By Charlene Milner

We are all approaching the finish line, but it feels like there’s always one more hurdle, one more project to complete, one more paper to grade. Do you ever feel like your boat has a leak or two, like you’re barely keeping afloat? Don’t lose heart, it’s time to recharge and decide whether to sink or swim. The end is in sight!

Momma, you are captain of your ship! You are navigating those last few assignments, grading that last pile of papers and still keeping your household running. It is so easy for us to get lost in all of the chaos, but you must remember to take care of yourself. Here are a few recommendations that helped me finish strong.

1. Prioritize your relationship with Christ

This goes without saying. If you are not anchored in God’s Word it will be evident in your personal life. Those days when I was the most frustrated or wasn’t offering grace were the days I failed to invite the Lord to go before me in my day and provide guidance and mercy. Lamentations 3:22-23: “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

2. Designated ME time

Impossible, you might say! No, it is imperative to set aside time for yourself. This needs to be at least three times a week. You know your family’s schedule best and what is realistic, but don’t let a week go by without investing in yourself. This could be exercise, a cup of coffee/tea and a book, playing an instrument or indulging in a hobby. Remember as you pour your life into others, you must recharge your own battery.

3. Be careful what you say “yes” to

Don’t overcommit! This was a big one for me. The word “no” was not in my vocabulary. Between my responsibilities at home, church, homeschooling our girls and a part-time job, I was utterly overwhelmed and running on fumes. I had to learn to say “no.” My husband was instrumental in helping in this area because I’m a doer. No matter the need, I wanted to help. He provided me with the “let me check with my husband” card. I eventually learned to say “no” and prayed that others would understand my desire was to help. Yet, there just wasn’t enough time in the day to complete everything. I used to say, “if there were just 25 hours in a day I could get it all done.” HaHa! We would just fill that up too.

4. Delegate and share the load

I always wore my “domestic engineer” badge (mom/wife) proudly. Guess what, we don’t have to do it all. Every pair of feet in your household dirties up the dishes, changes clothes (some more than others if you have a teenager) and leaves little fingerprints everywhere. Assign age-appropriate chores to each member of the family. This will not only lighten your load, but provide you with the opportunity to teach teamwork and life lessons to your children. Even the smallest member can pick up toys.

5. Take a break

Each month I would work in time off from everything except the essentials. I would let my girls know that we were taking a break. To them that meant getting our core subjects done and then being free for the rest of the day. Some of the activities during those much-needed breaks were packing a lunch and going to the park, picking up a pizza and surprising daddy for lunch, or simply going to our little town, having an ice cream cone and just talking. These days are some of my favorite memories of homeschooling. No frustration over a math skill or tears over penmanship, just pure relaxation and enjoying each other’s company.

Momma, homeschooling isn’t about perfection; it’s about nurturing your children and investing in the next generation of leaders. Our children deserve our best. Sometimes that means investing in ourselves to give our best to those that we love the most.

If you find yourself struggling to find a healthy balance between homeschooling, parenting, work and self-care, remember that you are not alone. It’s okay to prioritize your well-being and take breaks when needed. As this season draws to a close, may you find the strength to finish strong and step into the next chapter with a fresh sense of energy and resilience. Remember these words in II Corinthians 12:9a: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

I will be praying for each of you as you complete this year of your homeschool journey.