Seeing the Weary Homeschool Mom
Hard work. Endless hard work.
Searching for solutions. Implementing them. Watching things go NOT according to plan.
Creating and recreating, because just when you think you have it all figured out, something changes. Seasons turn. Children grow. Others are added. Learning challenges come to light.
Everywhere you look, there are planners of every kind. Books. Curriculum. Schedules. Strategies. Methods… all the tools I hoped would make things easier.
Thinking. Thinking. Thinking.
Sleepless nights, followed by exhausted days. Searching for answers that never seem to come, no matter what I do or how long I look.
Nothing ever feels settled…
The Thoughts That Won’t Quit
When the day grows quiet, my thoughts start to circle.
I love my kids.
I want to get this right.
What if I miss something important?
What if I run out of time?
The heaviest question of all is this one:
What if, at the end of all of this, my kids hate me because the education I gave them wasn’t good enough?
What if their lives are somehow ruined because of it?
And what if our relationships are forever difficult because I got this wrong?
The Weight She Carries Alone
Often, I would share my concerns with my husband. He offered encouragement, solutions, and loving reminders that God would work everything out for the good of our family.
And I prayed every day, many times a day, even. Often, my prayers were nothing more than, “God, please help me.”
Yet even with healthy support, there was still a place inside me that I felt alone.
Not because I truly was alone, but because it felt that way.
When answers didn’t come quickly, or when the ideas I tried didn’t work, the weight of getting it right felt more and more overwhelming. Like trying to hold the universe in my hands. That’s what it felt like.
Exhausting doesn’t even begin to describe it.
I was so very tired.
My heart longed for peace.
I didn’t want more solutions.
I just wanted rest for my soul.
When Rest Was Finally Offered
The thing is, I never actually considered not carrying it all until one day, as I cried out to God for peace, a verse came to my mind.
It was from Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.
For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
As I sat with those words, turning them over slowly and letting them sink in, He gently spoke to my heart and said:
You don’t have peace because you don’t trust Me.
And you don’t trust Me because you don’t know Me.
What Changed When God Became the Focus
Those words changed the way I approached everything.
I released it all:
the questions, the books, the curriculum, the schedules.
All of the heavy, peace-stealing what ifs.
I let go of every one of them.
Instead of searching for answers, I decided to focus on one thing:
to learn of God.
I began asking a different question – not What should I do? but
God, who are You, really? And what do You want me to know about You?
Learning who God is began to bring the rest and peace He promised.
The first thing He revealed was His great love for me. And that He created me with purpose and had an actual, good plan for my life. I wasn’t an accident. I was thought of. Fearfully and wonderfully made.
I can’t begin to describe the sigh of relief I felt when I finally realized, not just in my head but deep down in my soul, that God loves me and truly has everything under control.
For the first time in what seemed like forever, I could actually breathe.
And I started to believe that being who God created me to be would be enough.
What Freedom Made Possible
I started to see that there was something valuable in every experience, even the messy ones. Yes, all those incredibly messy moments that once felt like frustrating failures became places where I could see God’s Word at work, gently working things together for the good of our family.
My confidence soared. Instead of allowing fear of failure to paralyze my every decision, I began cautiously trying new things, even when I felt unsure, uncertain, or afraid it might not work.
I gave myself permission to try.
And that permission was exhilarating, especially when, through trial and error, I began discovering what actually worked for my family.
When Striving Stopped, Our Homeschool Changed
When I stopped striving and started trusting, the atmosphere in our homeschool began to change. As I became more at peace with what was, rather than what I wanted it to be, that peace slowly came over our days as well.
The greatest blessing for me was that the more pressure I took off myself, the more pressure was lifted from my children. I could see them, really see them, not as vessels to pour knowledge into, but as unique individuals, each full of treasures God had given them to explore and enjoy.
Once I stopped striving, everyone could breathe. And as a result, not only was I at peace, but so became our homeschool, too.
An Open-Handed Invitation to Release
If you’re reading this and quietly thinking, this is me, I want you to know something tender and true: you’re allowed to release all of it, too.
the fears,
the questions,
the plans,
the curriculum,
the schedules,
the methods.
And not only are you allowed to, but I believe with all my heart that even in this very moment, God is gently inviting you to do just that.
Let go of striving.
Let go of searching for all the answers.
Let go of the need to have everything figured out.
Even as I write these words, I’m breathing a sigh of relief with you.
Yes, it’s true, you can breathe now, too.
Much Love,
What You’ll Find in This Section
If you’re feeling exhausted, discouraged, or quietly overwhelmed, this section is for you.
Here you’ll find:
These posts are written for the mom who is trying her best but feels like it’s never enough and who longs for peace more than another strategy.
Begin Here
If you’re not sure where to start, these posts may help
When things don’t go according to plan, it’s good to remember a few essential truths that will set us back in a place of hope again.
Discovering God’s faithful love towards me has brought rest to my soul and transformed my life and homeschool journey.
There will inevitably be times when we don’t know what to do. Here, I share strategies for navigating these times with peace.
Ready to go deeper?
Browse all posts in this path → Weary Homeschool Mom
You May Also Like
If this speaks to you, you may also find encouragement in:
• Faith-Led Homeschooling
• Homeschooling Beyond the Tassel
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We’re learning, growing, trusting ~ together.