A Restful Summer Leads to a Better Year
Rest is essential for everyone, including mothers—especially homeschooling mothers who pour their hearts into teaching their children. Inscribed on a rock near a mountain summit in Scotland are the words “rest and be thankful.” Completing a year of homeschooling is as taxing as summiting a peak. While it may not be as physically demanding, the mental and emotional effort of guiding your children through their education is no less a workout. As you reflect on the past year—filled with assignments, challenges, and those precious “aha” moments around the kitchen table—take time to “rest and be thankful” in the presence of God’s grace.
Why Carve Out Time for Rest?
Rest is not a luxury; it’s a God-given necessity to maintain the energy and ongoing passion required for homeschooling. Let’s prioritize rest this summer and I bet you’ll find the following to be true:
Recharge Your Energy: Homeschooling is demanding both emotionally and mentally. It requires planning lessons, answering endless questions, and celebrating your children’s breakthroughs. Without rest, exhaustion can set in, leading to burnout. A short break this summer will replenish your physical and mental energy.
Sharpen Your Patience: A school year is a long and grinding marathon that involves managing schedules and addressing your children’s needs. A warm weather rest can provide just the right reset, helping you approach and plan for the coming year with renewed ideas and excitement. For example, taking time to unplug from responsibilities can reduce stress while filling up your own tank as you prepare to fill up your children’s.
Rekindle Creativity: Homeschooling thrives on creativity—whether it’s designing engaging lessons or finding new ways to spark your children’s curiosity. Rest, whether through quiet reflection or pursuing a personal hobby, reignites your imagination.
Cultivate Gratitude: Pausing to rest gives you space to reflect on the milestones of the past year—the moments when your child grasped a new concept or you overcame a teaching hurdle together. This reflection fosters gratitude for God’s faithfulness, boosting your emotional resilience and setting a positive tone for the year ahead.
How to Rest and Be Thankful This Summer
Rest doesn’t mean doing nothing—it means intentionally taking a step back. Here are practical ways that will make rest a reality this summer:
Engage in Reflective Practices: Journaling can be a powerful way to process the year and express gratitude. This practice forms the discipline needed to focus on the positive and prepares your heart for the next season.
Connect with Nature: Take a walk under the stars or spend an afternoon in a local park, enjoying creation. Nature has a way of quieting the thoughts that might be living rent-free in your brain! A hike can help you clear your mind and ground your thoughts.
Pursue a Personal Passion: Revisit a hobby you love, like painting, gardening, or baking. Include your kids; hobbies are a fantastic way to hide some learning.
Build Community: Connect with other homeschooling moms to share ideas and encouragement. Host a casual coffee meetup or join an online homeschooling forum to discuss rest strategies.
Rest refills your energy, sharpens your patience, and rekindles the creativity that makes homeschooling magical. It’s a chance to breathe and celebrate. How will you rest and be thankful this season? Share your ideas below…I’d love to hear how you will reset this summer.
