• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

OnlySchoolers

Helping You Homeschool

  • About
    • Meet Gina & Christyn
    • Schedule the OnlySchoolers
    • Support the Podcast
    • Get our Newsletter
  • Episodes
    • Season 4
    • Season 3
    • Season 2
    • Season 1
  • Find Us Online
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Etsy
    • Get our Newsletter

comparison is the thief of joy

Thinking About… Jealousy & Joy

Thinking About… Jealousy & Joy

by OnlySchoolers · Jun 17, 2021

You’ve probably heard Theodore Roosevelt’s saying that “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Join Gina and Christyn as they discuss the challenge of overcoming the green-eyed monster when it shows up in their homeschools. The good news is that just looking for the little joys that come with this lifestyle is enough to overcome the jealousy and keep the focus on the wonder that comes with lifelong learning!

2:12 The focus of the OnlySchoolers is to provide a joyful, uplifting show, but we’re also honest enough to admit there are hard things about homeschooling: one of those hard things is jealousy

3:02 The 11th Commandment in Homeschooling is “Do not covet thy neighbor’s homeschool” — and that’s a hard one!

4:02 When it comes to homeschooling, there’s a tendency to compare ourselves and our kids and our homeschool situation to other families…and come up short

5:12 There are three distinct categories when we discuss jealousy in homeschool
1) Comparison of homeschool parents/teachers
2) Comparison of our children to friends, siblings, cousins
3) Comparison of homeschool situation

5:47 Gina discusses parent envy of a friend who creates festive occasions in her homeschool

8:14 Christyn discusses parent envy of the “perfect homeschool days” posts on Facebook and envy of homeschool moms who manage get-togethers without their kids

10:19 Gina and Christyn discuss jealousies that revolve around having an only child

13:00 Homeschool graduation season brings up jealousies about where our kids are relative to other kids. Seeing others’ accomplishments can be difficult

13:51 In those situations, Christyn gives herself a gentle, mental shake and reminds herself why she’s homeschooling

14:15 Gina admits jealousy of those who have a dedicated homeschool space

16:05 Christyn has a dedicated space, but admits jealousy of those that are perfectly organized (hers is not!!)

16:38 Tips and tricks to deal with jealousy when it crops up

19:20 Drop the jealousy and find the joy in your homeschool! Take the joy wherever you find it!

19:52 Gina discusses her books about actively seeking joy and how it is best cultivated by thinking small

20:46 Christyn and Gina talk about some of the little joys they find during the day

23:45 Joy not only comes from what happens, but sometimes from what doesn’t happen

24:48 There’s also long-term joy that goes beyond anything we feel any single day: “the slices add up”

Support the Podcast

Filed Under: Episodes, Season 2 Tagged With: comparison is the thief of joy, so what if you don't have a dedicated homeschool room, the grass is always greener on the other side of the homeschool

Copyright © 2023 · OnlySchoolers