When You Feel Like You’re Falling Behind as a Mom (But You’re Not)

When You Feel Like You’re Falling Behind as a Mom (But You’re Not)


Have you ever ended the day feeling like you didn’t quite measure up?

Like somehow… other moms are doing this better than you?

More organized. More patient. More present. More something.

And meanwhile, you’re just trying to keep up.

If that’s you, I want you to know—you’re not alone. And you’re not failing.

Constant Comparison to Other Moms

Comparison has a quiet way of sneaking in.

Sometimes it looks like scrolling through social media and seeing beautifully organized homeschool rooms, peaceful morning baskets, and children who seem perfectly attentive.

Other times, it’s more subtle—watching another mom in your circle and thinking:

She’s so much better at this than I am.

You start to measure yourself:

  • Your homeschool vs. hers
  • Your home vs. hers
  • Your patience vs. hers
  • Your spiritual leadership vs. hers

And without even realizing it, you begin to feel like you’re falling short.

But here’s what we often forget:

You’re comparing your real, everyday life to someone else’s highlight reel—or even just a small glimpse of their story.

You don’t see their hard days.
Their doubts.
Their struggles.

Comparison doesn’t tell the truth—it distorts it.

Overwhelm from Daily Responsibilities

Motherhood is not just one job—it’s many.

You’re:

  • making meals
  • managing schedules
  • teaching (especially in homeschool life)
  • caring for emotional needs
  • cleaning, organizing, planning

And the list never really ends.

By the time the day is over, you’re exhausted… but somehow still feel like there’s more you should have done.

There’s little space left to:

  • sit quietly
  • think clearly
  • spend time being spiritually filled

And that constant pouring out without being poured into?

It leads to deep overwhelm.

Not just physical—but emotional and spiritual.

Guilt That You’re Not Doing “Enough” or Doing It “Right”

This is the quiet pressure so many moms carry.

You second-guess your choices:

  • Should I be using a different curriculum?
  • Am I spending enough time with each child?
  • Was I too impatient today?
  • Am I doing this the “right” way?

It feels like there’s always a better method, a better system, a better version of you that you just haven’t reached yet.

So you carry this low, constant guilt.

Like you’re always a step behind where you should be.

Always needing to be:

  • more organized
  • more intentional
  • more patient
  • more everything

But here’s the truth that often gets lost:

There is no perfect formula for motherhood.

Why These Feelings Run So Deep

These struggles—comparison, overwhelm, guilt—they don’t come from nowhere.

They’re often rooted in something deeper:

A belief that your worth is tied to your performance.

A belief that if you could just do more or be better, you would finally feel peace.

But that kind of peace never lasts.

Because it’s built on pressure… not truth.

What If You’re Not Falling Behind at All?

What if the problem isn’t that you’re failing…

What if it’s that you’re measuring yourself by the wrong standard?

God never asked you to:

  • be like every other mom
  • run your home like someone else
  • carry everything perfectly

He simply asked you to be faithful with what He’s given you.

Your children.
Your home.
Your season.

Not hers.

Yours.

God’s View of You Changes Everything

When you begin to see yourself the way God sees you, something shifts.

You’re not:

  • behind
  • failing
  • “not enough”

You are:

  • chosen for your children
  • equipped for your role
  • seen in every hidden moment

Even the ones no one else notices.

Even the ones that feel small.

You Don’t Have to Carry This Alone

If you’ve been stuck in comparison…
If you feel overwhelmed and stretched thin…
If guilt has been quietly weighing you down…

I created something just for you.

✨ “You Are Not ‘Just a Mom’: 5 Truths God Says About Your Role”

This gentle, Scripture-rooted mini devotional will help you:

  • release comparison
  • quiet the pressure to “do more”
  • reconnect with your identity in Christ
  • find peace in the role God has given you

It’s like a deep breath for your heart in the middle of a full life.

👉 Download your free devotional here

A Final Word for Today

You are not behind.

You are not failing.

And you are not alone in feeling this way.

You are a mom doing meaningful, eternal work—even on the messy, overwhelming, imperfect days.

And that?

That matters more than you know.

You Are Not “Just a Mom”: When Motherhood Feels Invisible, Heavy, and Small

 

You Are Not “Just a Mom”: When Motherhood Feels Invisible, Heavy, and Small

There are moments in motherhood that feel quiet… unseen… even forgotten.

