This is a guest post contributed by Stephanie Radcliffe. You can learn more about Stephanie in her bio at the bottom of her post.

When we decided to home educate as a family, one of the first things I wrestled with—and honestly, still do—is that sometimes daunting feeling that “it’s all up to me.” You’ve probably heard the saying, “If mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.” Well, it also feels true that “if mama can’t get the routine ship sailing, ain’t nobody else going to go sailing that day either.” And sometimes, it just feels like my rudder is stalling out.

When the Routine Runs Dry

My personality thrives on excitement and change. I need newness to freshen up the mundane—but that can also feel exhausting. Sometimes, it seems like I have to reinvent the wheel every day or every week just to keep us all engaged.

A few weeks ago, I realized I was running on empty. Our morning time had grown so long that my kids were dreading it… and so was I. I hadn’t meant for it to be long, but since their attention spans weren’t matching my expectations, it was dragging. I wanted to do all the things—rich literature, beautiful poetry, Scripture, truth—and make it light, fun, engaging. But no one was having fun. We were tired. And by the time we got to language arts and math, the day had already worn us down.

So I stopped.

I took everything out and sat on it. I watched. I listened. I let things breathe.

The Life-Giving Power of a Blank Slate

As I observed our days, I began to see clearly—what was working, what wasn’t. Where my kids were frustrated or bored. Where I was. And I gave myself permission to stop, start again, and reassess. It may have looked like a bunch of mismatched moving parts on the outside, but on the inside, we were learning a rhythm that helped us thrive together.

I went back to my shelves, pulled out the curriculum I actually wanted to use, and started planning with fresh eyes. That simple act of switching things up breathed life into our days. And before I knew it, we were doing more than before—because it was light. Fresh. New.

10 Ways to “Spring Clean” Your Homeschool

Talk to other homeschool moms.
We need each other. Whether you’re in a rut or just craving perspective, ask other moms how they structure their days. I took pieces and parts of different routines and tried them out until I found what worked for us.
If it’s exhausting, take it out.
No, you can’t throw out math completely—but you can take a break or find a shorter lesson. I cut our morning time to 15–20 minutes. I swapped out books my kids didn’t enjoy. I added more read-alouds, composer studies, and coloring sheets. And I stopped forcing what clearly wasn’t serving us.
Ditch the checklist and try game schooling.
Some days, I toss the list entirely. One morning, we played a modified game of Quiddler and spelled sight words—that was reading for the day!
Try something new: a unit study or picture study.
We’ve set aside “normal” morning time in favor of deep dives into nature topics like snowflakes and sharks. It’s amazing how much energy comes from a change of focus.
Create theme days to anchor your week.
We’re experimenting with Music Monday, Truth Tuesday, Watercolor Wednesday, Poetry Thursday, and Fun Friday. It gives us something to look forward to, and structure without rigidity.
Rest when you need to.
If your body is telling you to stop, listen. Snuggle up with a book. Build a fort and pop some popcorn. Watch a documentary that ties into your learning. Rest is productive.
Take care of yourself.
Light your favorite candle. Go for a walk. Read something just for you. Add in movement and nourishment. Spring clean yourself, too.
Get outside.
There’s nothing like nature to hit the reset button. Whether it’s the woods, the beach, or your backyard, let the outdoors become your classroom for the day.
Observe and trust.
Watch your kids. Watch yourself. This isn’t just up to you—it’s up to them, too. Let their natural bents, curiosities, and even their boredom be your guide.
Prioritize togetherness.
Forget what you thought homeschool was “supposed” to look like. Let being together be the priority, and let your days flow from that.

A Mosaic in the Making

It doesn’t have to be perfectly fine-tuned. What works this month might not work next. Use your curriculum as a guide, not a law. Let yourself go where the wind blows. Trust that your children’s resistance can be a helpful signpost—and so can your own feelings.

That’s the beauty and freedom of homeschooling: we get to tailor it. We get to spring clean it. We get to reset when things get stale and follow the natural rhythms of our family.

So let’s toss the lie that says “If mama can’t sail the routine ship, no one can.” Let’s trust our children, trust the process, and trust the truth that learning is always happening.

You can breathe life into your sails again. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing it beautifully.

Hi. I’m Steph. Believer. Wife to Wes & Mamma to 4, ages 6 and under. Homeschool Mama. Coffer & Book Lover. Enneagram 4. Dreamer. Passionate About Authenticity. Content Creator. I love encouraging mamas to bring the Gospel into our homes in an intentional, rich, & meaningful way! I love all things learning through play, nature, & having a learning is living approach. I hope I can inspire you in your motherhood journey help you foster homes of rest, grace, & gentle learning rhythms that nurture your children’s spiritual development along the way. You can follow along with me on Instagram @storiesbeginathome.