Homeschool Year Two: Our Rhythms & Priorities
After one year of homeschooling, we’re carrying forward less pressure, more flexibility, and a bigger focus on the rhythms that shape our family. Sharing what worked, what we’re changing, and the priorities guiding our second year.
We don’t come from generations of homeschoolers. We don’t have years of experience, a perfectly mapped-out plan, or a deep understanding of every curriculum option available. We are learning as we go.
And I’ve actually grown to really appreciate that.
I think sometimes homeschooling can feel overwhelming because there is so much information available and barely any parameters. There are endless curriculum choices, schedules, methods, philosophies, and opinions. It can feel like you need to have everything figured out before you even begin.
But after our first year, I’ve realized that homeschooling isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to learn alongside your kids.
It’s about paying attention. Adjusting. Trying something, realizing it doesn’t work, and changing course.
Every year of homeschooling could look different for our family. We may choose to homeschool through our kids’ entire education, or we may not. And I’m genuinely okay with that.
For us, this season is less about following a perfect formula and more about creating a lifestyle that fits our family.
Our goal isn’t to raise kids who simply know how to check boxes or memorize information. Our homeschool philosophy is centered around raising capable, creative kids—kids who know how to think, solve problems, pursue their interests, and become confident in who they are.
We want to nurture curiosity. We want them to learn how to work hard, communicate well, serve others, and develop the confidence to chase the things they’re passionate about.
A huge reason we chose homeschooling was because it allows our education to fit into our lifestyle instead of our lifestyle revolving around education.
As entrepreneurs, flexibility, freedom, travel, and family time are things we deeply value. We wanted the opportunity to slow down, see our kids learning up close, and create a childhood that isn’t constantly rushed from one thing to the next.
Finding What Works
One of the biggest things I’ve learned after our first year is that homeschooling isn’t about finding the perfect curriculum.
It’s about finding something that works for your family.
Something you enjoy teaching. Something your kids connect with. Something that fits your season of life.
Last year, we used The Good & The Beautiful curriculum, and I really enjoyed having a guide to follow. I need the accountability to keep me focused each day. But I also learned quickly that I needed the freedom to adjust on any particular day that it wasn’t a good fit.
Some days we sat down and completed the lessons exactly as written. Other days, I would take the main concept and expand on it in a way that felt more natural.
Maybe we spent more time discussing something they were curious about. Maybe we turned a lesson into a hands-on activity. Maybe we simply moved on because life happened (we didn’t finish the last 15 lessons before summer).
And that’s one of my favorite parts of homeschooling…the ability to notice where your kids are and meet them there. The ability to control your own schedule.
Focusing on Rhythms Over Rigid Schedules
Going into year two, one of my biggest focuses is creating rhythms instead of chasing a perfect schedule.
I’m less interested in filling every hour of our day and more interested in creating simple, consistent anchors that help our home function well.
One of those anchors is what we call our “Daily Five.”
Before school even begins, we start our day with five simple things we want our kids to learn to take ownership of:
Brush teeth
Do hair
Get dressed
Pick up their room/make their bed
Spend time with God
(I share our printable toddler routine chart with all of the visual cards we use here.)
Are they always excited about completing their Daily Five? Absolutely not. I have one child who still needs a daily reminder that this is, in fact, part of our morning routine. 😂 But I also know that these habits take time to build, and my hope is that with consistency, they’ll eventually become second nature.
The goal isn’t perfection.
The goal is consistency.
These small daily habits are teaching our kids so much more than just how to complete a checklist. They’re learning responsibility, independence, discipline, and how to care for themselves and the space around them.
A rhythm we’re adding this year is morning basket time for my youngest.
Last year, I struggled with figuring out how to include her while teaching the older kids. She wanted to be involved (which I love), but I didn’t always know how to balance her need for attention and connection while also staying focused on the older kids’ lessons.
This year, I’m shifting my mindset.
Instead of seeing her interruptions as something getting in the way of our homeschool, I’m trying to create a place where she feels like she belongs in it.
