When you Wonder If You’re Doing Enough in Your Homeschool

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The question that so often plagues the homeschooling mom is: Am I doing enough?

I don’t think this is a bad question or wrong of us to ask. But I often find that what triggers the question matters and we should pay close attention to that.

When we ask ourselves am I doing enough we have two paths before us one that leads to spiraling and one that leads to productivity. In the next episode I am going to share more about how I think asking if we are doing enough in our homeschool can be helpful. In this post I want to lean into talking about the path that leads to spiraling.

I have found that sometimes when I am asking myself the question, am I doing enough, it’s usually after spending time looking around at other homeschooling moms. Those I see who are succeeding in areas I struggle in.

Most of the time I think I am safe from comparison because I’m not on social media but I read blogs and listen to podcasts. And those are very helpful and inspiring but sometimes along the way I get caught up in comparing my homeschool

my children

myself to others.

That comparison plants seeds of fear.

Fear that my children aren’t getting an adequate education.

Fear I am ruining their futures.

Fear that I am not the best mom for the job.

What follows is any time I see one of my children struggle with poor habits or a school subject or when I see they aren’t progressing fast enough I take that as a confirmation of all my fears.

And the seeds of fear get watered

The fruit: I try to gain control. I behave impatiently, lack grace, make high demands of my children and then am unkind when they can’t meet those demands.

That behavior breaks connection with the very precious ones God has entrusted to me. The ones I am called to disciple and to train up in the ways of the Lord.

Do you also struggle with this too? Do you spiral when you feel like you are behind and you wonder if you are doing enough in your homeschool.

In Genesis 3 the serpent plants a seed of doubt in Eve’s mind. A mistrust that leads Adam and Eve to sin. They listened to Satan and ate the fruit from the tree God forbade them to eat from. Their eyes were opened now not only to the good they had always known but of evil they had never considered.

God called to them and when Adam answered, He said “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked so I hid.”

God asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

Friend, who told you that you weren’t doing enough? Have you eaten from the tree of comparison?

Are you tempted to believe a lie about yourself or your children or your God? The God who called you to this work. The God who chose you to be the mother of your children.

When we begin to question am I doing enough and we know the question is triggered by comparison we need to pause. When we are tempted to let fear take root, before we spiral in thought and behavior, we need to pray.

We need to turn away from the lies of the enemy and his scheme to distract us from what God has called us to do.

We need to let the word of God remind us of the truth.

Hebrews 12: 1b-2 says “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

We can’t look around at others who are running their own race and compare ourselves to them. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and run the race He has marked out for us. With the ones he has entrusted to us.

In Ephesians 2:10 it says “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

You are not a failure because you aren’t skilled in the same way others are. You are not failing at your homeschool because you aren’t teaching every single subject or topic out there.

You are God’s handiwork. He has called you to do good work and when we are distracted by focusing on what we aren’t doing we miss the good work he is doing in our homes, the good work we are already doing, and the good work we need to continue in.

And in 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul writes, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

In Isaiah 41:10 we read “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.”

God knows that we are weak. He knows we are tempted to let fear take over our thoughts but He wants us to trust Him. He wants to be our help and for us to know his grace is sufficient.

Let’s pray

Lord, I know that doubt and insecurity are not from you. Help the moms listening and myself not let seeds of fear take root. Help us to not lose sight of the good work you are doing in our lives and in the lives of our children. When we struggle and spiral and feel like we are messing this homeschooling up when we are tempted to believe that we are terrible moms speak tenderly to us and draw us closer to your heart. Help us Lord to listen to your voice of truth. Help us to walk in the path you have laid out for us knowing that you are with us.

I ask all this in Jesus’ name.

Podcast episode!