7 Things to Do When Homeschooling Gets Hard

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In this post – As a homeschool mom you will hit some hard seasons. We all do. Actually, we all know it too well. Wouldn’t it be nice if every day was rainbows and gumdrops? But we all know that life can stomp all over us sometimes. These bodies and brains can get tired and burnt out occasionally. As moms, we want to conquer “all the things”. In this article, I share 7 simple things to do when homeschooling gets hard and say goodbye to homeschool burnout.

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It’s 6:00 in the morning again, time to get up and start the day. Why does 6:00 come so quickly anyway? Every morning? Same time… Ugh… My body aches, my thoughts are cluttered. “I can do this one more day, Jesus give me strength, patience, and kindness” presses past my lips.

With a quick sigh, I get up and as my feet hit the floor the whole day flashes before my eyes. 3 girls (and a mom..ahem) whining over nothing to wear, cereal spills, toys and clothes strung through the house, fighting, fussing, dishes, laundry, paperwork, schoolwork x3, computer work x2, working out…and the list goes on and on.

I fight the urge to crawl back under the covers and force myself to think of the joys and blessings I have instead… 3 healthy and beautiful daughters to care for and clean up after, nice home to clean, loving husband to cook for, nice clothes to wear, ability to be able to teach my children at home, a God who loves me unconditionally, wow I am getting somewhere now. The dread of the day is buried and the joy is rising.

Yep, the struggle is real! I’m sure we all know it too well. If every day was rainbows and gumdrops wouldn’t that be lovely. But we all know that life can chew us up and spit us out. These bodies and brains can get tired and burnt out occasionally. And don’t get me started with “mommy brain” It’s a thing REALLY. 

We have to listen to those cues we get when the haze sets in and you feel your temperature rising to take a step back and breathe. Always make sure you are breathing. Yes, I know you are probably saying “If I wasn’t breathing I would not be living” But what I mean by breathing is deep breaths, long deep breaths can make a world of difference.

If you are a homeschool mom, you may sometimes wonder, Are they learning everything they should be? Are they on the level they should be? Let me tell you, this is completely normal:-) You are doing great mom!

But, I’m sure every parent, homeschool or not, at some point has thought that.

As for us, we have a very eclectic style of homeschool, which is constantly changing, yearly if not monthly. So when I curriculum jump, hop and skip sometimes things get missed or done twice. Don’t get me wrong I am very confident with our learning, but the worry still tries to creep.

For one thing, I have a struggling reader. Which is very disheartening at times. But we all know that every child is gifted, they just go through momentary struggles and eventually after a few shifts and changes – “light bulb” they get it.

AHH SWEET RELIEF!

But what else should you know? hmmm…. Well if you are a homeschool mom you know that deep breaths is not enough! Sometimes you need much more. After all, we are with our children 24 hours every day!!! That alone can be difficult, but then throw in being their teacher on top of that, teaching multi-grade levels and learning styles and personalities, split personalities it seems like, and you have a whole other level of stress that can take place.

YIKES!

And we all know that teaching your own children is the toughest. I used to teach a Sunday School class also and let me tell you, teaching other people’s children is a breeze compared to getting your own kids to listen to you. Did I mention the struggle is REAL?! 

7 THINGS TO DO WHEN HOMESCHOOLING GETS HARD

1) Talk to Jesus when homeschooling gets hard

OK this is the biggest and most important. Yes, you are right you cannot do this alone and you don’t have to… God is with you. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. (Philippians 4:13) YES ALL, that’s what it says ALL, not some, not most, but ALL.

Stay in direct connection with Him always. You will find your days run a lot smoother. Peace will begin to descend over your home.

2) Count your blessings when homeschooling gets hard

I find that if I focus on the blessings I can stay in perspective when I feel like I simply can’t do this another day. Dig deep and look for the blessing in every hard situation.

3) Don’t listen to the lies when homeschooling gets hard

What are you thinking about momma? Don’t think on those lies! You know the ones

“you’re hurting your kids, cause they are missing prom and stuff.”

“They’ll never get into college.”

“What if you’re not teaching them enough?”

Yes, those lies always creep in. Do not believe them for a second. Keep your head held high and know – that you know – that you know that God has given you all you need to teach your children.

4) Ask for help when homeschooling gets hard

Homeschooling can get pretty lonely. Reach out to your homeschooling community. Just Google your hometown and homeschooling support group and find some friends. Homeschooling moms are always there for each other. And are always looking to connect.

Look on Facebook for groups in your town also. Also, ask friends, family, and neighbors to watch the kiddos so you can have a quick breather if you need one. Don’t try to do it alone, find at least one online connection or personal homeschool friend to chat with.

5) Take a break or Change Curriculum when homeschooling gets hard

Never give up because you had a bad day or feel like this homeschooling thing just isn’t for you. Take a day—or even a week—off and just have fun with your kids. Sometimes a little break is all you need to reset. During that time, consider reevaluating your curriculum, as it’s often the biggest source of homeschool burnout.

Need a quick mental break? I like to play a game of Solitaire to clear my mind and recharge before diving back into the day’s tasks or figuring out what needs to change in our homeschool. And don’t forget to look for inspiration! Checking out awesome homeschool blogs—like mine, currently ranked #23 on the Top Homeschool Blog chart—can provide fresh ideas and encouragement to keep you going strong.

If your curriculum isn’t working find some free homeschool curriculum to try or just simply drop a couple things out of your daily schedule. I’ve had a year where in the middle of the year I dropped everything but reading and math. Yep dropped it all. Not going to stress about it either. Just do what works for you.

6) Celebrate Even The Smallest Wins When Homeschooling Gets Hard

When homeschooling work becomes a little overwhelming, it’s up to you to celebrate small wins whenever you can. Little moves like this can make a big difference in terms of how everyone feels. Even minor progress is worth acknowledging as it boosts both confidence and motivation. Whether they asked for extra help with pre algebra or were able to read independently for the first time in a while, be proud of it. Focusing on these wins can stop you from chasing perfect – and help you in terms of chasing growth. Moments like these build momentum and put you in a place to see more rewards.

7) Remember the Reason you Wanted to Homeschool

Homeschooling is a unique journey, and trying to mimic the public school system or keep up with their pace can quickly drain the joy out of it. More often than not, it leads to frustration for both you and your kids. So take a breath. Slow down. Focus on one day at a time. Read together, laugh together, and remind yourself why you started this beautiful journey in the first place.

Why did you decide to homeschool? Was it to raise your children in God’s Word and help them build a strong foundation of faith? Maybe it was because they were struggling in a traditional school setting, or because the social environment wasn’t good for them. Perhaps you wanted your family life to be centered more on togetherness and less on the pressures of fitting into the crowd.

Whatever your reason, it’s worth revisiting. Let yourself reflect on those early days when the decision felt big but your purpose was clear. Rekindle that vision and let it guide you forward. Homeschooling doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s journey—it just needs to reflect the heart of your family’s “why.”

What Is Your Biggest Homeschool Struggle Right Now?

We all face challenges in homeschooling, whether it’s finding a routine that works, managing sibling dynamics, or balancing teaching with the rest of life’s demands. What’s been your biggest struggle lately? If you’ve found creative or faith-filled ways to navigate those tough moments, we’d love for you to share in the comments. Your insight might be the encouragement someone else needs today!

And if this post resonated with you, please take a moment to share it. You never know who might be looking for a little reminder that they’re not alone. Thank you for being part of this homeschooling community—we’re better together!

Stay Encouraged, Homeschool Mama!

 

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