organization Archives - Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

May 03 2018

Beautiful things (includes activation exercise & printable poster)

I’m in the midst of decluttering our home (again), so I’ve been donating boxloads to local thrift stores, and bagsful to lovely people in my community who distribute items to those in need. Though I declutter all year long, I tend to do it more when ultra-busy or stressed. Which describes this entire year so far. Which explains why my family can’t fit in my car right now.

Perhaps you find it counterproductive to take time away from really important things to spend time cleaning and organizing. I don’t. Since clutter is so distracting and stressful for me, spending time getting rid of it actually frees up space in my heart and head. I can focus much more clearly on other things once all the extra stuff is gone. Just like I can’t work at a messy desk, I can’t function in a cluttered environment, either.

Too much “stuff”actually works against me. You might say (as I do), clutter just drives me nuts.

This isn’t just me. Walk by any book store or search for minimalist bloggers. Many are now recognizing the benefits of having less. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend spending a few hours in the nearest closet or junk drawer.

Great benefits come from having less. I highly recommend an hour in a closet or junk drawer.

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People have their own rules about decluttering. Mine include asking my children before giving anything away, asking myself whether anyone has used it in the last 2 years, and trying to predict if I might feel compelled to replace it after I give it away.

But the most important question I ask myself is this one:

Does it bring me joy?

Whether I’m thinking of acquiring something new or getting rid of something old, the joy question is usually the deciding factor. Because if it doesn’t bring joy, nothing else really matters. Joy is the only reason I’d ever want to move something, clean something, find a home for something, or otherwise keep track of something I own. When I boil it down, joy is pretty much the only reason I ever want to spend money, either.

To me, the joy question undercuts everything else. No joy means less value. Less value means weighing how much inconvenience it causes to me or someone in my home. Or how much inconvenience I’m willing to put up with, if there’s a least some amount of joy in having the item to begin with.

What each one of us finds beautiful is different. But, how beauty affects us is the same. Gazing on something beautiful creates positive emotions, and with time, positive associations. Otherwise, in my mind, it’s just clutter. Practical, necessary clutter, maybe. But without beauty, since clutter has the potential for adverse effect, weighing that is crucial before bringing it into our lives.

Keep in mind, other beings can be beautiful, too. Unless they’re not. Now there’s something big to think about.

Exercise:

Identify 3-5 objects or beings in your home environment. These can be items on a kitchen counter, small artifacts displayed on shelves, or any items found in drawers or closets. These can also be people or other beings you associate with on a regular basis.

One at a time, think how it makes you feel.

Is it beautiful? By what definition?

Does it have a purpose (what is it)? Is its purpose honorable or meaningful in a way that justifies it being in your home?

Does it make you think of something? Is that something pleasant?

How would you feel if it were no longer there?

Use these results to aid in decluttering. If decluttering isn’t possible at this time, use the results to limit contact with certain objects or beings that don’t bring joy.

Still struggling with the concept of reducing clutter and surrounding yourself with beauty? Grab my PRINTABLE REMINDER to aid in the process of eliminating that which doesn’t serve your highest self:

I surround myself with beautiful things

Standing with you as you move toward greater beauty,

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!

Mar 10 2018

The shift parents of all high schoolers need to make

I know you’re short on time. Which is why I try, through these articles, to give you quick and easy information you can really use. Without a lot of stories and fluff you don’t.

Who has the time? You’re a homeschool parent. There’s a lot to think about.

I get that.

So, real quick, I want to share an important idea. It’s one you might not be familiar with, since it’s one not everybody remembers to tell you.

It’s a shift you need to make if you’re homeschooling high school.

It’s a crucial shift for college-bound students especially.

First, the backstory.

The one where your teen needs to finish a boat load of requirements before graduating high school, if they want to be successful, that is. Which I agree with. They have to. I write about those requirements on this web site quite a bit (start here if you’re not sure what I mean).

Your student really does need all that stuff, especially if they’re college bound. It’s pretty much assumed that all applicants will show up with them. Your student could be at a serious disadvantage if they don’t.

Now, here’s the shift.

There’s actually more to high schooling than just requirements. It’s easy to forget that we’re in the thick of day to day learning. But, it’s important for success, so you have to work this stuff in, too. The shift is about making room in your schedules and prioritizing all this other stuff, too.

I’m talking about stuff like volunteering in and around the community; working community service projects, whether short or long term; having outside interests, maybe in clubs or groups or classes; leadership activities, like Eagle projects or being on the board of a student-run organizations; and anything else that is different from what goes on in the classroom.

