Enter to Win the HomeschoolingIRL Buzzkill Basket!

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Burnt out? This basket is for you! We've included some of Fletch and Kendra's favorite things that we've mentioned on HomeschoolingIRL episodes, so if you're a HIRLer, you'll double-like this giveaway!

• One bag of Fletch's favorite coffee bean, Huehuetenango from Kean Coffee of Newport Beach, California
• Two bars of Ghiradelli Dark & Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate. Ghiradelli is just over the bridge from us in San Francisco, California
• One bag of Ghiradelli Premium Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa
• One box of Kendra's favorite tea, Good Earth Sweet and Spicy
• A CD copy of our most popular episode, Homeschooling is a Buzzkill
• Your very own HomeschoolingIRL coffee mug
• That cute little fish

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want to win more baskets? You could win them all! Join the bloggers of iHomeschoolNetwork for a chance to win some really great gifts -  just click the image below:

(1) Jane Austen Giveaway†from Amy at Milk and Cookies (2) Moms of Gifted Kids Book Basket†from Colleen at Raising Lifelong Learners (3) Mama's Tea Time Gift Basket†from Jamie at See Jamie Blog (4) Bible Study Basket Giveaway†from Sam at Sam's Noggin (5) Mom's Coffee Break Basket from Heidi at Starts at Eight (6) Spring Goodie Bag inspired by Epcot Flower & Garden Festival from Megan and Susan at Education Possible (7) Mom's Just for Fun Basket†from Lara at Lara's Place and a Cup of Grace (8) Preschoolers and Peace Pampered Pantry Basket†from Michele at Preschoolers and Peace (9) Homeschooling IRL Buzzkill Basket†from Kendra at Homeschooling IRL (10) Mom's Relaxation Basket from Stephanie at Harrington Harmonies (11) Healthy & Fit Mama Basket†from Alisha at Flourish (12) Mom's Memories Basket from Renee at Great Peace Academy (13) Trim Healthy Mama Basket†from Judy at Contented at Home (14)Treasures for a Catholic Mother from Dianna at The Kennedy Adventures

When Homeschooling is a Buzzkill

We're just warming up here on HomeschoolingIRL, but already our most popular episode by far is Homeschooling is a Buzzkill. Honestly, I'm not all that surprised. I've spent the last 8 years blogging for homeschooling moms over at Preschoolers and Peace, and I've spoken at dozens of homeschooling conventions. There isn't a week that goes by that some weary mama doesn't approach me in person, via email, or on social media with that familiar catch in her voice. 

And very often, tears. 

Most of us will tell you that homeschooling is the hardest thing we've ever done. Some homeschoolers don't love having to teach the academics, but most of us feel like it's the intensity of relationships that wear us out and force us to look inward at our own frailties and failures. It's not easy.

In those moments when I stand in my closet and tell God I'm done, I give myself the freedom to be brutally honest, both to Him and to me. This homeschooling? It's a buzzkill.

And right now is about the time in a blog post where I should be telling you it's all worth it, right? I will. It is. But almost the worst thing to me is when I am struggling through the difficulties of something and someone else comes along to tell me to "buck up!" and realize what a big, important job I'm doing. Sometimes, I just want someone to recognize my struggle.

So here it comes, the encouraging end of the post: tell yourself the truth. In the noisy, hectic mornings, the long afternoons, the wearisome evenings with a fussy baby and dinner on the stove, tell yourself the truth. Homeschooling is hard, God has your back, and you are loved.