Something Restful, Something Beautiful, Something Reflective, and Something Fun: The Recipe for A Homeschool Mom’s Break
As a homeschooling mom, sometimes I’m tempted to not take a break. I can trick myself into thinking that because we are flexible with our time, we don’t need to take a full week off. But, that is a recipe for burn out, at least for me. It’s true what they say, “all work and no play”. Typically when I’ve worked too much and played too little (or vise versa…perhaps I need to focus on temperance more than I care to admit.) I start to get anxious and restless. This is true for school and breaks. I usually find that having some sort of formula for my break helps me feel accomplished and ready to jump back in. Usually that looks like doing something restful, reflective, beautiful, and fun.
Here are four gentle ways to spend your homeschool break, with practical ideas for each.
Something Restful
Let your body and mind rest in come capacity.
Sleep in if you’re able. I joked with a friend that I’m not sure what possessed me, now that I’m able to sleep, to get animals that wake with the sun but alas, my sleeping in days aren’t frequent. Move at a restful pace. Let the day unfold without a list. (or make a list if you need to, I need to make lists.)
You’ve spent weeks keeping time for everyone else, so now, give yourself the grace to stop keeping time and let your family be together. Rest might look like a morning spent reading in bed, an afternoon nap, or simply saying no to unnecessary plans. If you are able, perhaps find a sitter that can take your children for a bit one day to have , as Miss Mason puts it, “A half day in the field”.
Ideas for Rest:
Take a family “slow morning” with no alarms and a big breakfast.
Spend an afternoon reading in bed with a favorite book. (let your children build forts and read too)
Set aside one day for screens off, chores minimal, and quiet.
Go for a walk without a destination.
Plan an early bedtime and let candles or soft music mark the evening.
Rest is simple and should be restorative. It brings back the calm you need for the next term.
Something Beautiful
Seek out something that stirs your sense of wonder.
Visit an art museum, bring home a bouquet of grocery store flowers, or sit under a tree and watch the light shift through its leaves. Listen to music without multitasking. Bake bread just because it makes the house smell warm and alive.
Charlotte Mason believed that beauty is essential to the soul, and a break is the perfect time to fill your senses again with lovely things.
Ideas for Beauty:
Rearrange a small corner of your home, like your reading nook or homeschool table.
Display your children’s favorite art pieces from the term.
Visit a local art museum or botanical garden.
Choose a new piece of music or poem to listen to and sit quietly together.
Bake something lovely, like lemon cake or simple shortbread, and serve it on real dishes.
These small acts of beauty help reset the tone of the home, preparing both you and your children to step into the next term with renewed peace.
Something Reflective
Before pulling out next term’s plans, take a breath. Reflect on the term that has passed.
What lessons seemed to spark life in your children? Which subjects felt heavy or dry? Where did you see growth (in your self and your children).
This is a very informal process but it’s one that can make a huge difference in your home. Brew a cup of tea, take out your planner or journal, and write a few honest notes. Sometimes the smallest realizations, like how much your child loved reading aloud from The Wind in the Willows, or how copywork became a peaceful part of your mornings, offer the greatest insight into what is truly working.
A few prompts to get you started:
What surprised me this term?
What drained me?
What brought joy to our days?
What do I want to remember for next time?
Reflection is the first step toward a more peaceful, purposeful homeschool. (Implementation of that reflection is the second step)
Ideas for Reflection:
Journal about your favorite memories from the term.
Ask your children what they loved learning most.
Review your homeschool plans and mark what worked well.
Write a short gratitude list from this season.
Read over a favorite passage from Home Education or another Charlotte Mason text and note what stands out now.
Reflection brings clarity. It helps you carry forward what matters most.
Something Fun
Do something during your break with joy. Do something that reminds your family why you love being together.
Have a game night, a backyard picnic, a pajama day, or a spontaneous adventure. Step out of your usual rhythm and do something just because it’s delightful.
Fun has a way of knitting hearts together and reminding everyone that learning and laughter belong side by side.
Ideas for Fun:
Have a backyard picnic with your favorite snacks.
Host a pajama-and-pancake morning.
Take a nature day with journals and books. Don’t forget to bring some toys if you have littles and something fun for you.
Plan a day trip to a nearby town or nature trail.
Try a new craft or family game night.
Camp out in the living room and tell stories by flashlight.
Sometimes homeschooling can feel very not-fun. Stepping into being the fun mom again can be a release and joy.
A homeschool break can feel like you need to check boxes and catch up but sometimes we need to be unapologetic in how we spend our time. Take time to rest your body, notice beauty, reflect with honesty, and delight in the family life you are building.
Ask yourself, does spending today having a picnic near a creek serve my family better than running to Costco - or perhaps you need to find time for both but be in nature first?
It is all a balancing act, after all.
Happy Autumn Break, if you take one!
