me Archives - Page 3 of 17 - Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Mar 01 2017

Heads Up, Florida! New Book Released Today

I’m proud to announce the release of my latest book, “The Ultimate Guide to Florida Homeschooling“. It’s a book that has been years in the making, and I’m honored to be able to bring this kind of information to my Florida audience.

In this book, I share everything Florida home ed families need to know, plus a whole bunch of uniquely-Florida goodies — ones that make homeschooling here so special. I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside families in the Sunshine State for over 20 years. Through this book, I’m able to give something back to families today, and those coming up in the future.

New homeschooling book for Florida families! Available now:

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I’d love for you to SHARE this new book with your friends and contacts. It’s the first and only book by a Florida homeschooler for Florida homeschoolers, and I think everyone will find something of value within its pages.

You’re also invited to ‘Like’ my Facebook page, and/or subscribe to my newsletter, because I’ll be sharing Florida-specific updates, homeschooling videos, giveaways and doing live events for my Florida homeschool friends!

Here are some sneak peeks of the inside (you can also “Search Inside This Book” on Amazon):

It contains up-to-date legal information to help you understand the Statutes and always remain in compliance.

Portions of the book have been reviewed by HSLDA, so you’ll know it’s completely accurate and can be trusted for your family’s educational needs.

Why not grab one for every member of your support group?

If I can answer any questions about it, don’t hesitate to contact me. And, as always, I appreciate our connection and your support.

Hope to meet you at the next Florida event!

Check it out now.

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, homeschool leader, and women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

Feb 01 2017

One of the most important posts I’ve ever written

{This is a follow-up to a previous article that received so much attention, I knew I needed to post what’s been going on since that time. In the article, below, I share a little of the feedback I’ve received over the last several years. But, if you’d like to read the original article first, click HERE}

In case we’ve never met, allow me to introduce myself as a professional educator and 20+ year veteran homeschool parent. I homeschooled my kids all the way to college, and I remain a passionate advocate for home education and parental rights, working, writing, and, speaking to families coast to coast. I was a college professor for many years, then certified as a school teacher some years later. I have probably spent time in every kind of classroom setting you can imagine. At one point, I even mentored new teachers, too.

My classroom experiences, combined with research and my own instincts are what led me to chose home education for my own children. I eventually left traditional schoolrooms altogether. I couldn’t be part of that malfunctioning (read: harmful) system any more.

I have never looked back on my decision not to send my children to traditional school.

I encourage everyone who feels the same way to make the same decision I did.

When I wrote the article “Why I Quit Teaching” in 2014, I never imagined the response it would get. I wrote it partly to vent my frustration and partly to explain to readers why I left (especially the parents of children in my classes who might be reading). But, mostly, I wrote it for all the other frustrated teachers, frustrated parents, frustrated administrators, and a generally frustrated public — people who might need to read it, people fed up with the state of traditional education, people wondering if they were the only ones thinking there was something terribly wrong.

I wanted people who read my article to understand how difficult / tiring / thankless teaching really is, and how little good teachers can do anything about it.

I wanted people who read my article to understand how hard I tried to make a difference, but how powerless I was, how powerless all teachers are, to do what our hearts originally called us to do.

I wanted people who read the article to know there is something terribly wrong. Worse, that there isn’t anything they can do to change it.

Since writing that post, I’ve received SO. MANY. EMAILS. More than I can count now. Some left comments under the article itself, but most write directly to my Inbox. I read the emails with chills, my eyes welling with tears of empathy and understanding. I write back with as much support as I can muster, as I too experienced many of those same feelings at one time, too.

Though the article is now 2 years old, I continue receiving letters from frustrated teachers about once a week. I can only imagine how many other teachers think of writing to me, or writing to someone else, or speaking out about what they’re going through.

Emails have come from all parts of the country:

“I am a teacher in Texas and have reached that breaking point. I read your article about you quitting and never going back. I feel I am at that point. “

“I’m in Florida and completely understand what you wrote. Your article brought me to tears because of the similarity to my own situation. I finally feel understood.”

