5 Meaningful Things Every Homeschool Mama Should Do Before Fall
- Jenna Johnson
- Jul 13
- 4 min read
There’s a sacred pause that happens right before a new homeschool year begins.
It’s a deep breath between the summer sun and the rhythm of routine.
A whisper that says: prepare your heart before you plan the lessons.
Because homeschooling isn’t just about academics…it’s about home, the center of it all.
And the mama who holds it all together. One that plans play dates, lessons, extra curricular activities and events, one that puts her all into her children.
This mama wants her kids to thrive. This mama is YOU!
But before you open a single workbook or print a single schedule for this year, there are five things I believe every homeschool mama should do first.
Reflect on the Last Year: Before looking forward, glance back. Not with judgment. With gentle curiosity.
Ask yourself:
What worked beautifully last year?
What felt chaotic or out of sync?
Where did your child thrive?
Where did you feel burnout creeping in?
Reflection is the bridge between burnout and balance. It helps you release what wasn’t serving your family, and root deeper into what did.
Maybe that curriculum didn’t match your child’s learning style.
Maybe your rhythm felt too rigid.
Maybe mornings were slow yet sacred, but the afternoons felt frayed.
Write it down. Pray about it. Talk it over with your partner or a fellow homeschool mama.
As you reflect, think about what you noticed. Let those lessons from last year shape your intentions for this one.
Clarify Your “Why” for Homeschooling: Homeschooling is a lifestyle, not just a lesson plan. Before the year starts, revisit your why. Write it down on a sticky note. Type it into your phone. Frame it on your wall if you need to. Because on the hard days—and there will be hard days—you’ll need an anchor.
Maybe your “why” is more family time. Maybe it’s protecting your child’s mental health. Maybe it’s creating a slow, rich, wonder-filled childhood.
Whatever it is, let it be your compass. Not someone else’s vision. Not a Pinterest-perfect ideal. But your truth. Lead your children to become stronger in their learning journey.
When curriculum feels overwhelming and comparison sneaks in…Return to your “why.”
It’s your true north.
Prepare Your Heart, Not Just Your Homeschool Room - We all love the fresh supplies, am I right?! The organized bookshelves. The pretty planners. I’m a sucker for colored construction paper and index cards. A fresh box of markers, and All About Me posters, set aside for the first day. But mama—your presence is the most powerful tool in your homeschool.
Before the year begins, tend to you.
Get quiet and ask: what do I need this year to feel supported?
Where do I need boundaries?
What habits do I want to build for me, not just my children?
Where do I need more structure?
Maybe it’s getting outside for a walk before the day starts. Maybe it’s 10 minutes of journaling with your coffee. Maybe it’s releasing guilt when the house is messy but the kids are thriving.
Your emotional well-being sets the tone for your home. So don’t skip the sacred work of preparing your heart.
Create a Daily Rhythm (Not a Rigid Schedule): Children flourish in rhythm. They show up for structure. Not in packed schedules or long checklists - but in the quiet knowing that certain things happen, in a certain order, on most days.
Before the school year begins, sketch a rhythm that honors your family’s flow throughout the day.
Morning routine (breakfast, chores, devotions)
Learning blocks
Creative time
Nature play or read-alouds
Rest time
Evenings of connection, or extra curriculars
Rhythm creates peace. It frees you from clock-watching and lets life unfold with grace. And remember—it’s okay to change your rhythm if the original one you created isn’t working. It’s not a contract. It’s a tool.
Declutter What Distracts You from Presence -This one isn’t glamorous, but it’s powerful. Before the year begins, take time to declutter the distractions. This is one thing that is wildly underrated. Not just physical clutter (although that’s helpful too), but mental, emotional, and digital clutter.
Ask:
What drains my energy?
What apps, conversations, or expectations pull me away from presence?
What can I release so I can be more available—heart, mind, and soul—for my kids?
Maybe it’s unfollowing a few accounts.
Maybe it’s saying no to extra commitments.
Maybe it’s clearing a shelf so your kids have space to explore. Maybe it’s saying yes to a s scheduled meal plan, or Friday night pizzas.
Less noise. More presence.
Because homeschooling isn’t just about what your child learns. It’s about what they remember: The warmth of your voice. The safety of your home. The way learning felt like love.
My Final Thoughts
Mama, you don’t need to be perfectly prepared. Preparation does eliminate stress, and helps you to “show up” as your best you, but ultimately settle into the phrase, “presence over perfection”.
As you step into this new year—may you do so with intention. Not out of fear, but out of deep knowing. That you were chosen for this.
That your presence is enough. That your home is holy ground.
You’ve got this.
Let’s have a great homeschool year!!
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