Gettin Life Dunn: Recent Episodes

View Details

Homeschooling is a lot of work. It's not all fun and games. Sure, there are days when it feels like we're just playing all day and learning simultaneously, but most days are hard work. That's why I think it's essential to spend time preparing to be a homeschool mom. So, here are 10 Ways Homeschool Moms Can Prepare for the New School Year.

That may sound like a drag, but it's not. It's fun to prepare for something. You get to think about all the different things you want to do with your child and how you want your school year to go. Plus, it's a great way to put last year's defeats behind you and start fresh this year.

Educate Yourself about Learning Styles

Each of your children is unique in their learning styles and needs. This is something that every homeschool mom should do first before even planning another aspect of the school year. You can spend years squeezing your child into a curriculum that doesn't match your child's learning style. Trust me; some of you already know what I'm saying to be TRUE. If you don't do this before even ringing your bell on the 1st day of school, you will find yourself barely being able to make it to Christmas break, and you'll be headed towards a half-hearted restart in January.

Invest in Resources for Yourself and Your Sanity

One major thinking fault in homeschooling your children is that you must do it all on your own to be the best homeschool mom you can be. I didn't want a cookie-cutter program that didn't meet each of my children's unique learning styles. Otherwise, they could have remained in a traditional brick-and-mortar school.

But as their teacher, I needed to invest in learning new things myself to assist them in becoming the best that they could be as students. Believe it or not, teaching my oldest son Algebra II with Math U See allowed me to pass the Teachers Math Praxis without studying beforehand. Something that has become unnecessary to pass due to so many potential teachers being unable to pass the Math portion. I also utilized Teachers Pay Teachers due to wanting to ensure my children were on the cutting edge of academics as well as allowing myself unique ways to teach rather than DVD programs or online courses.

Get Organized

Once I have my list together, I create a calendar on Google Calendar and add in when each task needs to be done. For example, if we need to buy something for school, I will list it on the calendar, so I don't forget. Keep google docs on your phone: This way, you can easily refer to the calendar on your phone if you're out of the house or your printer is running low. Homeschool moms can appreciate this system due to a never-ending frustrating moment of "We're out of ink." Or you can purchase or possibly get a free planner if you prefer to have a written format.

Print out a few bullet points of what you need to do in the first week of school. I reference this when trying to remember what needs to be done during this first week. Are you ready to learn more of the 10 ways homeschool moms can prepare for the next school year?

Create an Organized Daily Routine

If you're like me, for the first year or two I homeschooled, you'll write out your family's school schedule minute-by-minute because you had to squeeze every second out of that clock that ticked all day. This way, you won't put unnecessary pressure on yourself, and your children will feel much less stressed – plus, there is plenty of time for spontaneous activities. Unfortunately, my children are people, and our home isn't perfect.

Creating a schedule like that only sets you up for failure and disappointment because you can't meet your expectations for yourself or your children. It would be more ideal and realistic if you instead focused on what you wanted to accomplish for a particular day, allowing adjustments as needed. I preferred using the sticky method when preparing for the school day.

That way, if there were hiccups in the day,

View Details

It's that time of year again- the back-to-school season. For many students, this is an exciting time. They get to see their friends again and start learning new things. But for some students, going back to school is a dreaded experience. They may have been bullied in previous years, or they may struggle with social anxiety. Getting them excited about returning to school can be challenging if this is the case. Gettin Life Dunn will share with you 10 ways to get your kids excited about to school this year!

Kids Excited About Going Back to School this Year!

10 ways to get your child excited about school include: 

1. Talk about the positive aspects of school- such as seeing their friends and learning new things. 

2. Avoid negatively discussing school- try not to use words like "dread" or "hate." 

3. Help them devise a plan for dealing with any challenging situations they may encounter- such as bullying or social anxiety. 

4. Encourage them to participate in extracurricular activities- such as clubs or sports teams. This can help them to make friends and feel more connected to their school community. 

5. Get them involved in the back-to-school preparations- such as picking out their supplies or clothes. This will help them to feel more ownership over the situation and less like they're being dragged back against their will. 

