Rest in the Work You've Already Done: Let Your Good Planning Carry You through the Difficult Days

One of Those Days

It’s 10 a.m., someone’s asking for a snack (again), reading is dragging, and you’re already wondering how on earth you’re going to get through the rest of the morning — let alone the week. 

If that sounds familiar you, take a deep breath and hear this: You don’t have to carry everything all at once, every single day. 

Draw upon the hours you spent thoughtfully choosing curriculum, mapping out your year, taking the time to align learning with your family’s values and schedules. That work not only counts, it pays in dividends. It’s the sturdy scaffolding holding up even the messiest of homeschool days. 

Your Planning Is a Gift to Your Future Self 

Remember the hours you spent over the summer, curled up with a glass of lemonade, poring over book reviews and educational resources to add pizazz to your future, fall days? You didn’t choose that history curriculum on a whim, you carefully considered what would serve each child best. You chose math that would inspire and English that would lead to deep conversations and curious questions. You picked curriculum that met your family’s goals…You made a plan. 

That plan is your safety net now. 

When days feel foggy and your confidence wavers, let that plan do the heavy lifting. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Just follow the path you already laid out — even imperfectly. Show up. Open the book. Take the next step. 

The Beauty of Trusting the Process 

Homeschooling can be full of doubt — that sometimes loud voice that says maybe you're not doing enough. But planning is one of the strongest antidotes to that anxiety. Why? Because it lets you trust the process. You’ve made deliberate choices — now give them space to work. 

That doesn’t mean every day will go smoothly. Of course not. You’ll still need to pivot. Adjust. Toss out those things that aren’t serving you. That’s part of the freedom built in to homeschooling. 

But in the meantime, don’t let the little wobbles make you forget you’ve already done the thinking. Now it’s time to let this planning do the heavy lifting; let what’s working guide you. 

You’re Not Failing — You’re Leading 

It might not feel flashy or fast but walking forward in steady faithfulness is not failure. That’s leadership. That’s nurturing. That’s motherhood at its core.  

Inspired teaching doesn’t show up every single day. You may not come up with dazzling art projects every week. You are providing a slow and meaningful education.   

So let your careful planning be a reminder: You don’t have to do it all from scratch. You’ve already sown seeds of thoughtfulness — and they’re growing, even if you can’t see the fruit just yet. 

Keep Going… 

The beauty of home education is in the small, yet significant moments; in the consistency. The cuddles while reading snuggled on the couch. The slow but sure progress through multiplication. The laughter and silly science enjoyed during a walk. Truly it’s the simple, sacred act of showing up — again and again, whether you feel ready or equipped  

You’re doing that. Even on the hard days. 

So, open the book. Reheat your coffee, for the third time. Let your plans work for you — they were made for a purpose. Trust them. Trust yourself. 

You’ve got this.