Overscheduled Kids? How to Balance Extracurricular Activities and Free Play is a question more parents are asking as childhood calendars fill up faster than ever.
In the race to provide every opportunity, from music lessons to competitive sports, we often overlook the quiet warning signs: tired eyes, anxious hearts, and lost joy. While enrichment activities can be wonderful, too much of a good thing can crowd out the space kids need to rest, play, and simply be.
In this episode, I’ll explain how to spot the signs of overscheduling, why free play matters more than we think, and practical ways to create a healthier, happier rhythm for your family.
The Modern Childhood Calendar: Full or Fulfilling?
It starts the same way for so many of us: you’re looking at your planner, thumbing through text reminders—piano at 3:30, soccer at 4:15, math tutor by 6—and you catch your child’s eyes looking at you. They look exhausted, not exhilarated. Why? Because the race to give our kids every opportunity can quietly squeeze out the very childhood we’re trying to enrich.
Pediatric experts have been sounding the alarm. A 2024 review found that children who log extra activities “hour after hour” show higher rates of anxiety, depression, and even anger than their less-scheduled peers solutionhealth.org. Dr. Deb Lonzer, a Cleveland Clinic pediatrician, puts it plainly: “Kids whose time is overly organized don’t have time to be kids, and their family doesn’t have time to be a family”
Translation? A bursting calendar isn’t automatically a fulfilling one; the magic is in the margin.
Signs Your Child Might Be Overscheduled
Mood swings & irritability – abrupt tears after practice or a hair-trigger temper at home.
Sleep troubles – trouble falling asleep or waking up tired despite a full night.
Loss of joy – once-beloved sports or clubs feel like chores.
Foggy focus – slipping grades or blank stares during homework time.
Physical complaints – frequent headaches or stomachaches with no apparent medical cause.
Mary Catherine, a pediatric nurse practitioner known as @the.mom.np, warns that children who rarely get downtime “may develop unexplained physical symptoms and rising anxiety,” nypost.com. When these red flags cluster, your child’s calendar—and nervous system—may be begging for breathing room.
How Much Is Too Much?
Let’s take a realistic Look at 2–3 Activities. Whether two or three activities are “too many” depends on:
Guiding Questions for Parents
Why It Matters
How much homework does my child average each night?
Academic load + rehearsals may crowd out sleep.
Does my child’s personality recharge alone or with people?
Introverts need more unscripted solitude.
Is at least one afternoon per week completely free?
Brains and bodies recover in empty space.
Does my child ask for this activity or merely tolerate it?
Are meals, faith gatherings, and family nights suffering?
When core relationships slip, the schedule needs trimming.
Keep evaluating each season: a heavier fall sports schedule might mean a lighter winter with more cozy family nights and outdoor play.
Why Free Play Matters More Than We Think
Play isn’t a frivolous break from “real” learning; it is real learning. The American Academy of Pediatrics describes play as “a powerful, brain-building activity that buffers toxic stress and builds executive function,” according to publications.aap.org. Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child notes that unstructured games enhance working memory, creativity, and self-control, skills that children will rely on throughout their lives. gse.harvard.edu.
Picture a backyard stick-sword turned spaceship: in ten minutes, your child has solved problems, negotiated rules with siblings, managed frustration, and, bonus, had fun. No adult-crafted curriculum required.
Building a Balanced Schedule
The “One-At-A-Time” Rule: Pediatric nurse practitioner Mary Catherine limits her own kids to one extracurricular per season and sees calmer, happier children because of it nypost.com. Try choosing a single focus each term (e.g., spring soccer, summer swim).
Time-Block Rest: Put “nothing” on the calendar. Literally block out unscheduled afternoons so chores, Lego builds, or cloud-watching can unfold without hurry.
Family Check-Ins: Over weekend breakfast, ask: “Which activity lit you up this week? Which one drained you?” Let kids’ answers guide next season’s sign-ups.
Protect Evenings: Aim for four shared meals at home each week. Research shows that family dinners are correlated with better mental health and academic performance; they’re worth protecting.
