D is for Diligence: The Secret Ingredient in Homeschooling

There are almost as many ways to homeschool as there are homeschooling families. Some gather on the couch with books in their laps, others sit at desks in a dedicated schoolroom, and still others learn at the kitchen table in between meals and laundry. Some follow unit studies, some prefer textbooks, and some take a more relaxed approach.

No matter your method, there’s one ingredient every homeschool family needs if they want to make it through: diligence.

Make a Commitment

We know this from everyday life: things don’t get done without commitment. The laundry won’t fold itself. Dinner won’t magically appear on the table. Our marriages don’t flourish without dedication.

Homeschooling works the same way. If you begin without a firm commitment, it will be easy to give up when challenges arise—or when that big yellow bus rolls past your window, whispering “it would be easier.”

Your commitment might be short-term (“we’re homeschooling through this year”), medium-term (“through 6th grade”), or all the way until graduation. Whatever it is, decide in your heart and write it down. That commitment will steady you when the road feels bumpy.

Remember, circumstances can change, and that’s okay. Sometimes God redirects us. But the diligence to “stick it out for this season” will give you the endurance and faith to keep going.

Set Start/Stop Dates and Vacations

One way to stay diligent is to create structure around your homeschool year. Just like the dishwasher or washing machine has a start and stop cycle, your school days and year benefit from a rhythm.

Grab your school calendar and mark vacation days first. (For our family, we based them on my husband’s schedule, and skipped a few public school “holidays.”) Then set an ending date. For us, that was the Friday before Memorial Day. From there, count back to make sure you’ll meet your state’s required days or hours and set your start date.

When you see the year laid out in advance, it’s easier to stay diligent—because you know where you’re headed.

Establish Start/Stop Times

In the same way, having clear daily start and stop times makes a difference.

If your school day starts at 9:00 AM, you know you can squeeze in morning devotions, exercise, or dinner prep beforehand. If school usually wraps up by 2:00 PM, you know you’ll have time to run errands, prep for church activities, or simply rest.

It also teaches your children responsibility. Work that isn’t finished during “school time” still needs to get done—yes, even in homeschooling, there’s such a thing as “homework”!

Dress for Success

I know, I know—you’ve probably heard this one before. But it really does help.

When you get up, shower, and put on clothes and shoes, you’re telling your brain (and your children): “We are ready for the day.”

It doesn’t mean you can’t have pajama days or “dress down” days when sickness hits or life gets messy. But a steady habit of preparing yourself for the day creates a routine and sets the tone for diligence. After all, homeschooling is more than casual—it’s a calling and responsibility.

Diligence Will Pay Off

Friend, don’t compare your homeschool to anyone else’s. They aren’t living your life or raising your children. God gave these children to you, and that makes you the most qualified person to teach them.

Be diligent. Make the commitment. Set your start/stop dates and times. Dress for success each morning. And most importantly, lean into the Lord for strength when you feel weary.

One day, you’ll look back—whether it’s after a year, or when your child walks across the stage at graduation—and you’ll see how your diligence, covered in God’s grace, has paid off.

Just Starting?

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