It might be a hobby or a part-time job. It might be interning somewhere or helping with a family business. It might be caring for a family member or helping with routine child care around the house.

Basically, everything besides regular coursework is the stuff I’m talking about. It’s the other half of high schooling that many people forget.

Here’s a visual:

1/2 academics + 1/2 everything else = 1 high school experience

Or, probably more accurately for some families, this:

3/4 academics + 1/4 everything else = 1 high school experience

The exactly proportions are up to you.

Why is that stuff important, you ask? How is your kid supposed to have time for some of that?

Valid questions.

With creative scheduling and lots of parental support it can be done. All that driving around town, waiting endless hours for your kid to finish, shopping for supplies, and stuff like that. When you’d rather be doing something else, anything else, and sometimes it’s boring as heck, plus the house is a wreck and there’s nothing for dinner, but you’re doing it for your kid. Those kinds of things.

And it’s important for those college interviews, where your kid will get asked about stuff exactly like this. Interviewers want to know about coursework, true, but because lots of students apply with the same grades and the same coursework, it’s the stuff that can help your student stand out.

Plus, it’s fun. It’s needed. It’s important for your teen’s well-being. Who wants to be trapped in the house or seated by the computer all day anyway?

It’s important for scholarship committees that specifically seek applicants with certain areas of interest, beaucoup volunteer hours, and passions that lie outside the mediocrity of traditional high school coursework.

Makes sense, doesn’t it?

The shift is to give as much attention to coursework and requirements in high school as you do all this other stuff. I know it’s easy to forget , so let this be a reminder to incorporate “outside” things “inside” your home education program.

Your teens will thank you for this, by the way. They’ll appreciate your slight de-emphasis from lessons, grades and assessments, and the opportunity to delve into other areas of their lives. They’ll be better for it in the long run, too. You all just don’t realize it yet.

To your success,

Have you read my “Top Ten High School Fears” series? If not, find it right here.

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/Tampa, H.E.R.I., HECOA, Start Homeschooling Summit, Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and 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.

Check out Marie-Claire’s new book for Florida home educators HERE.

Jul 14 2016

Ten ways busy women can recharge

Every. Single. Day. That’s how often I see drained, weary women, desperate for a little R&R. Short on time yet heavy on responsibilities, it’s common for today’s women to sacrifice self-care.

I’ve been there. Prioritizing everyone but myself, it took a painful condition to get me to finally wake up.

Maybe you’re that type of person, too. Let’s see…a high achiever, an endless do-er, a chronic giver — have I got that right? You know you should be taking better care of yourself, but you keep putting it off while you finish something else.

Let me ask you this: Do the words “Type A” resonate at all?

I thought so.

Quick quiz. Self-care is only for people with:

Lots of free time?
Lots of money?
Lots of health issues?

And, of course, the ability to manage the guilt. The guilt of doing something for themselves, instead of doing of everything else, that is.

It’s craziness I tell you.

Where in the world did we get the idea it was better to be busy than lead a good life?

The good news is you can stop the train. It shouldn’t take a major illness or some horrible event to get you to notice you’re important. Because you’re most important. Remember, the whole empire crumbles if you fall apart! Did you forget that?

There’s even better news, too. Contrary to what you’re thinking, it actually doesn’t take a lot of time to keep your mind and body in great shape. Honestly, just a few minutes, several times a day, makes ALL difference between having the life you want and burning out forever.

Odd thing though. A lot of us women have no idea how to recharge. For a long time, I didn’t either. It isn’t pouring another cup of coffee or inhaling a cinnamon danish. It isn’t organizing a drawer, either (though that can be immensely satisfying). And it certainly isn’t checking your iPhone.

Recharging — and effecting real change – is the kind of self-care that keeps you grooving all day, all week, and for the rest of your life. It’s the kind that actually hits the reset button for a little while, but helps you stay healthy and strong for a really long time. Real self-care is the key to preventing the serious crash and burn you may have only heard about. Trust me on this one. You don’t want to go there.

Now, I can already hear you saying it, so I’ll address your skepticism head-on. I know we all lead different lives, and there’s no single solution that’ll work for everyone. But, there are some tips that work for at least some of us, which you’ll find in this list. And if you know of one I’ve missed, by all means, post it as a COMMENT. The more ways women can find to recharge for a few minutes a day, the better off we’ll all be together.