“In Michigan it’s the same thing. My colleagues and I are so bunched up in knots over what they’re asking us to do. It’s like we can’t even teach any more.”

From all kinds of teachers:

“I am a new teacher with an assignment to teach two sections of English I and five sections of remediation English in high school. I went into teaching because I love education and partly because I wanted to make an impact… Most of my students despise me and I hate the profession. I am lost and it has only been eight weeks.”

“I am a student teacher and already I’m rethinking my decision to go into this profession. What I’ve seen in the few classrooms I’ve worked have already left me wanting to run in the other direction.”

“I have been teaching for almost 20 years and I am at my breaking point. I used to love my work and felt I was making a big difference. Things have changed so much over the last 20-something years. This is not the job I originally signed up for…”

With all kinds of questions, worries, and frustrations:

“It seems unprofessional but I honestly want to quit and get out asap with little notice. I don’t know if I can even take two more weeks. I have found myself in such a pit of depression I barely want to eat, shower, or get out of bed and no job should ever make you feel that way. I need out now.”

“Quitting is not an option. I search the Internet for ways to help my students but nothing is taken seriously. Is there any way to incorporate a few aspects of the home school model into the public education system?”

“The work load and stress the rest of the year is simply not worth it. I…have to worry about another special education student hitting another student or throwing something at my stomach while I’m pregnant and nothing being done because the rules are different for him.”

“I’ve started applying for corporate jobs as a professional trainer/curriculum designer and I’m hoping I get on somewhere soon because we need the income (I just can’t stay in the school system anymore). I’ve also thought about teaching online college courses or maybe making crafts and selling on Etsy or similar sites. “

“I am going through a mixture of emotions right now: disappointment: I have put forth so much time, money, and energy to become and be a teacher and had such high hopes of what it would be but it is nothing close to what I wanted.”

I personally respond to as many as I can. Sometimes, the teachers and I correspond for a period of time.

I try to create a container where these people can get their thoughts out. Because there really isn’t anything I can do, I can’t make recommendations for or about them. How could I? I don’t know any of these people or their situations.

But, at least I feel I can provide a listening ear. So, I devote 30 minutes a week or so to replying to teachers who write to me about quitting.

Had you any idea our nation’s teachers were suffering in this way?

Were you aware how helpless, hopeless and misunderstood many teachers actually feel?

In case you weren’t, I figured I’d let you know. Looking back now, I know that was one of the most important posts I ever wrote.

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

Jan 13 2017

Ditch the chemicals & make your own hair products

May contain affiliate links.

Several years ago, I learned what was in the stuff I was putting on my head. Worse, I found out what I was putting on my kids’ heads. I cringe to think about it now. But, like many people, I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

Oddly enough, I had stopped coloring my own hair many years earlier. I figured if something could burn my scalp and make my eyes water that much, it probably wasn’t a good idea. But, I never made the connection to the other hair products I was using, and for some reason, I didn’t think of what they were doing to my family either.

There was a veritable drug store on the ledge of my shower. There was the “cheap shampoo” for my husband (at his request), you know the brand, and my personal line up of elite products and potions from all the local salons. A pretty bottle would usually catch my attention enough to try it. If it had a glorious scent and overflowing lather, I would often buy it again.

The kid’s bathroom had a similar array of hair stuff near the tub. I’d buy all manner of kid-friendly hair products, and didn’t think anything of using the “yellow stuff” when they were babies, the colored stuff when they were little, the foamy stuff when they were old enough to shower alone, and the “manly stuff” as they moved into the teen years.

I favored lightly scented hair products, nothing overpowering, but definitely scented. “One had to smell good to be clean” was the limiting belief I held about cleanliness, and I thought I was doing everything right. It was the job of a good mom to be sure her offspring were clean and hygienic, I thought, so I reasoned the cost of those products meant I was being the best mom I could possibly be.

Until the day an article crossed my desk explaining the harms of commercial hair products.

