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

I often wish I was “perfect.” As I dream of what this must look like, I imagine the mom I want to be — the mom who wakes up before the kids, reads her Bible, has breakfast ready, dishes put away, and a load of laundry going all before the day truly begins. But just as quickly as that dream begins, I roll over in bed, groan, and press the snooze button… over and over again.

I am not who I would love to paint myself to be. I’ve shooed my kids into the other room. I’ve told them to turn on the TV or to entertain themselves. When I finally drag myself out of bed, I muster up the energy to make coffee — but Morning Time? School? “Just give me a second,” as I inwardly yell at all the “should dos.”

Fast forward to bedtime, when I promise myself tomorrow isn’t going to be like this. Yet, I get stuck in this pattern, only to repeat everything the next day. (Sounds a little like I’m starring as Bill Murray in Groundhog Day.)

I share this to assure those of you longing for practical wisdom in this area that I’m in the thick of it too. I am with you — learning, growing, and making changes as I seek to love my family, educate my children, and grow in Christ. Often, we know the right thing to do — it’s simply doing it that’s so difficult. Yet, as I share, please keep one key point in mind: 2 Corinthians 12:9 says God’s grace is sufficient for us. This doesn’t mean we don’t try to make necessary changes so we can serve our families better, but it does mean that the mornings that don’t go well — we can rest in Christ, knowing His mercies are new every morning. He knows we aren’t perfect. In fact, He knows this so well that He gave us a Savior who came to be strong where we are weak.

1. The Morning Starts the Night Before

This advice seems simple, but it was truly life-changing for me. Getting in the mindset of preparing for tomorrow tonight allows me to eliminate decision fatigue in the morning hours.

My family has much better mornings when I prep and clean our schoolroom, set out Morning Time supplies on the table, and make sure we have everything we need for lessons. It helps when I’ve picked out my clothes, gotten the coffee pot ready, and made a simple breakfast plan. I also have better days when I jot down my to-do list the night before — even if it’s messy.

Where this can go wrong:
After a long day with my kids, I don’t want to think about tomorrow. I want pajamas, a warm blanket, and a show or a good book.

A practical solution:
Set a reminder alarm — and here’s the key: don’t ignore it. Once it goes off, set a 15-minute timer and get to work. Speed-clean the schoolroom, prep breakfast, lay out clothes, and write a quick list. When the timer ends, you’re either done, or you’ve got momentum to finish up. But try not to go over 25 minutes — your rest still matters too.

2. Take Care of You

This one’s basic but powerful: hygiene. Shower, wash your face, get dressed, throw on mascara — whatever helps you feel like you. When you feel put together, you’re more likely to be productive.

Where this can go wrong:
Timing. Waking up before the kids feels impossible. And it’s often the last thing we get to.

A practical solution:
Shower at night and make it part of your wind-down routine. Or try waking up just two minutes earlier each day until you’ve built in a 15–20-minute cushion. If you need to shower in the morning, prep an invitation to play the night before: pull out a toy or quiet activity your kids can do independently while you get ready. Bonus? This models healthy self-care and independence.

3. Take Five

Before your homeschool day begins, take five minutes to sip water or coffee and simply be. Pray. Read one verse. Give your soul something to hold onto. Throughout the day, build in more five-minute pockets — just like you would in an office job — to step away, reset, and fill your cup.

Where this can go wrong:
Forgetting. Or kids not respecting the pause.

A practical solution:
Set alarms and communicate clearly. Let your kids know when you’ll take breaks and what they can do during them. Make the breaks meaningful — a breath of fresh air, a quiet prayer, a stretch. They’re not wasted time. They’re essential fuel.

4. Make a Plan — But Not a Schedule

There’s a difference between a schedule and a routine. A schedule has fixed times. A routine is flexible order. And in homeschooling, routine wins every time.

Whether you wake up at 6:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m., follow the same rhythm: wake up, breakfast, Morning Time, math. Routines help kids know what to expect — without stressing about the clock.

Where this can go wrong:
Out-of-the-house commitments. Music lessons, co-op, appointments — they add times back in.

A practical solution:
Have a separate “outing day” routine. Move Morning Time to the afternoon. Use car time for audiobooks. Keep expectations realistic. Flexibility is your friend — so long as you have a plan to flex from.

5. Do Not Lean on Your Own Understanding

Proverbs 3:5–6 says:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths."

I often forget that I’m invited to step into God’s plan for my day — not invite Him into mine. Psalm 118:24 reminds me: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
I want to join God in what He’s doing. That might mean ditching my to-do list halfway through to snuggle a weepy toddler, or turning our math lesson into a trip to the grocery store. What does He have for us today?

Where this can go wrong:
Forgetting who the day belongs to.

A practical solution:
Build in time to refocus on God’s Word. Whether that’s in your “five-minute” pauses or your bedtime routine, refill your cup with truth. When we remember our “why,” we release the pressure of perfection and embrace grace.

We are not perfect — but we serve a God who is. Trust Him as you prep lessons, clean the schoolroom, and drag yourself out of bed (again). Some mornings will go beautifully. Some will fall flat. But if your heart is set on Christ, you’re doing the work that matters.

Where we are weak, He is strong.

Lara is a homeschool mom of two in West Texas. She is a graduate of Angelo State University with a B.A. in Mass Media with a focus in Journalism and a B.A. in German. She has a heart for sharing the gospel of Jesus to those near and far who have never heard his name. She blogs at Little School on Avondale and you can find her on Instagram and Facebook.