6. Talk about any changes that will be happening at school this year- such as a new teacher or a different classroom. This will help them feel prepared and avoid surprises on the first day of school. 

7. Plan something special for the first day of school- such as a picnic lunch or an after-school treat. This will give them something to look forward to during what can be a tough day. 

8. Make sure they get enough sleep and eat healthy foods- this will help them feel their best and be ready to learn! 

9. Have BOOKS THAT THEY ARE EXCITED about ready for the school year! If they are passionate about reading, ensure they have access to books they are genuinely interested in so they are engaged from day one! 

10. Finally, try not to put too much pressure on them- remember that every child is different, and some may take longer than others to adjust to being back at school after the summer break! Just take things one day at a time, and eventually, they will settle into a routine and feel more comfortable with being back at school again!

Back to School: You Got This, Moms and Dads!

So there you have it, ten ways to get your kids excited about going back to school this year. As we head back to school, it's important to remember that our kids may feel various emotions. But with some preparation and understanding, we can help them feel excited and optimistic about the upcoming year. By talking about the positives of school, helping them come up with a plan for difficult situations, and encouraging them to get involved in their community, we can set our children up for success this year and beyond. So let's all work together to make this school year great!

Let's All Work Together

What are your thoughts on going back to school? Maybe you can add a tip that's not covered on Gettin Life Dunn's 10 Ways to Help Your Kids Get Excited To Go Back to School This Year post.

What do you do to help your kids feel optimistic about the upcoming year? Let us know in the comments below!

View Details

Vision Boards, most people don't know what they are or their purpose regarding your overall well-being. Vision Boards work, and this post will be one of many for our vision board series. Stay tuned in, and we won't leave you without a vision. Just remember, you can't change your life, meet your goals, or make dreams happen without action. So, let's get started so you can learn Vision Board 101: An Overview of What They Are and How They Can Change Your Life.....

What Is A Vision Board?

Before we start, what is a vision board? It is a gathering of images, quotes, and other visual media to represent goals and affirmations. Vision boards are a great way to manifest what you want to happen in your life. For vision boards to work, you need to personalize them to yourself. What do you want to love about yourself? What do you want to achieve? Previously we started our journey of loving ourselves as we are now. For this project, it is okay if what you love about yourself is what you are trying to achieve.

How Do We Make A Vision Board Work?

First and most importantly, it has to be things you WANT to achieve. Yes, it’s nice to put together pieces of someone in the gym and say we will work out, but is that what you want? Or do you just want to be healthier? There are different ways to become healthy, so manifest the way that makes sense to YOU. 

Take your time. Find images you like or what you think will work. DON’T PUT THEM ON YOUR BOARD YET!! Once you have more than enough images for your space, look at what you have; what resonates with your dreams and goals? What do you want to love about yourself? Your board should make you feel something, not just be images put together. Once you have the images that make you feel like you are going to attain your dreams and goals, put them together however you want (glue to poster board, stick on a cork board, etc.)

Where Do I Put It?

You put the vision board where you need it. Do you need to see it every day? Maybe put it in your bedroom where you get ready for the day. Do you need it at work for motivation? Put it in your workspace! That’s the beauty of vision boards. They are there to work for you!

How Is Vision Board 101: An Overview of How It Can Change Your Life

Are you still wondering what the purpose of a vision board is and how it can impact your life? It is a tool for self-love because you are caring for yourself! Loving yourself includes nurturing your dreams and goals to become the best version of yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup, my friends!

So, if you're ready to jump in and do your vision board, go for it! If not, don't fret. This is just the beginning. Are you still not sure you buy into this whole vision board thing? You're saying to yourself, "What the heck, I've lived 50 years without a vision board. These millennials are always looking for ways to feel good about themselves." Well, maybe they've got something worth listening to, and you could also enhance the next chapter of your life.

How do I know this? Because I am 50 and can honestly say that I have thought things similar to this in the past. Yet, I know I need these ideas because with menopause, empty nesting, and retirement approaching - I DON'T want to be that person that keeps on working because I have no vision for the next chapter in life. I am right there with you every step because I am learning new things along with you - you're not alone in this new adventure!

Ladies 50+ - Where are you?