Before then, I had absolutely no idea how chemicals seep into the scalp, enter the blood stream, and wreak havoc on the human body. Here I was in my 40’s yet had never understood how delicate an organ was human skin. I didn’t know how skin lacks the ability to filter anything, thus it sends anything it comes in contact with right into the body, impacting the tissues, organs and everything else.

Until I read that article, and the dozens of other articles I found next, I hadn’t known the dangers of things like sodium lauryl sulfate or phthalates or parabens, now known to be carcinogenic or neuro-toxic. I didn’t realize chemicals could have developmental effects, reproductive effects, could cause cell mutations, or how those tiny little soap bubbles could be harmful in other devastating ways.

I am not an expert, just describing my personal journey to discovering the benefits of natural hair products.

I was angry with myself, to be honest. It was hard to face the potential harms I had done to myself , and even harder to think I might have harmed my children. It broke my heart to remember the many nights my kids would emerge from the tub covered in redness, spots and itchy rashes all over their bodies. I decided in that moment to make a rapid and healthful change by eliminating all the commercial hair products we used in our home. Actually, I couldn’t throw the bottles out quickly enough.

During the initial changeover, we started using hair products I could easily find at a local health food store. Our favorites for general hair care were:

Avalon Organics Thickening Shampoo with Biotin B Complex

Jason Pure Natural Shampoo with Restorative Biotin

and for dry or flaky scalp we tried:

Jason Shampoo for Dandruff Relief

but none were exactly right. They were fine, just not perfect (and you know how I like perfection). One made no lather, which we were looking for, another was highly perfumed, and the third had an unpleasant odor that lingered after a shower.

Also, the cost of natural hair products really caught me off guard. I was used to spending money on salon products, but not on things I could easily make at home. Seeing the ingredients in natural shampoos and conditioners, it occurred to me I could make them at home for a lot less. And maybe in the process, I could create something we liked even better, too.

So began my journey to create my own recipes for hair products. I read product labels, researched recipes, and experimented with other ingredients on my own, then came up with the recipes you see below. Though I whipped up many batches of more complicated recipes that were fantastic, in the end, these are the ones I like best for their simplicity and extremely low cost.

Tea Tree & Lemongrass Shampoo

1 cup Dr. Bronner’s Citrus Pure Castile Liquid Soap (where to buy) can also use Unscented or Tea Tree

1 T. Bragg’s Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (where to buy)

5-10 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil (brand I use)

10-20 drops Tea Tree Oil (brand I use)

1-2 cups Coconut Milk (brand I use)

3-4 drops Almond Oil (brand I use)

4 cups water

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse (use instead of “Conditioner”)

1/2 cup Bragg’s Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (where to buy)

Fill remainder of 32 ounce container with water

Styling Product Alternative

Organic coconut, olive, avocado or almond oil (what I prefer)

Apply a drop to the hands then massage into the hair

Focus on hair ends, not scalp

Rinse and style as usual

A small amount may be left in the hair for extra conditioning from time to time

Easy to make homemade shampoo and conditioner. Inexpensive. Safe. Natural.

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I multiply the shampoo recipe to make a large quantity, then divide it into glass bottles for my shower and BPA-free plastic bottles for my kid’s bathroom. I also use a metal funnel to fill decorative bottles I find at yard sales and flea markets, and leave them on sinks and counters too.

Note that the rinse recipe replaces standard hair conditioner, but it isn’t creamy or thick like you’re probably used to. It works by removing that squeaky clean feeling sometimes left by homemade shampoos. If you’ve experienced natural shampoos that leave hair feeling like wet straw in need of detangling, you’ll be happy to know it gets rid of that feeling, too. There is no need for additional conditioning products when using these recipes, but a tiny dab of coconut or almond oil can be rubbed onto the hands and then massaged into the hair (not too close to the scalp) for styling from time to time if you like.

The benefits of making hair products span beyond just eliminating irritants and chemicals. For us, they seem to have corrected the issues we had with hair and scalp. For instance, none of us experience frizzy or unmanageable hair any more, and all the flaky scalp and other issues we had disappeared, too (I am not an expert, but I connect this effect to the tea tree and the vinegar).