Model the Margin: When parents book every minute of their own lives, children copy the cadence. Show them how to say no—and how to savor a quiet walk or a board game.
Final Thought on Overscheduling Kids
Your child’s schedule should feel like well-paced music, moments of lively crescendo, followed by calm, restorative rests. When you strike that rhythm, you give them more than resume fodder; you give them space to discover who they are. And that, more than any trophy or recital, is the opportunity that matters most.
7 Reasons Parents Are Choosing Gentle Parenting isn’t just another trend; it’s a reflection of what so many moms and dads are feeling deep in their hearts. We want to raise emotionally healthy kids without repeating the patterns we grew up with.
Parents are longing for connection, not just compliance. In this episode, I’m sharing what’s behind the growing shift toward gentle parenting and why more parents, maybe even you, are rethinking the way we guide, discipline, and disciple our children.
If your heart has ever whispered, “There has to be a better way,” you’ll want to tune into this episode and read this blog.
Why Today’s Parents Are Choosing Gentle Parenting; And What That Really Means.
Gentle Parenting Definition: What Is Gentle Parenting?
Consequently, gentle parenting is a relational, empathy-driven approach that prioritizes connection, emotional regulation, and respectful guidance. Moreover, it is not permissive parenting; instead, it combines clear, consistent boundaries with compassion, patience, and mutual respect.
Consequently, gentle parenting is a relational, empathy-driven approach that prioritizes connection, emotional regulation, and respectful guidance. Moreover, it is not permissive parenting; instead, it combines clear, consistent boundaries with compassion, patience, and mutual respect.
Gentle Parenting vs. Traditional Parenting
However, while traditional authoritarian styles lean on fear, shame, or punitive measures, gentle parenting leans on curiosity and collaboration. Consequently, the child’s misbehavior is seen as a skills gap, not a moral failure, so the parent coaches, models, and problem-solves. Therefore, children learn internal motivation instead of mere compliance.
“Rules may guide behavior, but relationships forever shape hearts.”
Top Reasons Parents Choose Gentle Parenting in 2025
Here is quick look at the top reasons parents are choosing the Gentle Parenting approach:
Moreover, parents who experienced yelling or spanking often sense lingering wounds; thus, they vow to do better. Additionally, research on mindful parenting shows that co-regulation, rather than punishment, builds healthier stress-response systems in the brain.
2. Prioritizing Mental and Emotional Health
Furthermore, gentle parenting aligns with rising awareness of childhood anxiety and trauma. Therefore, parents deliberately validate feelings before correcting actions, helping kids build real resilience.
3. Desiring Lifelong Connection Over Short-Term Control
Consequently, today’s parents ask, “Will this strategy draw my teen closer at 16?” rather than “Did she obey me at 6?” This shift from reactive to preventive strengthens family bonds.
4. Breaking Generational Cycles
Moreover, because millennials and Gen Z grew up hearing “children are seen, not heard,” they now strive to hear their children early and often, rewriting family scripts of silence into stories of safety.
A mom recently told me, “I remember one afternoon when my son melted down over a broken Lego set. In the past, I might’ve raised my voice. But instead, I knelt down and said, ‘I understand that you are really upset right now, that’s frustrating. That moment of connection turned frustration into calm.”
5. Trusting Neuroscience and Developmental Research
Indeed, brain-imaging studies confirm that calm, attuned caregiving wires prefrontal circuits responsible for self-control. Therefore, teaching emotion skills through gentle coaching sets up kids and parents for lifelong regulation.
6. Amplification Through Social Media Influence
Additionally, Instagram reels, TikTok clips, and YouTube shorts provide digestible demonstrations of gentle scripts. Consequently, parents replicate phrases like “You’re safe, I’m here” and celebrate incremental wins together online.
7. Faith-Forward Families See Biblical Alignment
Consequently, many Christian parents recognize that the fruit of the Spirit: love, patience, gentleness, and self-control—mirrors the principles of gentle parenting. Therefore, shepherding hearts through grace feels both practical and biblical.