So how about it? Where are my 50+ ladies out there? Let's show these young gals that we can learn from them and enhance our lives. Check out the Facebook Group.

Don't stand by and let the next 20 years go past just living....grab the bull by the horns and get in the rodeo of life - NOW! I have all intentions of going more in-depth on this whole Vision Board thing and how it can change your life with real-life purpose in future posts.

View Details

My Beautiful Cousin - Payten

The teenage years are a time when your daughter will spend a lot of time thinking about who she is and what kind of person she wants to be. It can be hard for her to feel good about herself as she tries to figure out her identity. Even if your daughter has never had any major problems with self-worth, it's important for you to know how you can continue to support your teenager. Here are eight ways you can help your teenage daughter learn to love herself even more.

Cultivate Her Interests And Skills

Talking to your daughter about what she enjoys can help her learn more about herself and who she wants to be. She may not know the answer to that question yet, so she may take some time to think about it. Encourage her to try new things, whether it's a hobby or a completely new skill. You don't have to push her into something if you're unsure of her interests, but give her the opportunity to explore.

Give Her Opportunities To Make Decisions

One way to help your daughter feel more confident about who she is is by giving her the opportunity to make decisions. This does not mean that you should let her do whatever she wants. You, as a parent, can empower your daughter to make choices by giving her opportunities for decision-making in everyday life. She will start to believe in her abilities and will be able to see more of her strengths when she has the chance to put them into practice.

Help Her Explore How She Looks In The Mirror

One of the best ways to help your daughter learn to love herself is to get her interested in how she looks in the mirror. Give her makeup or hair products that you know she would like and encourage her to experiment with different looks. This will give her the chance to explore what kind of style she likes, which can be very empowering for a teenager!

And while you're both in front of the mirror - this would be a great time to practice this tool for self-love!

Be Patient With Her Growth And Changes

As your daughter grows and matures, she'll experience different emotions and learn more about herself. She'll be excited, hurt, angry, happy, and more. And because she's going through a lot of changes right now, it's important to be patient with her.

Don't Put Pressure On Your Daughter To Be Perfect

Pressure is the enemy of confidence. Giving your daughter too much pressure can be damaging to her self-esteem. Sometimes as parents we don't even realize the pressure that we place on our daughters to be perfect. Here are a few examples of pressure that you may not even realize you're creating on your child.

Does your daughter need to lose a few pounds and has a poor body image? Then when you go out to dinner, you probably shouldn't be making comments about her poor food choices. A public place is not the right time or place.

If your daughter plays soccer and wants to skip a game - be supportive. She may just need a break or wants to study for an exam. Or possibly she just isn't feeling running down the field while menstruating. Don't start a lecture on how she needs to attend all games in order to get a collegiate scholarship.

Teach Your Daughter How To Love Herself Through Affirmations

A great way to help your daughter learn to love herself more is by teaching her how to do affirmations. You can teach your daughter to say these affirmations out loud every day or even multiple times a day.

-I am beautiful

-I am capable

-I am competent

-I love myself

These are just a few of the many affirmations you can teach your daughter. You can also come up with ones that are specific to her. Such as “I’m a good friend” or “I’m smart and deserve good grades.”

The more she repeats these statements, the more she will start to believe them. Eventually she will incorporate them into her everyday life.

Learn More About Your Daughter's Inner World And What That Means For Self-love

View Details

Mothers come in all shapes and sizes. From biological mothers to stepmothers, foster mothers, and fur-baby moms. They care for their children or pets, take care of their homes, and even perform medical and psychological services. They bear a great deal of responsibility and often don't receive enough recognition. So how do you show yourself appreciation? Well, I am going to provide 8 tips to help you moms find time for self-care. You can't do anything until you find time.

Generations of women have been taught to take care of their families first. This sociological culture has allowed for the desertion of mom. One day she wakes up and realizes that she is losing her identity. You need to do the right things for yourself. Why? So you don't get into a rut or feel like you are at the end of your rope. When you are at the end of your rope, it's hard for your loved ones to see your meltdown coming.

