Hi, I’m Rebecca. I write books and I write here at This Joyful Mess to inspire everyone to find JOY in the everyday messes of life. Here you’ll find inspiration, educational resources, and so much more. Please explore and connect—I’d love to hear from you!

How do I get out of Reaction Mode?
Everyday Joy, Parenting, Homeschool & EDU Rebecca Grabill Everyday Joy, Parenting, Homeschool & EDU Rebecca Grabill

How do I get out of Reaction Mode?

I had dreams for my family life, for the kids education, for my own recreation time (which currently clocked in at daily total of zero minutes, zero seconds). I longed to do things like knit, read books with real pages, write for the joy of it. Instead, I was living life of reacting—not to God’s direction—but to people’s momentary expectations, urgent tasks all shoving and bickering to be FIRST on my list. I was desperate to get back to the most important focus of every day...

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My Secret to a Joyful Home? I Quit Making My Kids Happy
Parenting Rebecca Grabill Parenting Rebecca Grabill

My Secret to a Joyful Home? I Quit Making My Kids Happy

If you’re like I was, your kids use more digital media than you’d like. Maybe they’re into video games, binging episodes of Bluey, mindless scrolling through YouTube. If you’ve ever had the thought, “I sure wish he’d do something that doesn’t involve a screen,” then you a. Have a problem b. Are in the perfect position to solve it!

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The Most Insane Parenting Decision I Never Thought I’d Actually Make
Homeschool & EDU, Parenting Rebecca Grabill Homeschool & EDU, Parenting Rebecca Grabill

The Most Insane Parenting Decision I Never Thought I’d Actually Make

I couldn’t pay my kids to go outside. They’d drag out of bed, take bowls of cereal to the family room where they’d watch TV followed by hours of begging for “screen time” while I battled our way through the morning’s schoolwork. Months of this, years of it. We fought this battle day after day until we made a dramatic decision and drastic change.

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This One Hack Made My Mom-Life Better and My Kids Happier
Parenting, Everyday Joy Rebecca Grabill Parenting, Everyday Joy Rebecca Grabill

This One Hack Made My Mom-Life Better and My Kids Happier

It’s any random evening and I’m doling out the usual pre-bedtime chores. Pick up, put away, no, really put it away properly, not under the chair, all the pieces, oh whatever, just go brush your teeth. So. Many. Toys. Find the Ultimate Guide to creating your own Toy Rotation System. Reclaim your house and make all those old toys seem new again!

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How I Streamlined My Homeschool Day and Saved My Sanity
Parenting, Homeschool & EDU Rebecca Grabill Parenting, Homeschool & EDU Rebecca Grabill

How I Streamlined My Homeschool Day and Saved My Sanity

When it comes to homeschool technique I've tried everything. Work boxes? Tried it. Digital planners with printed-out schedules? Been there. Pre-planned curriculum packages that cover all subjects? Done it. Totally online learning like Easy Peasy? Yup. The non-homeschool option: Public/Charter school? Yes, even that.

And no matter what I did, every day was a whirlwind of...

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