Faith-Based Gentle Parenting: Aligning With Biblical Values
Because Scripture calls parents to “provoke not your children to wrath” (Ephesians 6:4), gentle parenting resonates. Moreover, Jesus models invitation over intimidation—“Come to Me,” not “Get it right or get out.” Consequently, when we discipline with empathy, we reflect Christ’s heart.
“Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Philippians 4:5).
Therefore, gentle parenting becomes a tangible outworking of faith, where boundaries flow from love rather than legalism.
How to Practice Gentle Parenting Daily: Simple Techniques That Work
Pause Before You Pounce: First, breathe. Then, ask, “What is really happening beneath this behavior?”
Validate, Then Guide: Say, “I see you’re frustrated; meanwhile, hitting hurts.”
Offer Choices Within Limits: Use phrases like, “You may choose to walk or I will help you walk,” to preserve dignity.
Model Emotional Language: Label your own feelings: “I’m disappointed, yet I’m still here.”
Repair Quickly When You Blow It: Why? Because humility heals, apologizing models healthy accountability.
Common Misconceptions About Gentle Parenting
Myth 1:Gentle parenting means zero consequences. However, it actually means natural or logical consequences delivered calmly.
Myth 2: Children will take advantage of gentle parents. Nevertheless, research shows children thrive when limits are clear and empathetic.
Myth 3:It takes too much time. Yet, investing front-end effort often reduces meltdowns later, saving time overall.
Gentle Parenting Benefits Backed by Research
Moreover, studies across 100+ U.S. families reveal that gentle parenting correlates with improved prosocial behavior and lower parent stress. Additionally, 44% of parents deliberately shift away from how they were raised, citing gentle parenting as their preferred alternative.
Consequently, children in attuned homes display stronger executive-function skills such as impulse control and flexible thinking, which, in turn, forecast academic success.
Conclusion: Embracing Gentle Parenting for a Connected Family
Ultimately, therefore, gentle parenting invites us to lead firmly and kindly, precisely the way our Heavenly Father leads us.
Moreover, choosing connection over control does not erase authority; instead, it redeems it with humility, empathy, and unwavering presence. Consequently, our children learn that mistakes are opportunities, families are safe harbors, and love never hinges on performance.
So, as you tuck your child in tonight, pause. Therefore, whisper truth, offer grace, set the boundary, and remember:
Gentle parenting isn’t passive; it’s intentional, anchored, and deeply engaged.
The sudden rise in parents seeking parenting advice makes some experts ask: Is AI the New Parenting Expert?
Would you ever trust a chatbot to help raise your kids? According to new statistics, 71% of parents are utilizing AI tools to aid in parenting decisions. The trend of AI in parenting is rising fast. Today, I will unpack: the benefits, the concerns, and what parents need to know. And research-backed truths about using AI tools.
While I am not recommending or endorsing the use of AI for parenting advice, I believe it can be helpful if used wisely.
Why Parents Are Turning to AI for Parenting Help
In today’s fast-paced, always-on world, more parents are turning to AI tools like ChatGPT to help lighten the mental load of parenting, and the reasons go far beyond mere convenience. With families juggling more responsibilities than ever, it’s no surprise they’re looking for quick, smart support.
The Rise of AI in Daily Family Life
In recent years, the rise of AI in daily family life has reshaped how parents manage their homes, routines, and relationships. Tools like ChatGPT, Alexa, and a growing number of parenting apps are stepping in as digital helpers, offering everything from meal ideas to discipline strategies at the tap of a screen.
For many families, these platforms are filling what some call the “mom gap,” easing the mental load by helping with decision-making and planning. Moreover, the appeal lies in their 24/7 accessibility and judgment-free nature. It’s a place parents can ask tough questions without fear of criticism or shame.
As AI becomes increasingly embedded in everyday parenting, it’s tempting to wonder: Are we looking at a new kind of parenting expert?
The Convenience of Instant Advice
Another reason AI is becoming a go-to parenting resource is its ability to provide instant, customized answers. Whether a mom needs a quick meal plan, a dad wants a screen time contract, or a caregiver seeks gentle discipline phrases, tools like ChatGPT respond immediately, with no wait time, appointments, or guilt. In the chaos of family life, that kind of speed feels like a gift.
