27 Coping Tips for Homeschooling Parents

Having a rough time and need some coping tips, dear homeschooling parent? We all have those days. You know the ones I mean. The ones where you don’t know how to cope as a homeschooling parent, you begin to doubt yourself and wonder whether this was such a good idea. It’s those days where you want to stay in your pajamas, ignore your phone, let your kids watch a few movies and just make the world stop turning for a little while. It’s normal! Homeschooling changes you as a parent, and that’s a good thing. It’s okay if it’s not always easy and comfortable.

Homeschooling parents also have tough days

As a homeschooler, you may have days where you feel like the whole routine is just so relentless. The kids are always around (if they’re little) and while trying to do and be everything all the time, you forget what your thoughts, hobbies, and plans are. Feeling a little burned out?

Read on for some helpful coping tips for you, the brave and determined homeschooling parent.

27 Coping Tips for Homeschooling Parents

Get help! Connect with other homeschoolers. You cannot do it alone.
Give yourself mini-breaks. Go walk outside. Breathe. Have a cuppa.
Routine naps are a must – good for children and adults! Or at least quiet time.
Appreciate the little things in life. The little things are actually the big things.
Practice gratitude daily, and teach it to your children. Contentment begets joy, even when things are hard.
Read encouraging notes to yourself. Get this printable.
If there’s no one you know in person who can encourage you, connect online.
Give yourself and the kids a day off now and then. Take a break from the routine.
Sometimes, it’s good to just go into the garden and weed. Plant some flowers and put them in your windowsill.
Remember to laugh every day.
Go see a movie. It’s totally worth it.
Prep breakfast the night before and sleep in for once. Reward your kids for giving you an extra hour’s sleep in peace.
Don’t compare with other parents and families and children. It’s never good for you.
If you are crashing and burning – seriously, take a proper break. Get help. Take a few things off of the schedule.
Give your kids chores, if you haven’t already. Let everyone do their part to help out. You are not supposed to do everything yourself!
Put on some uplifting music and dance like nobody’s watching.
Give time for yourself to do something FOR YOU. Even if it’s just reading a book a few pages a day. Coloring. Knitting. Crochet. Start small.
Drink more water and meal prep – one less thing to think about in the week!
Get out of the house, even if it’s just for a walk, or to get some sunshine.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Be confident in your love for your children, and in your best efforts to care for them.
Tell yourself, “I am sacredly able and I CAN do this.” Seek support from those who will tell you the same.
Help someone else. Bake cookies, make encouraging cards to share with strangers. Random acts of kindness are so much fun!
Play an offline game. Think Monopoly, cards, skittles, board games.
Take screen breaks. NO emails. For a few days, or one day, or even just a few hours. Be present with yourself. Be present with your children. The internet and the world can wait. Your kids are everything and once they’ve grown up you will regret being more obsessed with Facebook likes and emails when your child wanted to show you something they made. Ask awesome grandparents, they’ll tell you.
Receive your children’s love. Give them time and attention during which they can hug you, cuddle you, kiss you and tell you how much they love you. Listen to their laughter, look into their eyes and hold them. Enjoy how important they make you feel when they are little. And respect their growing independence with loving guidance as they grow up.
Your child loves you unconditionally. You’re amazing. You’re doing important work. Keep going!
Remember why you homeschool. Your why will get you through the hard moments. When you have positive moments that make you feel, “THIS is why I do it!”, write them down so you can look back on it later. Your kids will enjoy having something to look back on as well.

This list gives you plenty to work with. On any given day, doing only one of the things on this list can help you reconnect with yourself, take a breather and feel a little bit saner when your kids start crying, whining and acting like the world just ended. Yup, my kids do it too!

BONUS COPING TIP for homeschooling parents

If you’re really serious about surviving on more than coffee and snatched breaks, here’s a good tip. Choose three of the above items on the list and implement them daily. To make it easier, choose activities that you could do within a minimum of 5 minutes.

For example, I’m NOT a morning person. I’d hoped that having kids would magically make me one, but alas, it didn’t happen. I like sleep and I like quiet in the morning. No conversation. I find it very difficult to be up hours before my family to get quiet time alone, so I settled for something that is much more achievable for me. The three morning activities I try to do daily before I have to start the day are stretching exercises, prayers and affirmations (focusing on positive truths). At a minimum, I force myself to at least spend 5 minutes stretching because I can do the other two items while I stretch and moving my body before I start the day makes a huge difference mentally and physically.

For you, your three activities might be something like coffee, taking a walk, and reading a chapter of something inspiring or listening to music. Whatever you choose, be sure it’s something that you KNOW will make you feel good. Owning your morning before the day’s demands call on you can make a major difference to how you cope with the rest of your family at breakfast.

For more examples on how to start your day right, read Hal Elrod’s The Miracle Morning. There are different versions of this book to suit your current season in life.

What are your favorite coping tips as a homeschooling parent? Share the post and comment below. Every parent always welcomes some support and encouragement!