Once you find the time to stay in tune with your awesome self, that's half the battle. Now the sky is the limit for what you will be able to do for your family. Self-care contributes to your sense of self-love. You are making sure to stay in your own power.

Below are 8 tips for moms to find time for self-care stay healthy, and take care of those you love. These tips below will help you find your normal with flexibility.

1. Organize Your Thoughts

Organize your thoughts. Make a list with the most important things at the top. This way, you won't forget what has to be done or when you're already busy. It's best to organize things in a logical order, and to do those first. Trying to get everything done at once is never an option. By identifying what needs to be accomplished and how you can get there, you'll feel more in control and relieved.

Plan your day's activities. You can plan a day's schedule in advance, but you should make it flexible enough to accommodate for unforeseen events. While it's great to have a schedule, keep it flexible. The kids' behavior and a sick child's tummy are bound to change things for the day. So, it's helpful to have a back-up plan in case something goes wrong. This way, one unexpected event won't throw off your day entirely.

You’re probably thinking well this sounds great, but there is no way I can give up my planner. I am here to tell you that I understand; I actually love planners and buy several a year.  But honestly all of us moms know that planners never go according to plan.  Does yours? 

Are You Exhausted Yet?

What I can tell you is that as a homeschool mom, who planned every minute, it’s going to be exhausting.  It will come with feelings of guilt for not getting done what you thought you should have accomplished that day.  You will go to bed guilt-ridden and thinking you failed to meet your goals that day. 

Trust me there are so many homeschool moms who get caught in this cycle.  But with these 8 tips to help moms find time for self-care - you're going to see just how easy it is to break that cycle.

Fortunately for you mom, there is this DNA that mothers just seem to have as part of their genetic makeup.  Most moms find ways to balance their scheduled along with their children’s calendars in a natural manner. Yet, this occurs in an exhausting way!

SMDNA - Otherwise Known As "Super Mom DNA"

While you’re in the child rearing years, you will continue to balance the schedules, get the job done and well.  Self-care is just one thing that you don’t have time to commit to in your life.  You would feel guilty if you missed a soccer game to get your nails done or take a hot bath.  Why?  Because that is also in a mom’s DNA. 

You’re a mom and you’re a superhero! You really don't think so?   Take it from someone whose idea of time to themselves was working a full-time job. You can’t afford not to find time.  Your body, mind, and spirit will show the negative effects of you not taking time for YOU!

View Details

Loving Yourself Is Music To Your Soul - Shannon Payton

Does this lyric sound familiar? Although the actual lyric has the word "you" and not "me". But I am going to learn to sing this song with the following lyric: "If loving myself is wrong, then I don't want to be right."

Self-love is impacted by our childhood experiences which in turn effects your self-love journey throughout life. Learn ways to take control of the past and not allow it to dictate your future. Yesterday is gone and your are living for tomorrow. Discover habits that will help you identify that self-love is more than just a trendy word - it's a lifestyle path!

Free Love In The 70s - Did Not Mean Self-Love Of The 2020's

Slide the Photo Up and Down

The concept of self-love was strange to me for throughout my childhood years.  Mainly due to the decades that I was born and raised in didn’t place any emphasis on loving yourself.  Loving yourself in the 1970s and 1980s was being selfish.  Then if you add in childhood trauma, well there blows any idea of self-love in your childhood years.  I mean after all, who could love someone that had been tainted in such a horrific way and that wasn’t worthy of unconditional love? Stinking thinking!

Regardless of the reasons for your struggles with self-love, it still has the same outcomes. I believed that the only way to be happy is to get love and acceptance from others, and for that, you have to prove yourself to be worthy.

As a teenager the whole concept of self-love was not a buzz or trendy word but "conceited" was trendy those decades. Back then, I thought that conceited people were confident. I have sense learned that there is a massive difference between conceited and confident. But I will save that for another post for another day.

The whole concept of self-love sounds selfish or narcissistic. But that’s an inaccurate belief.

I believe in being real with all of you and I will stand by that rather it means exposing valuable bits of information about myself that was once embarrassing or is currently uncomfortable.

See here’s the thing.  It seemed like no matter what I did, nothing was ever enough. As an adult you learn that your childhood perceptions were based on events in your life, such as divorcing parents, and aren’t always the way that you recall them to be as fact.