Furthermore, AI tools often adapt to your preferred parenting style, offering Montessori-based ideas, positive parenting techniques, or faith-based reminders. It’s no wonder so many are wondering if AI is the new parenting expert; it meets stressed-out parents right where they are.
However, while the draw of digital parenting support is strong, it’s worth asking: can AI actually understand the essence of parenting?
What AI Gets Right About Parenting
Despite its limitations, AI has carved out a surprisingly helpful role in modern households, offering support in areas where parents often feel overwhelmed or stretched thin: meal planning, budgeting, and organizing are just a few of the ways moms find AI tools helpful.
Reducing Decision Fatigue
One of the most praised uses of AI in parenting is its ability to reduce decision fatigue. Instead of overthinking every detail—from what to pack in lunchboxes to how to respond to a tantrum—parents can offload those repetitive, low-stakes decisions to AI. This frees up precious mental energy for the moments that matter most: connection, listening, and guiding with intention.
As AI tools become more intuitive, they provide just enough structure to make parenting feel more manageable without taking over. For parents juggling the emotional weight of raising children, this small but consistent relief can feel like a lifeline.
Enhancing Learning and Connection
AI isn’t just offering practical help; it can also enhance learning and connection in family life. Apps and bots are being used to prompt emotional intelligence exercises, spark meaningful dinner table conversations, and even generate custom bedtime stories based on your child’s interests. While it’s not a replacement for prayer, scripture, and human interaction, when used with discernment, AI can create moments of engagement that deepen parent-child bonds.
Some families report that these tools offer a fresh way to connect and gain a deeper understanding of their children, especially when navigating new developmental stages or addressing unique needs. In this way, AI may not be the parenting expert, but it’s becoming a supportive sidekick in the learning journey.
The Risks of Relying Too Much on AI
While AI promises convenience and calm, the truth is that over-relying on these tools can lead to unintended consequences that impact both parents and children. There’s a caution: just because it’s helpful doesn’t mean it’s harmless.
Misinformation and Inaccuracy
However, while AI can feel like a trustworthy shortcut, it’s not always accurate, and that’s where things can get concerning.
AI tools like ChatGPT are trained on vast amounts of online content, but they don’t always filter out outdated, biased, or even dangerous information.
In parenting, where nuance matters and every child is different, one-size-fits-all responses can lead to poor decisions. There have even been documented cases where AI provided inappropriate or unsafe suggestions. This raises a critical question for parents: Can we truly call AI a parenting expert when it doesn’t always get the facts or context right?
Emotional Disconnection & Dependency
In addition to concerns about accuracy, there is a growing worry about emotional disconnection. As families increasingly rely on AI to solve problems or provide support, the subtle risk is that it replaces meaningful conversations with convenience. Children, especially teens, may start turning to bots instead of their parents for answers, missing the warmth, empathy, and guidance only a real relationship can provide.
Furthermore, parents themselves may begin to depend on AI not just for help, but also for emotional regulation, decision reassurance, or companionship. Over time, this dependence can quietly erode the essential connection between parent and child, a bond that no chatbot can replicate.
Data Privacy and Safety Concerns
Equally important is the issue of privacy, especially when AI tools are used by or around children. Many parenting apps and devices collect sensitive information, from voice recordings to behavioral data. Without strong protections, that data could be used in ways parents never intended, such as for targeted advertising or third-party analysis. Children may also interact with AI in ways that feel harmless but reveal personal information. Since kids often don’t understand boundaries around data, the responsibility falls on parents to ensure the tools they use prioritize safety. And that means being as intentional about choosing AI tools as you are about who cares for your child in real life.
Knowing these risks, it’s essential to weigh both sides and consider what researchers and child development experts honestly think about AI’s role in parenting.
What the Experts Say: AI Should Support, Not Replace, Parents God Given Discernment
With all this in mind, the best approach is to treat AI as a co-pilot in your parenting journey, not the driver. That means using AI to brainstorm meal plans or bedtime stories, but not to diagnose behavior issues or replace your instincts. When AI becomes a helpful assistant rather than a substitute decision-maker, you stay in control of the values and tone that guide your home. Ultimately, AI works best when it supports God’s Word, your voice, not when it speaks louder than you.