It can look like listening to a story on her Yoto (favorite cards), doing a coloring activity, flipping through books, or just sitting nearby and participating in her own way.
More importantly, I hope she learns that she has a place in our family’s rhythms too.
Building Capable Kids Through Everyday Skills
Something else I’m focusing on this year is skill development.
Some of the most valuable learning happening in our home doesn’t come from a workbook. It happens through everyday life.
With our kids being close in age (6, 4, and 3), we’ve chosen to keep the two older kids together for now rather than separating everything by grade level. This allows us to learn together while still meeting them individually where they are.
A big piece of this has been teaching our kids that they are capable and that they have an important role in our family.
This year, we’re implementing a monthly chore rotation where each child has one age-appropriate responsibility they’re learning to own. The goal isn’t just to get help around the house (although that’s definitely a bonus 😉)—it’s to teach them that being part of a family means contributing.
Depending on their age and ability, chores might look like:
Setting the dinner table
Sweeping/mopping
Helping unload or load the dishwasher
Taking out the trash
Folding towels or sorting laundry
Wiping down surfaces
Helping prepare meals
Obviously, they are still little, and these things don’t always happen perfectly (or without reminders), but that’s part of the learning process.
I want our kids to leave our home knowing how to contribute, how to work hard, how to care for others, and how to trust in their own ability to figure things out.
Choosing Connection Over Constant Activity
Another big focus for us this year is actually doing less when it comes to outside activities.
Not because activities are bad, we genuinely love fun experiences, field trips, sports, and opportunities for our kids to explore their interests. There are so many wonderful things we could fill our calendar with: music lessons, basketball, dance, gymnastics, extracurricular homeschool classes, and the list goes on.
But I’ve realized that in this season of life, more isn’t always better.
One of the biggest reasons we chose homeschooling was for the flexibility and freedom it provides. We wanted a slower, more home-centered lifestyle where we have margin to be together, pursue interests, and enjoy our days without constantly feeling rushed.
The reality is, even good things can become too much when there are too many of them. A full calendar can quickly turn into exhausted kids, a tired mom, and losing some of the very reasons we chose this lifestyle in the first place.
So this year, we’re being intentional about protecting our margin and prioritizing what matters most.
One of those things is consistent relationships and friendships.
I’ve found that one of the hardest parts of this season of life is actually making time to connect. Trying to coordinate a simple play date can somehow turn into weeks (or months) of texting back and forth trying to find a time that works for everyone.
So instead of squeezing friendships into the margins, we want to make them part of our rhythm.
Our goal is to create consistent connection, weekly or biweekly opportunities to gather with friends.
Nothing complicated. No perfectly planned activities.
Just simple things like meeting at a park, gathering at someone’s home, bringing our own lunches, and letting the kids play.
I also love the idea of using these times as opportunities to learn from one another. Not through another structured activity, but by simply sharing the things we already love and are passionate about.
Maybe someone teaches the kids how to garden, cook a simple recipe, care for animals, or leads a creative project. The goal isn’t to create another thing to add to the calendar, it’s to build community.
It’s giving our kids opportunities to learn from different people, discover new interests, and see the unique gifts and passions of those around them.
And it’s just as valuable for the moms.
Having consistent connection with other women in the same season of life matters. It gives us a place to encourage one another, share the realities of raising kids, and simply do life together.
Of course, we’ll still have adventures, field trips, and fun outings. I genuinely love those moments. The chaos of loading everyone up, exploring somewhere new, and making memories together.
But what keeps us consistent isn’t the big plans.
It’s the simple ones.
The easy yeses.
The low-pressure moments where we’re just together.
Moving Forward
We’re still learning. We’re still adjusting. We’re still figuring out what works best for our family.
And that’s the beauty of this journey.
For us, homeschooling isn’t about creating the perfect school day or checking every box.
It’s about creating a home where our kids have space to grow, explore, contribute, and become the people God created them to be.
More than anything, we want to be intentional about stewarding the kids God has entrusted us with, helping them discover their gifts, grow in wisdom, love others well, and build a strong foundation for whatever He has planned for them.