Not the big milestone moments – the ones we take pictures of and share – but the ordinary, everyday pouring out of ourselves that no one seems to notice.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Does what I’m doing even matter?”- this is for you.

Feeling Invisible and Unappreciated

There was a season when I felt this deeply.

Gary was gone all day at work, and I was home with little ones – sweet, precious, but not exactly great conversationalists. Most days, I didn’t talk to another adult at all.

And no one was saying, “You’re doing a good job.”

Even when Gary came home, he couldn’t fully see what my day had been like or how I was feeling. Not because he didn’t care – but because it’s hard to understand something you’re not in the middle of.

So I carried that quiet weight:
Unseen. Unnoticed. Unappreciated.

I felt like I had almost disappeared from the outside world… like I had stepped out of society for a while.

Looking back, I realize something I didn’t understand then:
I needed connection. I needed a friend or two to do life with.

But more than that – I needed to remember that just because my work was unseen, it was not insignificant.

Believing the Lie That You Are “Just a Mom”

I used to say it without even thinking:

“I’m just a mom.”

Maybe you’ve said that too.

I think, for me, it came from comparison. I had been a teacher before. That role felt measurable, visible, and valued.

Motherhood? It felt… ordinary.

Unimpressive.

Like I should be doing something more – something that required a special skill or brought in an income or earned recognition.

But here’s the truth I didn’t see then:

The world measures worth one way.
God measures it another.

And motherhood? It is not small work.

It is shaping hearts.
It is building lives.
It is eternal.

Losing Your Identity in Motherhood

For a long time, I didn’t just feel like a mom… I was a mom.

That was my identity.

A homeschool mom, specifically.

And somewhere along the way, I even placed that role above being a wife. I had to come back to the foundation of it all – my marriage, my relationship with my husband.

But even deeper than that, I had to wrestle with this question:

Who am I, really?

Because when everything revolves around meeting everyone else’s needs, it’s easy to lose sight of yourself.

I would sometimes look at other women and feel… less than.

They seemed more polished.
More accomplished.
More put together.

And yet, deep in my heart?

I loved being a mom.

That was never the problem.

The problem was that I had forgotten where my true identity came from.

The Root of It All: A Misplaced Identity

When we feel invisible…
When we believe we’re “just a mom”…
When we lose ourselves in the daily giving…

It often traces back to one thing:

We’ve forgotten who God says we are.

We start defining ourselves by:

  • what we accomplish
  • what others notice
  • how we compare

Instead of anchoring ourselves in truth.

What God Says About Your Role (This Changes Everything)

What if your role as a mother wasn’t random?

What if it wasn’t lesser?

What if it was… chosen?

Chosen children.
Chosen mother.
Chosen assignment.

Not accidental. Not insignificant.

Intentional.

When you begin to see your motherhood through that lens, everything shifts:

  • The unseen moments matter
  • The ordinary becomes meaningful
  • The quiet sacrifices feel purposeful

You Were Never “Just” a Mom

There is no “just” about what you do.

You are:

  • nurturing hearts
  • shaping character
  • creating a home
  • pointing your children toward truth

That is sacred work.

Even on the days when no one thanks you.
Even on the days when it feels small.

If You’ve Been Feeling This Way… I Want to Help You

If you’re tired of feeling unseen…
If you’ve believed the lie that you’re “just a mom”…
If you’re longing to reconnect with who you are in Christ…

I created something just for you.

✨ “You Are Not ‘Just a Mom’: 5 Truths God Says About Your Role”

It’s a gentle, Scripture-rooted mini devotional designed to help you:

  • feel seen and known
  • reconnect with your identity in Christ
  • release comparison and pressure
  • remember that your work truly matters

This is the encouragement I wish I had in those early years.

👉 Download your free copy here

Final Encouragement

You may feel invisible right now…

But you are not unseen.

Not by God.

And not in the story He is writing through your life and your children.

What you are doing matters—more than you know.

Letting Go of the Public School Mindset (Again) – Safe Haven News December

Here we are in December! This year is going so fast!

❄️ Letting Go of the Public School Mindset (Again)

Dear Homeschool Mama,

It’s December—the season of glittering lights, cozy moments, and… unrealistic expectations. While the world slows down to sip cocoa and sing carols, many homeschool moms are wrestling with guilt:

  • “We didn’t finish the unit study.”
  • “We’re behind in math.”
  • “Other kids are taking tests and getting grades… are mine learning enough?”