The Importance of Godly Wisdom, Mentors, and Parental Intuition
While technology may offer quick answers, true parenting wisdom often comes from slower, more sacred sources. Godly counsel, trusted mentors, and parental intuition play a powerful role. No algorithm can replace the discernment that comes from seeking the Lord in prayer. Or the insight gained from someone who’s walked this road before.
Wise parenting isn’t just about solving problems; it’s about shaping hearts. And shaping hearts takes time, trust, and presence. That requires more than code. It calls for character, conviction, and the quiet confidence that grows when a parent is led by faith. As helpful as AI tools may be, they must never drown out the still, small voice that says, “You were chosen to raise this child.”
You are the primary influence in your child’s life; don’t allow that high position to be replaced by AI.
How to Use AI Tools Wisely in Parenting
Instead of avoiding AI altogether or surrendering to it completely, parents can adopt a balanced and thoughtful approach that utilizes technology as a tool, rather than a threat.
Treat AI as a Co-Pilot, Not the Driver
With all this in mind, the best approach is to treat AI as a co-pilot in your parenting journey, not the driver. That means using AI to brainstorm meal plans or bedtime stories, but not to diagnose behavior issues or replace your instincts. When AI becomes a helpful assistant rather than a substitute decision-maker, you stay in control of the values and tone that guide your home. Ultimately, AI works best when it supports your voice, not when it speaks louder than you.
Keep the Parent-Child Relationship Front and Center
Finally, even as you integrate technology into family life, it’s vital to keep your connection with your child at the center. Use AI to enhance, not replace, the conversations, eye contact, and bonding that only a parent can provide. Whether it’s using a story generator to start a bedtime tradition or a chatbot to model conflict resolution, the goal isn’t to step back, but to lean in with more confidence and calm. In the end, parenting isn’t about having all the answers, but about being present, and no matter how advanced AI becomes, presence is something it can never replicate.
You are the primary influence in your child’s life; don’t allow that high position to be replaced by AI.
Summary: Is AI the New Parenting Expert?
Is AI the new parenting expert? No, it’s a new tool. With discernment, it can help parents. Without knowing how to use it wisely, it may confuse, mislead, or disconnect families from each other.
By using AI with discernment and intentionality, we don’t just protect our children, we strengthen our role as the irreplaceable, trusted guide in their lives.
What role do you want AI to play in your home, and what role will only you, as the parent, fulfill?
Can motherhood feel lighter, even joyful, in the middle of the mess and chaos of life?
You wake up already tired. The baby didn’t sleep, the toddler has opinions about everything, and the dishes are multiplying faster than the laundry. You love your kids, but on some days, the weight of motherhood feels overwhelming. If you’ve ever thought, “I can’t keep doing this like I am,” you’re not alone.
But here’s the hopeful part: Some moms aren’t just barely surviving; they’re doing well. They still face chaos and challenges, but somehow, they find peace in the midst of it. And that raises an important question: What are those moms doing differently?
According to a 2025 report highlighted by The Washington Post and backed by data from the National Center for Health Statistics, while 1 in 4 moms report poor mental health, the other 3 are doing okay. That doesn’t mean life is easy for them, but they’ve discovered small shifts that make a big difference.
Motherhood Advice That Actually Helps: 7 Habits of Thriving Moms
In this post, I’ll walk you through 7 practical, proven habits that help moms not just get by, but thrive. I’ll cover how to build support systems, set healthy boundaries, practice restorative rhythms, ask for help, redefine success, anchor your heart in biblical truth, and use simple tools that make daily life easier. These steps aren’t about doing more. They’re about living more intentionally, more peacefully, and more joyfully. And they actually help.