10 Ways [Even the Busiest of] Women Can Recharge

1. Breathe

It’s amazing the power of good old fashioned breathing. Just a few minutes of actual breathing — done the right way – provides not just peace and calm, but oxygen to parts of your body you didn’t even know you had. Think you already know how to breathe? Check again. Not those shallow ones into your throat or into your shoulders. We’re talking slower, fuller, more nourishing breaths that go all the way down into your diaphragm, into your hips, and even down to your feet.

2. Head Outside

Ah, the healing power of nature. Just thinking about it makes my shoulders loosen. There’s nothing like sitting in the bright sun for a few minutes, soaking up warmth and vitamins like a cuddly blanket. Or, sitting quietly under the trees, contemplating the sounds and textures, or maybe contemplating nothing at all. Being outside is already a great start. For an extra boost, you can even get barefoot for some extra grounding and energy exchange. Doing that several times a day might become your new favorite habit.

3. Meditate

Seriously, people. Meditation doesn’t have to take forever. If you’re used to listening to long, guided meditations that last 30 minutes or an hour, or if you think meditation involves sitting in silence the entire afternoon, you’re wrong. There are much quicker ways to reconnect. Doing a 5-minute walking meditation around your living room can be incredibly calming. Even just slowing down what you’re already doing (washing dishes or filing documents) can have positive effects.

4. Take a Bath

When was the last time you took a bath? I don’t mean dipping your martyrish, self-sacrificing carcass for 2 minutes into the dirty bathwater you plucked your kids from. I mean, an honest-to-goodness nourishing bath, in a deep pool of water, with epsom salt, your favorite essential oil, and permission to lay there for a luxurious 15 minutes. Do it! Extra points for locking the door.

5. Journal

I happen to be more of a crisis kind of journaling person, so I only journal when I’m working through something really big. Yet, despite my personal habits, I recognize the incredible effects daily journaling can have for many people. The act of writing things down can unburden the mind, help clarify issues, force us to make connections, and often eliminate emotional charge altogether. These steps together are very healing, as our thoughts move from the mind to the pen, and out of our consciousness where they clamor for constant attention.

6. Unplug

As devices take over, and people crave more and more artificial connection, it’s becoming impossible to put our devices down. Women, in particular, spend far too much time on social media, trying to remain distracted from their thoughts or soothing a starving need for acceptance or support. But there can be such peace in shutting out the noise for a while, too. Bodies need time to rest in between periods of jumping up to grab the phone for every notification. Powering down on a regular basis is the only way to give the body that chance at renewal.

7. Do Some Energy Exercises

I, too, was a skeptic, but have grown in my understanding of the body’s energy system, and it’s importance in maintaining good health. Using energy exercises, one can actually impact the body’s energy system, improving mood, movement, health, and the general timbre of the rest of the day. What I love about this method is there are dozens of different exercises that take just a few minutes and make a huge impact. I encourage anyone interested in this topic to grab a book about energy medicine or to contact me for information on how to get started.

8. Set Triggers

This is a great one to learn for our own health and well-being, and is also a valuable trick to teach children, too. Triggers work to set a reminder to a particular place in the home or office, like a doorway or fixture we walk past throughout the day. Just seeing these triggers is an easy, automatic way to remember to do something important in that moment. I have used triggers my whole life, for simple things like remembering to turn off the coffee pot, taking out the trash, or making an important phone call; to more significant things like taking a few deep breaths, doing my daily exercises, or relaxing the tension in my face. Triggers can also be used to remind ourselves to calm down, to breathe, to take a break, or just to center ourselves for a moment before carrying on with our day.

9. Water/Vitamin/Health Food Break

I joked earlier about the cinnamon danish because it’s common for people to reach for carbs and sugars when they’re stressed. And while it’s true that a temporary fix feels great for a few minutes, it’s the long-term effects of doing that stuff we need to worry about. When extraordinarily busy, perhaps one of the best gifts we can give ourselves is pausing for a glass or two of filtered water, for a vitamin/mineral supplement of something we’re lacking, or for a plate of healthy food. That simple act of self-love sends the message of “I care” to your brain and “I know what you need” to your body. Interrupting a cycle of unhealthy eating with some conscious nourishment is a great way to add value to an otherwise very busy day.