Rebellion Or Religion - Which Path Did I Choose?

Every time I did achieve something, the bar was raised higher.  Now commonly, under such circumstances, the first impulse is to rebel. Thankfully, I decided to run to the church house instead of rebelling. 

I mean after all, the churches have buses that pick kids up every Sunday, and I was lucky enough to get on that bus. The church house laid the foundation for my future faith and reduced my rebellion. Notice that I didn't say it stopped my rebellion.

Yet the very place I was supposed to find refuge, there was also competition for acceptance.  Bus kids weren’t the Christians that members’ children were sitting on the pews.  As a matter of fact, bus kids weren’t even allowed to sit on the same pews as the other children.

So as with most teens, if you aren't being forced to go to church, then hanging out with your boyfriend or friends becomes much more appealing on your Sunday off from school. I didn't return to church until after I had my children.

What I realized when I started taking my own children to church was an AHA moment for sure. I then quickly realized that those kids from the church where the bus took me, well they were being MADE to go to church by their parents. However, I was choosing to get on that yellow bus that took me there. That was empowering!

Although I was no longer climbing the steps up the church bus, the seed had been planted. And I honestly worked hard to avoid any form of rebellion. Instead of rebelling I started a life of being a people pleaser.

View Details

Are you wondering how 5 minutes can change your daily outlook? I've got a solution, but before I share - make me a promise. Promise me that when you see the word God, you won't stop reading. In a culture where we are trying to promote open mindedness - you owe it to yourself to find out how 5 minutes can change your daily outlook.

View Details

Are you ready to learn how to start loving yourself? Now we all have heard that we need to love ourselves as we are, however, no one ever tells us how to do this. Today, I am going to be setting the building blocks for us to learn together how to love ourselves. We are going to take this slow; I’m not going to be providing multiple ways or things to do because we want to set ourselves up for success not to be overwhelmed by the options. If this method doesn’t work for you just stay tuned for the next method. 

Let's Gather What You Need To Start Loving Yourself

First, lets gather what you will need. You will need paper, (colorful, white notebook paper, copy paper whatever you can find or want) tape, a pen (once again whatever you can find or want to use) and a mirror. I want you to take these supplies, then go look in the mirror and find TWO things you like about yourself. This can be physical, emotional, mental whatever you like about yourself. I want you to write it on separate pieces of paper. Then take this paper and stick it to your mirror. 

Now What?

So, are you ready to start loving yourself? We are going to do this at least once a week. If you can come up with more throughout the week, please do not hesitate to add it to your mirror! Now twice a day (I will do it when I brush my teeth for example) read each piece of paper. If you must read it out loud to really get the point across. 

What's The Goal Here?

The goal of writing the things you like about yourself, posting them where you can see them daily, and then reading them aloud or silent is to - grow how much you love about yourself. You will be surprised over time how easy it is to come up with things you love about yourself. I prefer this over just posting affirmations because it will truly be catered to what YOU enjoy about YOURSELF.

What Self-Love Is And What It's Not

Self-love isn’t about loving everything about yourself, its okay to want change. It's about learning how to love the pieces of yourself that makes up you as a whole. 

If you are wondering what affirmations are and how to apply them to your life....check out this site

https://everydaypower.com/daily-affirmations/

View Details

As we are Gettin Life Dunn for us and everyone else we can tend to be the last to get taken care. That can often lead to us looking tired…even though we might be we certainly don’t have to look like it!! Who’s with me???  Pick-me-up patches deliver a refreshing burst of hydration to the eyes so you look more AWAKE, plus the at home spa feel will leave you feeling pampering and perky! Watch this video to learn more. 

Uniquely Beautiful You!

Hello everyone, it's Simply Shannon. I was blown away by this amazing video that Mindy created! You can either watch it below or click on the link below. Don't miss it! She is a ball of energy and you will get some good vibes - that I am confident about.

https://videopress.com/v/k1UpURcf?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata

https://vid.us/oophsf Come on over and check out this video!

https://www.marykay.com/mwynne2 If you are interested in the patches you can find Mindy's link below as well.