1. Build a Support System Helps
Moms who thrive have one thing in common: they are not doing this alone. One mom I know shared how every Thursday, her neighbor comes over for an hour so that she can shower and reset. Another found peace when she joined a small group at church where they trade babysitting and share prayer requests. These aren’t grand gestures, but they make all the difference. Whether it’s a best friend, a prayer partner, or a small group, support matters. A 2023 study in the Journal of Family Psychology confirms that perceived emotional support is one of the strongest predictors of maternal well-being.
If you don’t have that yet, don’t panic. Start small. Smile at another mom. Join a local group. Text someone you trust. It’s the slow, steady connections that become lifelines.
And while community is foundational, it’s just the beginning. Next comes protecting your peace with boundaries.
2. Set Boundaries That Guard Your Mind and Heart
Let’s be honest: boundaries can be rigid. But moms who are doing well aren’t afraid to say no to overcommitment or endless online comparison. Boundaries create margin, and margin creates rest. Rest is one key factor in helping mom thrive!
Dr. Caroline Leaf, a cognitive neuroscientist, teaches that unchecked stress rewires the brain in harmful ways. Saying no isn’t selfish; it’s protective.
One mom I coached shared that she had to set a firm bedtime for her phone, not just for her kids. “I was scrolling late at night and waking up exhausted. Once I turned off my phone at 9 p.m., I felt like I had my evenings back.”
Also, try muting accounts that leave you feeling “less than.” Give yourself permission to pause the things that steal your peace and happiness.
With some margin in place, you’ll have room to establish essential daily rhythms of rest.
3. Practice Daily Rhythms That Restore You
Moms who are thriving don’t wait for a vacation to recharge. They build rest into their daily life in small, repeatable ways. A short walk. A warm cup of tea. Deep breathing during nap time. These micro-moments matter.
Research published in BMC Women’s Health shows that even 10 minutes of intentional rest can lower cortisol levels and improve emotional regulation.
So ask yourself: What is one calming habit I can do today? Then take action!
And sometimes, the most restorative thing you can do is reach out for help.
4. Ask for Help: And Receive It With Grace
Thriving moms know they can’t do it all. And they don’t pretend to. They ask for help from their spouse, kids, friends, or professionals. That doesn’t make them weak; it makes them wise.
Yet a 2024 report by Pew Research found that nearly 60% of mothers say they feel guilty asking for help. Let’s break that cycle. Accepting support is not a failure; it’s a step toward flourishing.
Choose one area this week to delegate or share. Let someone else carry part of the load.
Once help enters the picture, something beautiful happens—you begin to redefine what success really looks like.
5. Redefine Success Through a Lens of Grace
Moms who are thriving have stopped chasing perfection. They don’t measure success by a Pinterest-worthy dinner or a spotless house. They measure it by presence, connection, and grace.
Maybe the day was messy, but you stayed patient through a tantrum. Perhaps the chores got skipped, but you snuggled during story time. That’s a win. That’s success.
You get to define what success looks like in your home. Choose grace over guilt.
Grace becomes even more powerful when it’s anchored in something eternal.
6. Stay Anchored in Biblical Truth
Faith is the cornerstone for many thriving moms. Time with God doesn’t have to be long or elaborate—just consistent. A verse on your mirror. A prayer whispered in the kitchen. A worship song while folding laundry.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3. This is not just poetic. It’s a promise.
And if you’re looking for biblical wisdom and encouragement for raising teens, I encourage you to read my book, Parenting Beyond the Rules. It became a #1 Amazon Hot New Release because it meets parents where they are: honest, real, and full of hope.
Anchoring your heart spiritually prepares you to think practically about how to lighten your everyday load.
7. Simple Tools Can Make Life Easier
Moms who are thriving aren’t superhuman. They just simplify wherever they can. A weekly meal plan. A whiteboard for chores. A gratitude journal. These aren’t luxury items, they’re tools of survival and sanity.
For example, start with one: a timer for 15-minute cleanups or a checklist to reduce mental clutter. Every small system you put in place buys back a little more peace.
Final Thought: You Don’t Have to Do Everything to Change Everything
One habit. One shift. One boundary. One prayer. That’s all it takes to begin moving from weary to well.
If you’re a mom who’s felt like you’re drowning, I want you to hear this clearly: you’re not alone, and you are not behind. There are real, proven ways to move forward, and they actually help.