10. Repeat Affirmations

Because bullying is so widespread, most of us understand the impact of experiencing terrible things over and over. But, on the flip side, few people actually realize the importance of filling their minds with positive messages instead. Silly as this may seem, it really works. Hanging notes on the bathroom mirror and repeating positive affirmations throughout the day can literally turn people’s lives and health around. If it takes only a few minutes a day, why not try it for yourself?

Bottom line is, it doesn’t take hours and hours each day to protect against the negative effects of living a crazy life. Just one or two of these tips, performed maybe 3 times a day, is a great prescription for protecting good health.

To yours,

Dec 31 2015

Daily practice: 5 things to do before getting out of bed

I should probably tell you I’m writing this on the eve of a new year. This is always a serious day, isn’t it? Though it can be filled with fun and anticipation — maybe sparkling plans for the evening – it’s also a solemn time, too. Most use it as a time of reflection and resolve for the new year to come, right? If you check your news feeds, I’m sure they’re ripe with advice and counsel, full of quotes and inspiration, lists and schedules, plus offers of programs and products to help tackle your new year.

I’m just here with one simple goal — to provide you something easy you can do every day. My offer is completely customizable to your life, your goals, your capabilities, and the new year you’re trying to create, too. It’s yours and yours to keep — my gift to you as it were (but, really, this is a gift you give yourself).

If you’re like a lot of people, you use this day to reflect on the year that passed. Maybe there was a new baby, a promotion, or a wonderful vacation; so you’re happy about that. But, a lot of what you remember can make you melancholy, negative, or full of sorrow, too. You review events and people, those who entered your life and under what circumstances, and the stories about those who departed the Earth. You think of places you went and places you wished you’d seen, but did not. You think of developing illnesses, persistent or puzzling situations, and unresolved problems that will follow you into the new year. Perhaps you remember goals met, but mainly you think about those that failed, and how you failed, too.

On some level, I think we all do that. I know I used to. We all want what’s coming to be better than what just happened.

We all want what’s coming to be better than what just happened.

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I think many of us dwell on sadness, the grief, or the bad. This makes it hard to look forward to a new day or a new year. For all it’s worries, problems and regrets, we become attached to the bad, making it hard for us to let yesterday go. For all the failures and how we feel about them, it makes letting go of last year much harder, too. Not consciously, friends, but emotionally.

It came to me recently that many of us create a story on the eve of every new day. We recite our story when falling asleep. The story tells us:

I failed today, so I need to do better tomorrow.

By the end of the year, we’ve written a longer story. It’s the one we recite on the eve of a new year:

This year was really bad, so next year had better be really great to make up for it.

Such a bummer, right? And, talk about pressure for the new year!

How would it be if you could begin to turn that around? What would it look like if you could look forward to every new day? Can you imagine how life would change if you anticipate the gifts of every new year?

Try the daily practice I use every morning. This simple strategy will change your new year (and could quite possibly change your whole life).

Begin by breathing and finding your roots into the ground. Smile and feel grateful. Instead of hitting the floor in a rush and panic over everything waiting on your calendar, remind yourself how grateful you are for the lessons of yesterday. Forgive (remember when Maya Angelou said, “When you know better, you’ll do better”?). Then, cultivate a rising sense curiosity over what the new day will contribute to your life, and get ready to enjoy the ride.

I do this practice daily myself. I also sometimes do it throughout the day. My favorite part is to set an intention to fully notice and participate in my day. I fill myself with a sense of excitement and eagerness about what may happen. And, by the time I get out of bed, I honestly look forward to going along for the ride.

After doing this for a while, it should come more and more naturally. Whereas I used to rise with some confusion as to how my day might go, I now wake with great curiosity over what’s to come. I’m happy with whatever happened the day before, and I literally cannot wait to see what the new day will show me. For those worried about excellence and productivity, you should know that you’ll still rise with plans to make and goals to meet, but you’ll have a different level of energy and eagerness than you did before.

In a nutshell, this daily practice has taught me that each day doesn’t happen to me, it happens for me, for my learning, and for my life evolution. It’s exciting!

Instead of each day happening TO YOU, notice that each day is happening FOR YOU.

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If you already have a daily practice, add this into it. If you don’t already have a practice, this might be just the one you’re looking for. Let me know either way — I look forward to hearing about your practice in the COMMENTS, below.

With much love,

Oct 29 2015

High school testing schedule

No matter how you slice it, teens looking to get into college need to be tested. Sometimes once. Sometimes more than once. Whatever your feelings about testing in general, measuring academic readiness via testing becomes a reality somewhere around 9th or 10th grade.

