It’s happening again. New backpacks. Lunchboxes. Schedules. Forms to fill out. Meetings to attend. Uniforms to wash.
It’s officially back-to-school season.
And if you’re like me, maybe you’re already overwhelmed, and it’s only the beginning.
The transition from summer freedom to fall structure can be challenging. Whether you’re getting a kindergartner out the door on time, managing teenage moods and sports schedules, juggling homeschooling co-op calendars, or trying to FaceTime your college student who keeps “forgetting” to call back, this season stretches us.
While I love a fresh start, I’ve learned that fresh starts without soul support can leave us just as tired as the last season we came out of.
So here’s what I want to remind you: rhythms are better than rushing.
Rhythms That Help Me (and Might Help You)
Back-to-school isn’t just about paper and pencils. It’s about resetting our daily rhythms. “Because how we spend our days is,” as Annie Dillard said, “how we spend our lives.”
When our daily rhythms are out of sync, the chaos outside starts creeping inside, too. As a wife, mother of five, grandmother of five, and a former homeschooling mama, I’ve walked through my fair share of back-to-school seasons. There were days when it felt like we were thriving, and others when we barely got through one lesson and called it a win.
Here are a few practices I lean on when I need to come back to balance:
1. I Build Quiet into Noisy Mornings
Before I open my inbox or scroll through social media, I try (and I do mean try) to open my Bible or whisper a quick prayer. Sometimes it’s nothing elaborate, just, “Lord, please help me today. I can’t do this alone.”
It doesn’t fix the schedule or make the day go perfectly, but it helps settle my heart. I’m learning to do what the psalmist did: let God hear my voice in the morning, bring my prayers to Him, and then watch for how He leads. That one-minute pause reorients me. It’s how I choose quiet before the noise takes over.
If I could offer one word of advice to you, it would be this: Delay digital media as long as you can in the morning. Your whole day will be better as a result.
2. I Give My Kids a Moment of Connection
Whether your child heads out the door with a backpack or settles in at the kitchen table with a workbook, one thing stays the same – they need more than just lessons. They need connection.
Maybe it’s a sticky note on their binder, a quick hug before they log on to their online class, or a gentle word when frustration sets in during homework time. Whether you’re packing lunches or passing out pencils, you’re doing more than managing school. You’re shaping hearts – theirs and yours.
3. I Give Myself Grace
I haven’t gotten everything right in parenting, and neither will you. We have to learn how not to let the messiness of life steal the beauty of the moment.
A child’s meltdown doesn’t mean you’re failing. A long to-do list doesn’t define your worth. God gives greater grace! Not just enough, but more than enough for the noise, the pressure, and the ordinary days when you feel like you’re coming up short.
So when things get tough, I breathe, reset, and remind myself: I don’t have to be perfect to be present.
And for me… less than perfect means celebrating what I’ve DONE more than what I planned to do! For years, I felt like I was failing because I would write my to-do list and then not get to everything.
When life is especially busy, I often write down what I’ve done as I do it and then check it off as I go so I can enjoy the satisfaction of completion. It’s a small trick, but it certainly helps me feel more productive!
Back to School Rhythms for Every Age and Stage
If you’re looking for some new rhythms for every age and stage of motherhood, here are some of my favorite ideas.
For Littles (Pre-K – Elementary)
Create a short “sending prayer” to speak over them each morning. Even if you’re homeschooling, speak it over them as they crack open their crayons or trace their letters.
It’s not only about where they’re learning, but it’s also about who they’re becoming. As they learn and grow, remind them that God is with them, delighting in them, quieting them with His love, and cheering them on with joy.
For Middles (Tweens and Teens)
Make space for one-on-one conversations, whether in the car, while folding laundry, or during a late-night snack. Ask questions like, “What are you nervous about this year?” or “What’s something you want to get better at?”
This age doesn’t need lectures. They need presence. Whether they’re in public school, private school, or being educated at home, they need to be heard and reminded of who they are becoming.
Speak life into your children, calling out their strengths, growing faith, and demonstrated kindness. Remind them that they don’t have to wait to be older to make a difference. They can lead right now in how they speak, how they show up, and how they love.
For High School and College Students (and Mamas Letting Go)
If you’ve ever helped a kid get ready for their high school years or pack for college, you know the feeling. All of the activities. The lessening time at home. The tests and applications.
The store runs for twin XL sheets, the dorm room essentials checklist, and the quiet moments when your heart catches up to the change that’s in process and on the horizon. Whether you’ve walked that road yourself or are just beginning the journey, you’re not alone.
Some moms mark the transition of their children into young adults with long talks, more structure, or big, dramatic goodbyes. Others might choose something quieter, like insecure silence, handwritten notes, a whispered prayer, or a simple verse sent every now and then.
Our kids might not always respond, but we can trust that the truth is taking root. We can pray that in all their ways, they’ll acknowledge Him and believe He’ll make their paths clear, one step at a time.
And when my mama heart aches or worry creeps in regarding my child’s future, I remind myself: the Lord is guarding their going out and coming in. Even when they’re far from my hands, they are never far from His.
Don’t Let the Chaos in You Match the Chaos Around You
Back-to-school is a season of transition, but you don’t have to lose yourself in it. You don’t have to crumble trying to keep everyone else standing. You can breathe, thrive, and stay grounded, even when the calendar is full.
You’re probably doing better than you think.
You don’t need to know everything.
You just need to keep showing up, asking for help, and letting grace carry the rest.
If you need help staying centered in this season, I wrote The 28-Day Prayer Journey to walk you through a rhythm of reconnecting with God. It’s not about guilt. It’s about grace, simple structure, gentle invitation, and a way to return to peace when the world feels loud.
Grab a copy of The 28-Day Prayer Journey right here.