What does it mean to flourish? Webster’s dictionary says that flourish means: to thrive; to grow well and be healthy; to achieve or be successful; to hold up and show something in a proud way; to be excited about accomplishment; a fancy or dramatic way of doing something; to be influential; to increase and prosper.(source)
Wow, don’t you want to flourish (be healthy and thrive) in your life? Flourish in your faith and life long walk with God? Flourish In your marriage? Flourish in your parenting and your homeschool?
I was blessed to receive an encouraging self-help book / life manual called Flourish, Balance For Homeschool Moms written by Mary Jo Tate and published by Apologia Educational Ministries through the TOS Crew to review this summer.
290 pages
Soft-cover
Retails for $15.00
This book is written for homeschool moms, but homeschool dads (perhaps work from home dads) might enjoy it and glean wisdom from it too. It is full of wisdom and helps you learn how to balance and flourish in your life as a homeschool mom, in family life, and flourish running a home business if you have one.
WHAT IS IN THIS BOOK?
I am so glad you asked, ha ha! There are 16 chapters full of suggestions that cover just about everything a homeschool mom faces. Then at the end of each chapter is a section called TAKE ACTION. This is a question and answer section that helps you focus on the main points discussed in each chapter, and figure out how you will apply the wisdom you gleaned into your own life, and helps you make a plan for positive change. That is 16 opportunities to write out a plan for positive change!
Then at the back of the book there is a BIG LIST (appendix A) of recommended resources to help you on your journey. Next is a BIG RESOURCE (appendix B) of helpful forms, charts, and goal planning pages. Some of these forms you will want to use everyday or every week so you will want to keep them handy. When you buy the book, you can get a link to a downloadable version of the forms to print off and keep in a binder or hang on a bulletin board if you wish. At the very back of the book, the author lists more about her website and contacting her for one on one coaching if you wish to do so.
Chapters and discussions in the book include:
An Invitation To Flourish – Desire to succeed in your family, in homeschooling, and running a home business
Change Your Mind To Change Your Time – Life management not time management
The Freedom Toolbox – focus, reflect, educate, eliminate, discipline, organize, multitask
Where Did My Time Go? – time logs, assessment, costs of opportunities, schedule, wise choices
Aim High: Setting Goals – brain storm, write them down, share
What Do I Do Next?: Seven Essential Planning Tools – dream, goals, plans for monthly, weekly, daily tasks, to do or not
We Interrupt This Program – perceptions, phone, email, test, balance, boundaries, God is always in control
It’s Time For An Attitude Adjustment – no guilt, no fear, no perfection, no whinning, no resentment, no self pity
Oxygen Mask and Monkey Bread Days –
Training Your Children – responsibility, independence, initiative, service
Making Memories – family traditions, one on one time, explore, enjoy, preserve memories
Managing the Home – housekeeping, attitude, organize, edit, meal plan
All of Life Is Learning – homeschool, expectations, encourage, system for success, beyond academia
Solo Act: Flourshing as a Single Mom – rest in God, strong family identity, unity, balance, self care
Home Business – why, options, outsource and delegation, income, time, marketing, customer care, team, records
Moving Ahead – evaluate success and need for change, make needed changes
What Did I Think?
I would recommend this book for ALL MOMS! It is “hands on”, and is a self help manual with keys for success.
This would be a great book to read at anytime, to save your sanity and get organized, but especially a good read over the summer (or any break) when planning for your upcoming homeschool year. Knowledge you will glean, and the hands on practice in goal setting, organizing, journaling, menu planning and more is invaluable.
Do yourself a favor and get this book. This book will help you avoid a ton of mistakes that will potentially drain your time and energy and cause you to burn out. You can avoid burnout if you have the knowledge of how to plan and how to FLOURISH in your hands from the start. This book would also make a great gift to give away to friends and family too. This book would make a great study for a mom’s group too.
The basics to set up a flourishing life boils down to the process. This book will help you through the process of putting God first, establishing strong family relationships, creating acheivable goals, evaluating priorities, setting and maintaining boundaries, taking opportunities, wise use of resources, and managing your time to be the best you can be.
I definitely want to flourish in every area of my life! I don’t want to burn out, and miss out on living a life filled with joy and purpose. What about you? Are you ready to flourish?
Mary Jo Tate
Mary Jo Tate is an author, speaker, business owner, and homeschool mom of 4 boys. She understands the challenges homeschool moms face. She has learned to flourish in her own life and has a lot of wisdom to share. You can follow Mary Jo Tate on her social media links to keep up with all the latest news and updates:
Blog: http://www.flourishathome.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlourishAtHome
Twitter: https://twitter.com/maryjotate
