Let's All Support Each Other

I am a member and frequent participant a a large and active homeschooling forum.  Occasionally, my favorite kind of post pops up, the brag posts.  You know the ones: someone's kid did something exceptional.  Maybe Bobby got over a major hurdle in math.  Or Jonathan earned his black belt in taekwondo.  Perhaps Sue got second place in the regional spelling bee.  I don't care what it is, I like hearing about these successes no matter how big or small.  They are big for that child and mom wants to, needs to, shout out from the virtual rooftops: "Look what my kid did!"

Then every so often another type of post comes along.  It's the "Am I the only one who hates these kinds of posts?" post.  The mom complains that these brag posts, and another type of post, makes her feel inferior in some way.  While Johnny passed his algebra final, at age 10, and her ten year old is struggling with basic multiplication tables.  Others follow with agreements.  These posts bring me down.  They make me feel that I am wrong to be be excited for and proud of my kids, and to share these good times with others.  Heck, sometimes these moms come right out and tell us to keep it to ourselves.  Why do we have to throw it in their face anyway?  So, I can't publicly share my joy because it might, no it will, make someone else feel bad.

Stop!  No one is perfect.  No is good at everything.  There's something good about everyone.  Can't we all just cheer each other on?  Can't we be excited for each other without making it a personal commentary of our own feelings of inadequacy?  Can't we just celebrate each other?  And appreciate each other's strengths?  Successes?  No matter how big or small they are?

So, tell me: 

What has your child, regardless of his or her schooling or age, done well recently?  Tell me about his or her success.

Leave me a comment about your child (format: Jeremy ___________________.) for each of your kids and I will post a list of all of our proud moments in the next few days.  I'll cheer for each and every one of your kids.  I promise!

Seasonal Depression or Natural Rhythm

What would happen if we discovered that most of what we call "seasonal depression" was actually a natural rhythm that we were created to experience? This question, along with a bigger overall concept, came to me this morning and I wanted to share it, to see what others thought of the idea.

One of the symptoms of seasonal depression is the lack of energy we feel during the bleak winter months. Perhaps we experience a reduction in energy levels during the winter because we weren't created, in the natural world, to need as much energy as we need during the summer. We've been reading Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder in our home school, and it was that story that led to my thoughts. The early pioneers were busy, I mean really busy, during the spring, summer, and fall months. The days were longer, the sun provided plenty of essential vitamin D, and they had work that just could not wait lest they starve to death over the winter. They had all of the energy they needed to get the job done. Then, come winter, there wasn't as much work to do. Sure, the men would spend the few short daylight hours hunting, if the weather cooperated, but otherwise they stayed indoors. They prepared food and ate, completed indoor chores and projects, told stories, played music, enjoyed the company of their family, and rested. The energy required to complete winter tasks was much lower than that required during the summer. Instead of back-breaking labor, they were resting and rejuvenating, because come spring, there would be work to do. That was then.

For those of us living in modern, first world countries, life is very different from what it was back then. With the modern inventions of electricity and reliable, weather-proof transportation, seasonal changes don't affect our work. We are free to work as long as we wish, long after sun down. We can drive to work in almost any weather. In short, our work-loads don't change with the seasons. We expect the same output from ourselves throughout the year. We never get that downtime to rejuvenate. More importantly, we expect our bodies to keep putting out the same amount of energy year round, and when it doesn't, we get upset about it.

That brings up the next question. Is it possible that much of the depressed mood we feel stems from our frustration at not being able to keep up, energy-wise, with our expectations? I know it does for me. If we understood, believed, accepted that we are suppose to have less energy during the winter, it would elevate our mood. Take it just a little step further, and accept that it may even be okay that our mood is naturally lowered during this time, too. A cheery mood helps get work done any day. I certainly don't want to hunker down for the winter, to rest and rejuvenate, when I'm cheery and happy. I want to get up, get stuff done, accomplish. On the other hand, a sedate mood facilitates the much needed rest when living in the natural world.

Unfortunately, most of us don't live in the natural world where seasons affect our required and expected output. Sure, those few who choose farming and ranching as their way of life experience seasonal changes in their work but what about the rest of us...city-dwellers? Even if we accept this design, how will it help us overcome the lack of energy and lowered mood so we can still keep up with the never-fluctuating requirements of our jobs? Simple (but probably not easy). We would need to reorganize what we can to reduce our loads during the winter. Think about what you can move to the spring, summer, and fall months. If you have a large decluttering and organizing project you want to complete? Do it in the spring. Need to paint indoors? Summer is the perfect time. Holidays stress you out? Shop and wrap in the Fall. Put more effort in getting as much work done during your high energy times so you can do just the essentials during the winter. If that isn't enough, consider reducing your standards a bit in some areas. Maybe you can live with vacuuming just the main areas of your carpet during the winter and let the detailed vacuuming wait until spring, for example. Focus on the priorities during the winter: homeschool, basic chores, feeding your families. Finally, relax, rest, it's what you were designed to do.

Accepting these two ideas, that we are designed to have less energy and a more sedate mood is natural and normal, would go a long ways towards reducing seasonal depression. Perhaps we should even change its name. Natural seasonal rhythm sounds better, more positive, doesn't it?