Plus, we’re saving a ton of money.

Try it, and let me know how it’s going. There’s a COMMENT area, below.

And, please, if you’re like me, and regret using harmful products in the past, forgive yourself first. That’s truly the first step to making progress in this area. No sense holding on to what no longer serves you.

With much love,

As a coach, writer, recovered over-doer and busyness addict, I understand the challenges of creating a balanced, healthy lifestyle while the mind tries to sabotage your success. In my journey to vibrant health, I created a personalized health system of nutrition and supplementation, lifestyle changes, and I retrained my mind and the energy of my body. I view my success as the formula to my happy, healthy life. I now empower other women to create their own personalized formulas, including the tools and strategies just right for them! Amazing life shifts come from our relationships. I look forward to helping you, too!

Nov 21 2016

My Stress-Free Guide to the Holidays

I came to a big decision a couple of nights ago: I really want to enjoy the holidays.

I realized I was enjoying, but not really enjoying, the holiday season, you know? I decided I could simplify the holidays even more, without sapping the joy and meaning from this special time of year.

The trick, it seemed to me, would be to try a little harder than I had been. Success would only come if I agreed to let stuff go. Instead of replaying the same thing over and over, this was the year I really needed to make a huge change. A lasting change. A change that could impact my life, and hopefully the lives of my family, forever.

How about you? How does a stress-free month of holiday events, family gatherings, office parties, and everything else, sound to you?

Because it sounds damn good to me. I feel like, if I can finally get things right, I should be able to look forward to this time of year, every year, for the rest of my life. Actually, I think it’s a lot easier than I thought possible, too.

Follow along if you want this for yourself.

Stress-free guide to the holidays right here:

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Here are my guidelines for stress-free (and much more enjoyable) holidays this year, and every year from now on:

Cutting and More Cutting

Not of ribbons and turkey slices. But of all the time-sucking things I no longer want to do. Or no longer have the ability to do. Not if they take a moment away from my health or happiness, or my family’s health or happiness, that is. And, you know what? I guarantee nobody will care about most of it anyway. Perspective is my new favorite word. What happened in the past was because of who I was back then. I’m only doing what the present me is capable of doing this year.

Lowering My Expectations

I got tired of disappointment, so I finally took the time to learn why it happens. This year, my expectations will be at an all-time low, but in a good way. I’m thinking of expecting only what’s sane and doable for a normal group of people who actually have things going on, besides, you know, holidays. And if our holidays don’t look like scenes out of a Hallmark movie, we’ll turn on the TV, which is okay too.

Accepting What Is

For instance, though I’d love to visit everyone I know over the holidays, the truth is, it just isn’t gonna happen. I accept we can still care about people from a distance, and we can still love our friends when they’re not included in our holiday plans. Because life changes and people move on, I’m forgiving myself for not getting in touch with every single person I’ve ever met, all before year’s end. Not any more.

Gratitude Up the Wazoo

Grateful my children are all together under one roof. Grateful my husband and I are healthy enough to spend time with them. Grateful for a good meal, a walk after dinner, a board game and a few laughs. Or anything else I can be grateful for, like a loyal pet and a friendly neighbor. Done and done.

Being Flexible

Which I’m not usually. This is an ongoing goal of mine, and I’m putting it even more to the test this year. Whatever happens, happens, and a change of plans can be a good thing. At least I’m telling myself that. Wish me luck on this one. Though I really feel this is the year I’m finally going to get it right.

Delegating More

Just because I did certain things before, doesn’t mean I have to do it now. Change is good anyway. I’m not the only person who can bake something, decorate something, plan something, and all the rest. Someone else might even be better at it. I’m willing to find out who.

Allowing Emotions

Instead of pushing them aside. I mean, how healthy is that anyhow? If something brings on the emotions, I’m going with it. I’m not talking shouting matches and insults, but I’m thinking about feeling stuff without guilt or judgement at this potentially tender time of year. Feeling is good. Pretending isn’t.

