 29:15)
  • Comfort them (Isaiah 66:13)
  • Tell them about Me (Deuteronomy 4:9, 11:19; Proverbs 1:8)

So what are practical and grace-filled ways you can parent God’s way?

Here are five: 

  1. Be the person God created you to be, to use your gifts and talents to love on your kids and to live in and stand on grace. God’s word doesn’t give too many prescriptive instructions on exactly how to parent, which gives you the freedom to be who you are and to raise your kids in an individualized way. Your God is the God of expanse and infinite options of goodness.
  2. Love your children and parent by faith. So when you feel like you’re lacking, simply cry out, “Jesus. Help!” And He will. Be patient. Be kind. Be gentle. And when you aren’t, ask for forgiveness. That may be the best example you ever set!
  3. Look at each week in its entirety. You may not have played a lot together on Monday, but maybe you played on Tuesday and Friday. Maybe you yelled on Wednesday, but asked for forgiveness and cuddled on Saturday morning. 
  4. Ask yourself, “Who told me I’m not a good, loving, kind, giving mom?” I can guarantee you it isn’t your friend Jesus. Jesus speaks encouraging words to you. 
  5. Perhaps the most important thing I’ll say today — the thing I don’t want you to miss is this — Lean on God’s grace. 


Finally, let’s close by talking about how to live in grace when you struggle with your identity as a multi-passionate woman.

You feel this internal tension pulling you between people and work. You ask yourself:

Aren’t people the most important thing? 

When I love my work am I putting task before people? 

When I tell my kids, “No, we can’t play right now,” does that mean I have my priorities wrong? 

Am I choosing the lesser thing by completing the TPS report instead of playing catch?

You second-guess every decision. If you choose work over spending time with your kids, you feel like a bad mom. If you choose your kids over finishing the project, you feel like a slacker employee. Moms cannot win for losing. 

You and I have an identity problem. But it isn’t our identity we struggle with. It’s God’s character that we have a hard time with.

So what are practical and grace-filled ways you can live in the light of who God is and who you are in Him?

  1.  Ask God to show you areas where you are leaning on your work to validate your worth.
  2. Limit who you listen to on social media, podcasts, friends in real life. 
    • Is there any particular person who makes you feel less-than because you work or because you took the day off to play at the park?
  3. When you feel the guilt and shame creep in, repeat this verse: Hebrews 4:16: 
    • “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”


Monday, May 4 was my birthday and you get the birthday treats!

I’m giving away three prizes:

To enter:

  1. Listen to the podcast and take a screenshot of the podcast logo.
  2. Post the screenshot on Instagram.
  3. Tag me @jillemccormick and use the hashtag #GraceInRealLifePodcast
  4. Do those three steps by May 8 at 9 p.m. Central.
  5. I will randomly select three winners for the three different prizes and send you a DM on IG.


Key Quotes

God didn’t design you to be perfect and to hold it all together. 

Run to God on good days and bad days, not because of your ability to reach a high standard, but because of Christ’s righteousness. 

His grace is greater than failing to meet expectations.

You are good enough because you are in Christ.


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homeschool, work from home

homeschool, grace, work from home

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