(But, wait a minute! Aren’t there colleges that are test-optional? Indeed, there are colleges that have gone “test-optional”. Check this list to get an idea which schools, and where they’re located. If you believe your student has a real chance at admission to those schools, just disregard this post.)

There are 2 major entrance exams used by colleges and universities today. These include the SAT, administered through The College Board and given several times a year at test centers across the nation; and the ACT, also administered throughout the year, and offered by ACT Student (all links below). Though the tests are similar, there are some important differences, too. When planning for college, students can prepare for either test — or both, to discover which one most accurately represents their skills.

Test preparation isn’t something that should wait until the year of the test itself. It can take several years for students to feel ready to succeed. That’s why I suggest starting the process in 9th grade (by 10th the latest). Though there are plenty of kids who earn great scores the first time around, it can take other kids a little time and experience to master test-taking skills. (Besides, scores also improve with practice, so taking tests multiple times usually pays off.)

Preparation for test-taking may include any or all of the following:

getting familiar with the test itself (subjects, duration, policy for guessing and blank answers)
studying practice materials (either books or online practice tools)
participating in local or online test prep classes
participating in study groups (or starting one of your own)
subscribing to receive daily test questions
taking practice tests at home (old versions are published online)
taking the “real” test several times to improve the score

You already know I recommend planning with the end in mind, then working backwards to put a high school plan together. When you do that, it becomes clear that students need to start prepping in 9th grade to be totally ready for a 10th or 11th grade test administration. Starting any later means success on the test isn’t guaranteed. And though nothing is really ever guaranteed, why not make sure you’ve done everything possible for your child’s success?

Students need to start prepping in 9th grade to be totally ready for a 10th or 11th grade test…

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With the end in mind, I suggest making up a timetable of steps needed to prepare for college entrance exams. I’ve provided one for you, below. Just figure out the steps that’ll work for your specific student, then write them into the student’s high school plan.

What’s nice about this method is that the test prep becomes a part of the overall high school curriculum. As part of the curriculum, it’s unlikely you’ll forget the importance of test prepping your teen.

Here’s an example of just one test prep schedule that could work:

in 9th grade:

Fall semester —

Set up account and student profile on each test’s web site

Carefully study what each test is about

Get a general sense of which test(s) might be used: SAT or ACT (or both?)

Buy some study guides and find other ways your student can start studying

Spring semester —

With your student, begin working thru the practice materials you’ve selected

Make sure the homeschool curriculum addresses the subject areas that are on the test

Take notes about readiness as you go along

Ramp up your curriculum and lessons if necessary for test success

in 10th grade:

Fall semester —

Consider registering your student for a practice SAT exam (called the PSAT) at your local high school. It’s given every October, so make time in the student’s schedule to take the test

Carefully examine the PSAT score results when they come in, noting which areas to focus on for the next round

Spring semester —

Make sure your homeschool curriculum addresses all the subject areas on the selected test

Ramp up your curriculum and lessons as necessary for SAT or ACT test preparation

Keep practicing

in 11th grade:

Fall semester —

If you think your student might be eligible for the National Merit Scholarhip, sign up for the PSAT again (otherwise skip)

Ramp up test preparation and curriculum to be ready for the next test administration

Register student for either an SAT or an ACT exam on the next convenient date

Spring semester —

Continue test preparation efforts up until test date

Carefully examine score results when they come in, noting areas to focus on or improve

Register for another SAT or ACT; making sure student is academically prepared in all areas

in 12th grade:

Fall semester —

Register student for the final administration of either the SAT or ACT, whichever is the better fit

Make sure test scores for the chosen test (and chosen sitting) have been sent to the college(s) your student will be applying to

As you can see, this plan assumes your student will take an SAT or ACT exam several times. Though students are all a little different, and this plan may not be suitable for all teens, I’ve written it this way so you can see it could take a couple of years to finish studying and get the scores where you need them to be for college acceptance.

If you happen to have a student ready to take the SAT or ACT in 10th grade, in 9th grade, or even earlier, by all means, do that too. It’ll be up to you to adjust this schedule as it suits your student, their skills, and your goals for readiness over the high school years.

Information about the SAT found here

Information about the ACT located here

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. The founder of homeschool 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 system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame and with no teaching background whatsoever. A liaison for regional school-to-home organizations and a homeschool leader in Florida, Marie-Claire also mentors homeschool families nationwide. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on CONNECT, Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of other blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.