And if you need a guide, a cheerleader, and a voice of reason, grab a copy of Parenting Beyond the Rules. You don’t have to parent perfectly. Just parent with presence, wisdom, and grace.
Loving your children unconditionally changes everything in a child’s world.
Every child longs to be loved, not for what they do, but for who they are. As parents, we have the sacred opportunity to offer a kind of love that mirrors the heart of God: steady, forgiving, and without condition. Loving our children unconditionally doesn’t mean we overlook mistakes or ignore boundaries; it means we choose connection over control, grace over perfection, and presence over performance.
Love is the foundation every child needs. It’s the oxygen for a healthy heart and mind. Without it, kids don’t feel safe. They don’t know who to trust. And when love is missing, it affects everything from their emotional well-being to how they see God.
If I had to boil it all down to one thing that made the greatest difference in how my children grew, how they received correction, and how they responded to God, it would be this: unconditional love. ~Connie Albers
Love is the Oxegyen of the Heart
When a child grows up truly knowing they’re loved and cherished, something beautiful happens. Their hearts soften. They become more open to correction, more teachable, and more likely to believe us when we tell them about a God who loves unconditionally as well.
Love becomes the lens through which they view the world and themselves.
Love is what Jesus modeled every step of His life. He didn’t lead with control; He led with compassion. And that changed everything. It still does.
Love is a Legacy They’ll Carry for Life
Children thrive when they’re surrounded by people who meet their needs, speak life into their souls, and commit to loving them from birth to adulthood. That kind of love creates emotional safety. It gives them strength, hope, and vision for the future.
This doesn’t mean you hand over the itinerary; it means you welcome their ideas. Whether it’s picking a trail to hike, choosing a game to play, or planning a silly talent show, collaboration builds buy-in and connection.
Love isn’t just something we feel; it’s something we do. It’s giving of ourselves, again and again, for the benefit of others, especially those God has entrusted to our care.
And when we do that, when we love consistently, especially through the messy parts, it builds trust. It makes it easier for our children to believe the words, “God loves you,” because they’ve experienced love at home.
What Happens When Love Is Missing?
When children are deprived of love in those early years, it affects so much more than just their mood. It touches every aspect of who they are, their emotional stability, relationships with others, perception of God, and even their cognitive development.
A loving God created us with both a need to be loved and a capacity to love others generously. However, we must show our children what that looks like, day after day, in the everyday moments of life.
Love in the Messy Moments
Loving them when they’re easy is… well, easy. But loving them when they’re pushing back, acting out, or shutting down? That’s when love matters most.
Loving them as they are, appreciating the personality God gave them, and restoring the relationship even after hard moments—sometimes multiple times a day is how we build connection and keep their hearts close.
That’s the fuel that lit a fire in their hearts to want to know God, not because I told them to, but because they saw the reflection of His love in how I treated them.
A Command and a Calling
God’s Word couldn’t be clearer:
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” —John 15:13 “Love one another, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” —Galatians 6:2
We are called to love deeply, intentionally, and persistently. And I’ve never met anyone who said they were loved too much.
Confident homeschooling is not how most moms would describe how they feel. In fact, many of us constantly wonder if we’re doing it right or doing enough. For example, I remember asking myself that very question during my own homeschool journey more times than I can count.
However, here’s the truth we often forget: confidence doesn’t come from having all the answers. Instead, it comes from showing up daily, learning as we go, and trusting the calling we’ve been given. Because of this, we can stop striving for perfection and embrace faithful progress.
In this post, inspired by my heartfelt podcast conversation with Ginny Yurich, founder of 1000 Hours Outside and author of her newly released book Homeschooling: You’re Doing It Right Just By Doing It, we’ll unpack what it truly means to homeschool with confidence and how you can embrace that mindset, too.
“You’re doing it right, not because you’re winging it, but because you care enough to keep showing up, adjusting, praying, and learning.” ~Connie Albers
Doubt is Normal
We live in a society built on comparison. It’s easy to scroll through social media, see someone’s beautifully curated homeschool day, and immediately question your own. While you’re juggling real-life messes and meltdowns, someone else seems to have it all together.
