Never let your schooling interrupt your education.

Grace for the homeschool mom

//  by 

Grace for the homeschool mom
Jamie Martin, editor of Simple Homeschool, also blogs about motherhood at Steady Mom

“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace–only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.”
~ Anne Lamott

Good morning, hardworking mom.

I see you over there–forehead creased, shoulders slumped, tears on cheeks.

This homeschooling gig isn’t easy, but where did you get the idea that the whole thing is your responsibility? That their entire future depends solely on your ability to get it right?

You won’t get it all right and you can’t do it all, sweet mama, but here’s the thing:

You were never called to. That’s why there is grace.

“He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.””
~ 2 Corinthians 12:9

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Photo by Mandee Tellings

Grace for when the baby is on the way.

Grace for when the baby’s born–when spirits are high–and sleep is low.

Grace, even, for when the baby dies and your whole world shatters–leaving you broken, desperate, and wondering how you’ll ever grasp “normal” again.

There’s grace, you see, for when he still can’t read and she doesn’t understand the math lesson.

Grace also for when they fly ahead so fast you’re scared you can’t keep up.

There is grace for you today when your husband walks out the door on a week-long work trip, and you know you won’t see a moment of quiet for seven days.

Grace, also, for when your husband walks out the door…and never comes back.

In the midst of a real life–one of great joy and great challenge–all your offerings and sacrifices, your best efforts and your biggest try-hards–will never be enough.

Good news: They aren’t supposed to be.

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Scripture and literature overflow with stories of individuals who gave all they had to offer. Asked to do the very impossible, they knew they weren’t up for it:

  • a virgin birth
  • the parting of a sea
  • the multiplication of loaves and fishes

They stepped up with their imperfect sacrifice–and then: miraculously, joyfully, incredibly, what happened?

Grace filled in the gaps.

“The art of celebrating life isn’t about getting it right, but about receiving grace.”
~ Ann Voskamp

I don’t know about you, but I often feel as though God has also asked me to do the impossible.

When I look around at these little ones He’s entrusted to my care, when I consider all they need to be prepared for their missions in life, when I take a peek at my daily failures again and again–well, I’m just about ready to hand in my resignation and head to the kitchen to pack lunch boxes.

But it was never about what I can do or what you can do. We cannot do this effectively. We will try our best and work our hardest–as we should–and we will come up short each and every time.

We will never measure up.

Hallelujah – this is a good thing! Here’s what this freeing realization means:

You don’t have to stress so much. An unseen Partner, the best Teacher in the world, wants to tutor your kids–your whole family.

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Photo by Kevin M Klerks

His record is pretty good and He specializes in doing the impossible.

So dry those eyes, beautiful mama. Let go of all that control and release those heavy-burdened fears.

For you, for your family, there is grace.

And for today–in this hour, in this one precious, never-to-return moment–that is enough.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” ~ Galatians 6:9

About Jamie C. Martin

Jamie is an introverted mom of three, who loves books, tea, and people (not always in that order), and avoids answering the phone when possible. She co-founded SimpleHomeschool.net in 2010 and began IntrovertedMoms.com in 2020.

Jamie is the author of four books, including Give Your Child the World (reached #9 on Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers list), and her latest release, Introverted Mom (an ECPA bestseller). Her work has been featured by LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow, the Washington Post, Parents, Today Parenting, and Psychology Today.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Linda

    Thanks, Jamie. Perfect timing. January and February are so hard on the homeschool mom. I have enough experience now to know that we will regroup in spring and finish out the “school year” strong. It has taken me years to learn that getting it all right is not the goal. Praise God for extraordinary grace.
    Linda’s latest post: A New Year’s Eve Reflection

  3. Tammy Jones

    Thank you for this post! It is exactly what I needed to hear this morning! Have a blessed day!

  6. Amy Caroline

    You have no idea how badly I needed to hear this. I was actually just last night staring at a high school website wondering if that was where I should send my daughter, despite my worries.
    Thank you for reminding me to lay it at my Lord’s feet.
    Amy Caroline’s latest post: Friends

  10. Cassandra

    I also needed to hear this today. This can apply to so many moms, not just the homeschoolers, in so many situations. Thank you!

  14. Anastasia @ eco-babyz

    Thank you, what perfect timing 🙂 My husband just bought a cargo van and is quitting his not-so-wonderful job. He’ll probably be working 2 weeks out of every month, or something like that. It’s something we’ve prayed about and God has miraculously showed that indeed this is His will for us at this time. It’s been a lesson in trust. I have to let go of my fear and trust God and trust my husband as well. It shall be interesting homeschooling the kids by myself for a good part of the month AND working while at it (from home)! I need grace. Even today, a messy day even with my husband home tonight to share the parenting 🙂
    Anastasia @ eco-babyz’s latest post: Lillebaby COMPLETE Baby Carrier Giveaway

  17. Elyse

    Thanks, Jamie, for this message on grace. I needed to hear that right about now! Even after homeschooling kids for 15 years, I forget that it’s not all on me.

  18. loveena

    wonderful post! despite practising a different religion to christianity the question of god’s grace in our lives is felt everyday 🙂 but mostly when we hit those rocky times. your posts are very inspiring!
    loveena latest post is How we do Science

  19. Kim Fitzsimons

    Your advice is awesome, your encouragement is amazing, and I need it so badly sometimes because I homeschool two totally different kids: one is way above her grade level for reading and art and does well in other areas on her grade level, then I have another who struggles with everything to keep what he learns everyday just to survive. He loves animals, but has said a lot that he hates school. I am learning how to make things more of a variety mix to keep him interested, but it is hard even more me b/c I only had one year of college and was a slow learner as a child myself. <3

  20. Laurie Kehler

    Could I be sent this once a week?! Ha! Seriously, every few days I need to remind myself that the schedule, the curriculum, the activities don’t matter so much in my homeschooling as WHO I am and WHO I am leaning on. Everything else is secondary. When it starts spinning out of control I do the opposite of hurry/scream/stress more, I sit on the couch and read with him about Him. Then everything falls into place!