If that’s you, take a deep breath with me. Let’s talk honestly about something many of us thought we had already dealt with:

🏫 The Public School Mindset… It Sneaks Back In

Even if you’ve been homeschooling for years, that old mindset can creep in. You know the one:

  • Every subject must be taught separately.
  • Learning must happen on a strict timeline.
  • Kids must stay “on grade level.”
  • A productive day looks like completed worksheets and tests.

Here’s the truth: we are not running mini public schools in our homes.
We’re nurturing souls, building relationships, and cultivating a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. That doesn’t always look like a classroom—and it shouldn’t.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
—Romans 12:2 (NIV)

🕯️ December Is the Perfect Time to Release

December is a holy month—a time when everything in the world slows down… except our own expectations. This is the perfect time to:

  • Lay down pressure and pick up peace.
  • Replace rigid schedules with meaningful moments.
  • Let go of “shoulds” and embrace “enough”.

You don’t have to prove your homeschool is working with a perfect December.
You don’t have to turn your home into a Pinterest-worthy classroom.
You don’t have to meet anyone else’s expectations.

You get to create a lifestyle of learning that fits your family. That’s the gift of homeschooling.

🎁 A Homeschool Mama’s December Reset:

Here are 5 simple ways to renew your mindset this month:

  1. Take a “school break” and call it connection. Bake, decorate, read, rest—and count it all as learning.
  2. Write a homeschool mission statement—and read it when doubt creeps in.
  3. Celebrate what you’ve accomplished—not what’s undone. Make a list. You’ve done more than you think.
  4. Let your kids’ curiosity lead. One spark of interest is worth more than a month of forced lessons.
  5. Remind yourself daily: “I’m not behind—I’m on a different path.” Say it out loud if you have to.

Mama, your homeschool doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s.
Especially not a school system you chose to walk away from.
Let this December be the time you reclaim freedom—and rest in the knowledge that God is guiding your steps.

“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs… You will be like a well-watered garden.”
—Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)

🌟Here are some wonderful ways to add sparkle and creativity to your homeschool during December!

🌟And for that ever elusive copywork that we’re always searching for, here’s a workbook that is chock-full of copywork for Christmas!

Help your students get in the Christmas spirit while they’re learning more about the holiday and practicing their writing skills! There are so many benefits of copywork, so take advantage of the joy and excitement of Christmas to make learning more fun as they encounter what others have said about Christmas through the years.

In this Copywork Workbook they will find quotes that are heartwarming, funny, poignant, and inspiring. They will find stories that reveal the true meaning of Christmas. They will read about the events that happened at the first Christmas. And as they copy these words, they will take the meaning into their own hearts and find a new appreciation of what Christmas is really all about. They may get a whole new perspective of giving and the importance of family.

🌟12 Days of Christmas Books ~ Christmas Picture Book Activities for All Ages

Go on a Christmas adventure with us based on 12 classic Christmas picture books!

During this online unit, we will go on rabbit trails of discovery about everything Christmas. We will find ways to learn by experiencing parts of the book through arts and crafts.

The Picture It: A Christmas Picture Book Study course is 12 days of picture book study and includes:

  • Literature
  • Language Arts
  • Science
  • Nature Study
  • Art
  • Music, and
  • Christmas fun!

With over 12 days of lessons, this is the perfect curriculum for those crazy days between the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

And, the best part? It’s for all ages! So, give all your students a fun curriculum for the holidays!

https://www.hidethechocolate.com/christmas-picture-book-activities-for-all-ages/?affcode=168584_0kacbufo

I also have a coupon code for 20% off that you can use on any product from Literary Adventures for Kids. For anything you order, use the coupon code SAFEHAVEN.

Freebie Corner

🐑👼🏼✨ Here’s a freebie that I created to help you keep Christ at the center of Christmas without adding anything to your already full plate. The Simple and Sacred Christmas Countdown: Keep Jesus First in Five Minutes a Day.

Christmas doesn’t have to feel rushed, overwhelming, or packed with pressure. This 12-day countdown gives your family simple, meaningful moments that gently point your hearts back to Christ—without crafts, chaos, or complicated prep.

This kid-friendly countdown helps your family keep Jesus at the center of Christmas with one short scripture, one simple action, and one gentle conversation prompt each day. Even babies and toddlers can join in with easy, age-appropriate engagement ideas. Create a calm, Christ-focused holiday—right from your living room, in just 5 minutes a day.

