Last Updated on August 30, 2025
If you, like me, have kids five and under, “back to school” doesn’t feel as dramatic as I’m sure it will when my kids are older. Honestly, my first thought when I hear “back to school” is, “Thank goodness. Now the parks will be less crowded.”
The truth is, whether you have kids returning to school full time or not, whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or work full time, fall is a time when our rhythms of life change.
Things like preschool, play groups, library story times, Bible studies, sports, and other activities start back up. The weather starts to cool, and we have to start thinking about changing up our routines—trading outdoor activities for indoor ones, adjusting to shorter days and more inside time.
As Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
As the physical season changes, often our life seasons and what God is calling us and our families to change too, and that is worth taking a moment to reflect on.
The Spiritual Practice of Examen
The fancy, spiritual word for this is Examen. The Examen is a practice of reflection, looking back at the past and seeing where God has been at work. It’s also a practice of looking forward, seeing how we can best work with God in our days to come, trying to determine where God is leading us.
I’ve found this to be an important practice that I’ve incorporated into my own life on a weekly and daily basis.
I’ve also found it’s worth doing a “season” Examen when seasons change, especially with littles. They are constantly changing with different nap schedules, activity levels, and interests. All those changes mean that our routines are constantly changing with them. We need to reflect and reset. What worked this time last year might not work well now. After all, our kids are only going to be the age they are now once.
The end of summer and the beginning of fall is a great time to take a minute, to appreciate the season that has just passed, to look forward to the season that is coming, and to attempt to see where God is leading you, your family, and your little(s) in this upcoming season. What does that look like?
1. Start with Gratitude
First of all, as you reflect and consider, your heart should be filled with gratitude for the gifts God has given you in this season (even if it was a hard one). Hopefully, you can see God at work, growing and maturing you and your kids in this season. Consider writing some of these reflections down in a journal so you won’t forget and can look back at the gifts God has given you.
2. Reflect
Then just take a minute and reflect on how things are going for you and your family. There are probably already some things that you know are going well and some things that are challenging or that you know will be changing with the new season. Here are a few categories of things to think through as you reflect.
- Faith
- How is your relationship with God in this season? How are your kids relating to God? Are you in a church/community of faith? How is that working for your family?
- Physical Health
- How does your body feel? How is your child’s health? Does anything need to change with their eating and sleeping patterns?
- Mental Health
- How is your thought life? Are you getting time to refresh your mind and be mentally and emotionally recharged? How is your child’s mind? Is your child anxious or worried often? What might you need to do to help them find peace?
- Relationships
- Do you have a good support system? Is there anything you need to do to rectify a relationship? How are your child’s relationships? Do they need more or less time around other kids or maybe with a particular family member?
- Family Routines
- How are your current home routines? Do you feel overwhelmed by household tasks or on top of things? How is your current routine working for your kids? If you’re married, how are things working for the health of your marriage?
These are just a few categories to think through. You don’t have to sit down and go through all of them at once. You can think through one category at a time. Writing down your thoughts can be helpful, but it is not necessary.
3. Reset
After you’ve taken stock of the state of things, you can consider each category again and prayerfully ask what might need to change in this new season. Pay special attention to how you’re feeling about the upcoming season. Do you feel stressed or anxious? It might be time to lessen activities or change priorities.
Remember, your kids need you at your best and healthiest—it’s better for them to do fewer activities with a happier, healthier mom than to be overscheduled with a stressed-out parent.
The point of all this is not to beat yourself up for all the things you should have done differently in the last season and try to change everything tomorrow.
Rather, the main point is to pay attention to how God has worked in and through our lives in our past seasons and how we can continue to partner with His work in the next one.
Ask, listen, and follow His lead.
Life with littles is hard and exhausting, but it’s also full of joy and wonder. Taking time for this seasonal reflection helps us notice God’s gifts in the midst of the chaos and positions our hearts to receive whatever He has for us in the season ahead.
What might God be calling you to in this new season?