However, here’s the truth: homeschooling isn’t meant to be picture-perfect. It’s not about flawless routines or tidy lesson plans. Instead, it’s about the heart work, what’s happening in your heart and your child’s heart. That’s where the real transformation begins.
More importantly, God didn’t call you to homeschool so you could achieve perfection. He called you to walk in faithfulness. Every step you take, especially the messy, uncertain ones.
Proverbs 16:3 says: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
With that in mind, once you’re grounded in Truth and accept that your homeschool journey won’t look like anyone else’s, it’s time to let go of unrealistic expectations. Instead, redefine what “right” looks like for your unique family.
Redefining What “Right” Looks Like
So, what does it actually mean to homeschool the right way?
First, it’s not about completing every lesson or whether your child is ahead in math or writing a five-paragraph essay by age eight. And it’s definitely not about how many Instagram-worthy activities you’ve checked off this week.
Instead, homeschooling with confidence means:
Adapting when something isn’t working
Prioritizing connection over correction
Choosing character over curriculum
Embracing the rhythms that work best for your unique family
In general, it’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what matters most for your child and your home.
Notice the Quiet Fruit of Faithfulness
Now, here’s something we often overlook: the fruit you’re planting today may not bloom right away.
Often, homeschooling can feel like sowing seeds in silence. Day after day, you show up and do the work, but you may not see immediate results. Your routines can feel repetitive, and at times, even exhausting. Still, those small, daily acts of faithfulness are far from wasted.
For example, think about the hugs after hard lessons, the prayers whispered in the laundry room, the spontaneous field trips, and the stories read aloud on the couch. Each of these moments shapes something eternal: a deep connection, character, and trust.
That’s why Galatians 6:9 offers such a beautiful reminder:
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
The fruit will come. You’re cultivating hearts, not just minds.
Give Youself Permission to Pivot
Sometimes, all it takes is a moment. When you put the phone down and truly look your child in the eyes, something shifts. That kind of focused attention says, “You matter to me. I’m here with you.” These are the moments that build connection and trust.
As your family grows, so will your needs. What worked last year might not work this year. And guess what? That’s not failure. That’s wisdom.
Ginny encourages moms to simplify and be flexible. If your curriculum is creating tears instead of joy, if your schedule is wearing everyone down, it’s okay to pivot, pause, and do things differently from the family next door.
Remember, you are the expert on your child.And God didn’t call you to this journey without equipping you to walk it faithfully.
Choose Connection Over Comparision
As you continue your homeschool journey, one of the most important decisions you’ll make daily is this: Will I compare or will I connect?
When you focus on your child’s growth, your family’s rhythm, and your calling to homeschool, you reclaim your joy. You move from striving to settled.
And that’s the kind of confidence that sustains you.
In Summary: Confident Homeschooling Comes Moment by Moment
Homeschooling isn’t about having all the answers or a flawless plan—it’s about the relationship, the daily investment, and the heart behind the effort.
Set down the weight of unrealistic expectations. Look at your child. Look, and remind yourself:
We’re in this together. And that’s enough for today.
Sponsor, Bio, and Links
Ginny Yurich is a Michigan homeschooling mother of five and the founder and CEO of 1000 Hours Outside, a global movement, media company, and lifestyle brand with a mission to reclaim childhood, reconnect families, restore balance, and help people live fuller lives.
She hosts and produces the extremely popular The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, is a keynote public speaker, a zinnia enthusiast, and a published author.
Want a Bible curriculum that strengthens your teen’s faith and critical thinking? RVL Discipleship: The Curriculumequips homeschool students to engage deeply with Scripture and live out God’s mission.
In RVL Discipleship: The Study, join renowned teacher and Bible scholar Ray Vander Laan as he examines what it means to follow Christ through the cultural, historical, and otherwise contextual lens of Scripture. The Study is a four-season video Bible study for small groups and individuals that considers the question: What did it mean to be one of Jesus’s original disciples, and what does that mean for us today?