Perspective

Because that’s really all there is. Half full instead of half empty and whatever we make of it. Finding joy in little things and enjoying our time together. Next year is never promised, so making the most of today is more important than ever.

Prioritizing Sleep

For obvious reasons, and as much as humanly possible during extra busy times of year. There are plenty of ways to infuse fun and magic into other people’s lives that don’t involve staying up all night. I don’t care what I miss, I’m never losing sleep over holidays again.

Are there any ideas on my list that might work for you, too? Drop me a comment to let me know about your stress-free holiday season this year.

Beliefs and their impact on well-being

There’s something so powerful about beliefs. Guiding and empowering, our belief system follows us throughout our lives. Quietly, subtly, it’s always in the background, like an invisible coach both cheering for us and advising what to do at any given moment.

In simple terms — our belief system tells us what to do.

When beliefs are positive ones, we experience desirable effects. Think of a little girl raised to believe there are no limits to what women can accomplish. Or a young boy filled with unshakable confidence in his abilities throughout his childhood.

Beliefs fuel us. They make us unstoppable.

Positive beliefs can propel us to do big things.

When beliefs go wrong, however, is when they’re troubling. Whenever false beliefs — really just inaccurate, limiting stories – become lodged in the mind and body, life takes an entirely different turn. Though limiting beliefs don’t have to impact negatively, very often they do. Scarier still, these lies have the potential to impact most anything, from self-image to health to physical capabilities to relationships to finances and so much more.

No aspect of human life is immune to the effects of the lies we tell ourselves, and constantly reinforce, via limiting beliefs.

No aspect of life is immune to the effects of the lies we tell ourselves, and constantly reinforce.

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False beliefs can potentially cause a range of symptoms and behaviors. Acting nervously, fearful, sickly, loud, timid, stupid, incapable, or unworthy, are just examples. They can lead us to stay small, feel inadequate, resist change, or refrain from speaking up in life, too. Imagine the lifelong impact of our thoughts! As they remain stuck in the subconscious, they literally have the power to keep us stuck and unable to move past them as adults.

Insidious in nature, perhaps the most dangerous characteristic of limiting beliefs is we usually don’t know they’re there. True or untrue, they can impact lives profoundly, causing behaviors that continually validate the beliefs themselves! How? Like the silent cheer leader I described, our inner coaches utilize beliefs as the basis for giving advice. Thus, if our coaches have nothing but limiting advice on which to draw from, they dole it out as truths. False truths lead to bad coaching. And bad coaching reinforces limiting truths. Thus, the cycle continues.

Unless it is interrupted.

That’s where looking inward is crucial and clearing is essential.

Often, limiting beliefs take root during childhood. Sometimes, depending upon your openness to looking beyond the present life, one can even begin looking in the womb, or at beliefs carried forth from past lives, if this feels right to you.

False truths lead to bad coaching. Bad coaching reinforces limiting truths.

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Regardless of their origin, clearing limiting beliefs is essential to well-being. Clearing can lead to a greater sense of freedom, greater successes, and greater fulfillment as we move toward becoming our true selves. For without clearing the lies, we continue living within their restrictions, never fully expressing ourselves as we are meant to be.

Different practitioners advise different methods for clearing these lies. Energy movement, emotional clearing, and guided meditation, are just a few of the ways one can begin recognizing and removing (clearing) blocks and limitations. Other ways include daily affirmations, hypno kinds of therapies, and positive self-talk.

In my own life and research, and in helping other women, some techniques tend to delve deeper, and seem to be more successful than others. But like anything else, what works well for one may not work as well for another. It can take many attempts and exploring many different modalities before finding one that feels right.

Bottom line, it may be time to begin recognizing it’s the inner subconscious (your silent coach) who is really in charge of what’s happening in your life. Only by noticing the power of past experiences can we even begin to understand our daily challenges, behaviors and frustrations. Taking steps to begin clearing these beliefs can help pave the path to freedom.

Standing with you as you reflect on the possibilities!