I’ll be sharing how I overcome challenging homeschool days or weeks with a God-centred approach. Let’s be real: homeschooling is not for the faint-hearted and I am here to make you feel less alone, mama. I hope to give you some practical tools to overcome those hard days.
We are drawing near to the end of our first year of homeschooling! I am 35 weeks pregnant with my fourth baby, so emotions are sky high right now. It has been a hard couple of weeks for us all, but by God’s grace, we are getting to the other side.
Homeschooling can be all-consuming at times. You don’t get many breaks or alone time to yourself, you work around your children’s different schedules. There is homeschool work to prepare for, tummies to be fed, clothes to be washed and not to mention all of the emotional needs that need tending to. Plus your own physical, emotional and spiritual needs that need attention as well.
Some days I feel like all I’ve done was clean up the never ending messes in the house and meet each child’s needs on rotation. I get to bed and I feel weary and unseen. Then, I get up and do it all over again.
On hard weeks, I just want another mother to relate. Homeschooling on social media can seem glamorous and idyllic. Many times it is. But there are many times when it is not. And I’m here to share what I do to overcome those challenging times of homeschooling and mothering altogether.
Since I am a devoted Christ follower, I will be sharing some ways to cope with these challenges in a God-centred way.
What I will be covering in this post
- The challenges of homeschooling little ones
- Ways to manage your emotions on challenging days
- Practical ways to manage those challenging days with God
- Bible verses to cling to on challenging homeschooling days
The challenges of homeschooling little ones
If you are in a similar season of raising little ones and homeschooling, it can be a balancing act. I have found that on those more challenging days, it is okay to be more flexible and even throw homeschooling work out of the window.
I used to feel guilty about this, but I realised that I get too overwhelmed and frustrated when I juggle homeschool on harder days. And a frustrated mama is not a nice mama to be around!
I have learnt my lesson from juggling homeschooling on harder days. We have either just had a really flexible routine or not completed much of the work we set to do at all – and that’s okay!
Having little kids, ages 6, 4 and 1 and being pregnant, has taught me to surrender to God all of the things outside of my control to a greater extent.
There are days when all of my kids have woken up in an unpleasant mood. There is barely any motivation to do work, my toddler is crying and clingy all morning, I’m feeling unmotivated and disheveled. There are days when one of my children need more attention than usual and there are some emotional needs to tend to and care for. There are days when I wake up feeling gloomy and in need of some alone time. There are days when we are all in need of some quality time filling each other’s cups and not having much of a schedule (that was today, by the way!).
The point is, having little children while homeschooling won’t look the same every day. It is important to remain flexible and give yourself grace, mama!
As someone who loves routine, I find that having a flexible routine with little children is key (read more about how to have a calm homeschool day on the blog). There’s more freedom in our day, less pressure on the kids and I and more enjoyment all round.
During the little years, our children will remember the memories of good times and not how regimented our homeschool day was or how clean the house was. It’s always refreshing to remember that.
Ways to manage your emotions on hard days
On the typically harder days of homeschooling, I sometimes have trouble managing my emotions if not dealt with early on.
This is what works for me. Feel free to pick and choose from the list what may work for you:
- I read my bible in the mornings (which is always a perfect ways to set the tone for the day) Have your kids come sit with you and ask them to bring their bible or another book to read next to you.
- I drink some calming herbal tea. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, chamomile tea normally helps to bring calm to my body.
- I listen to worship music. I put on some worship music for all of us to listen and sing to. The kids are generally calmer with worship music on too. It’s amazing how entering His gates with thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4) really does wonders for your soul.
- I go into my room, close the door and pray. I tell my kids that I need a few minutes to collect my thoughts and calm down my nervous system. I tell my kids that they can’t come in, and to continue what they are doing, and that I won’t be long.
- We re-group. Sometimes, it just takes re-setting the tone for the day. That means, I gather each of my kids, say sorry if I need to, give them a hug and tell them that we’re going to have a great day. It’s amazing how effective this simple strategy is. It helps me to reset my own emotions.
Practical ways to manage challenging days with God
I love that I have a God who knows my needs and knows my kids’ needs even before I do! His grace is sufficient every single day.
As someone who has dealt with depression over the years, I can get into a funk with my emotions more easily than others. I have recently learnt a practical strategy that has changed my daily perspective for the better.
Having a heart of gratitude and listing aloud the things I am grateful for.
This seems so simple, but how often do we pause and pray prayers of gratitude? Probably not as often as we should.
I wake up each morning and I list things I am grateful for. This is a wonderful practice to get you in the right mood for the day.
Another thing I like to do is pray all throughout the day, with my kids around or not. Sometimes my daughters will ask, ‘who are you talking to, mum?’ and they have now accepted that I’m talking with God. I know I am setting an example to them of how organic and free-flowing your prayer life can be.
Lastly, at the end of the day, God is sovereign. Like I said before, He knows our needs even before we do. He cares for us and gives us grace and strength when we need it. It is important to remember that challenging days or weeks are just challenging days or weeks. They don’t last forever. They can build your character, build resilience in your children and strengthen your family unit if you let it!
Bible verses to cling to on hard homeschooling days
Psalm 46:10: He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Lamentations 3:22-23: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Matthew 6:31-34: 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
2 Corinthians 12:9: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
More on the blog
Healthy and delicious nut-free apple crumble
5 ways to eat healthy on a frugal budget
A day in the life of an Australian homeschooling family
What do you do on challenging homeschool days? Share your tips if you would like!
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