Embracing Flexibility in Homeschooling Schedules

As a mom just starting my homeschooling journey, I found myself wondering how to structure our days. I knew that life would inevitably get in the way—whether it was sudden illness, doctor’s appointments, or even our Wednesday morning ladies' Bible study at church. It quickly became clear that a rigid, public school-style schedule wasn’t going to work for us. For my own sanity, I decided to embrace flexibility. We’ll get to lessons

when we get to them. The state only requires four hours a day—but that doesn’t mean they have to be in the morning or done all at once.

Yesterday was the first session of our new Ladies’ Bible study for the year, and many other moms shared their own struggles. As moms, we live by to-do lists, and when something disrupts our planned schedule, it can send us into a panic. We debate whether to skip Bible study for schoolwork, but when we do, we feel the difference deep in our souls. And when we choose Bible study, that nagging mental checklist keeps circling in the back of our minds, making it hard to focus.

After returning home and finishing our schoolwork, I sat down for the devotional I had missed the day before—and somehow, it was exactly what I needed in that moment. It spoke about how we often try to control our lives through schedules and to-do lists, only to become so consumed by them that we neglect our spiritual well-being. It reminded me of Martha, who was so preoccupied with housework that she missed the opportunity to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen. Moms tend to be Marthas. But to truly nurture our children, we need to nurture ourselves first. We need to be more like Mary.

So what’s the point of this little rant? A quote from Jon Bloom that perfectly captures this struggle for moms everywhere!

GOD IS NOT NEARLY AS INTERESTED IN OUR EFFICIENCY AS HE IS OUR FAITH.

I hope this brings some encouragement to all the moms out there—just as it’s helping me. It’s not always easy, but keeping this quote in mind might help us refocus and prioritize what truly matters.