This freebie is included in a bundle. 

Ready for a calmer, Christ-centered Christmas? 🎨💛
I’m partnering in the Creative Christ-Centered Christmas Celebration, a 5-day event full of Scripture-based creative projects + devotionals… all happening inside a friendly community!

You can get my Christmas Copywork Workbook and tons of other Christmas freebies in this bundle.

Inside, you’ll find things like:
✨ Short video devotionals
✨ Bible journaling lessons
✨ Scripture art + printables
✨ Peace-filled Advent practices
✨ Procreate tutorials and tools
✨ Creative faith projects
…and so much more!

I’ll send you full details soon, but here’s what you need to know now:
👉 You’ll get FREE access through a 7-day trial
👉 That trial is best activated on Nov. 29 or 30
👉 The Celebration runs Dec. 1–5 only

Join the group HERE for free to get access to the bundle.

More Freebies

✨🎁🥰 If your homeschool days feel like fights instead of fun, get this free checklist of ways to make learning more fun for the whole family.

🎄🎁🌟 This is a great idea for Christmas presents with educational value. Board games that are educational and FUN!

And here’s a list of Science gifts for 5-year-olds

Here are some Christmas Sensory Bin ideas

This is a list of freebies from  Literary Adventures for Kids

Read this post to find out about a  Christmas Book Advent Countdown on the cheap

Raising Young Entrepreneurs in Your Homeschool by Safe Haven Homeschooling

It’s fun to have Christmas traditions in your family. This is one of ours:
Chef Mickey’s Breakfast Pizza

My family has made this for many of our Christmas breakfasts. We all really like it!

I hope your family likes it too.

🥞 Chef Mickey’s Breakfast Pizza (Disney Parks Copycat)

Servings: About 6–8 slices
Prep time: ~5 min • Cook time: 10–12 min

Ingredients

  • 1 12″ precooked pizza crust (e.g. Boboli)
  • ½ cup mozzarella, coarsely shredded
  • ½ cup provolone, coarsely shredded
  • 1 cup cheddar, coarsely shredded
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup heavy cream (or half‑and‑half)
  • Salt & pepper, to taste
  • Optional: ~½ cup chopped, cooked bacon (or swap with sausage/ham)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 °F (190 °C)
  2. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet or pizza pan.
  3. Combine cheeses: In a medium bowl, mix mozzarella, provolone, and cheddar.
  4. Mix eggs & cream: In another bowl, whisk eggs with cream (or half‑and‑half), plus salt and pepper.
  5. (Optional) Stir in cooked bacon bits.
  6. Assemble: Quickly combine egg mixture with cheese so it doesn’t clump, then pour/spread evenly over crust
  7. Bake 10–12 minutes, until set, bubbly, and golden brown on top
  8. Slice and enjoy while hot!

🔧 Tips & Variations

  • For extra eggy texture, scramble the eggs first, chill briefly, then stir into cream before combining with cheese
  • Try a multigrain crust or go gluten‑free/keto with cauliflower crust
  • Customize the toppings—add sausage, ham, peppers, or mushrooms for extra flavor

Boost Immunity with Elderberry & Vitamin D

Winter months often bring more time indoors and less sun exposure, which can lower your vitamin D levels—weakening your immune system. To naturally support your health:

  • Take a daily vitamin D3 supplement (especially if you’re in a northern climate).
  • Use elderberry syrup or gummies to help fight off colds and flu—elderberries are rich in antioxidants and have antiviral properties.
  • Add garlic, ginger, and raw honey to your diet for extra immune support.

Also, make warm herbal teas with echinacea, cinnamon, or lemon balm for comfort and wellness all season long.

If there’s anything I can help you with, just reach out to me.

If you would like to homeschool your kids with more freedom and less public school thinking, I would be glad to talk with you about it.

To book a 15 minute call with me just go to:
https://calendly.com/safehavenhomeschool

 If you have a friend who would like to read this newsletter, please pass it on!

Please come back next month when we’ll be talking about why many homeschool families have lots of children.

With peace and purpose,
Penney Douglas
Safe Haven Homeschooling

https://www.safehavenhomeschool.com/safe-haven-homeschooling-2/ – Resources from Safe Haven Homeschooling

My books on Amazon

Curriculum I’ve created with a Charlotte Mason twist plus other conventional types of curriculum

E-course I created – The Basics of Learning and Homeschooling

Coaching Course I created – Also called The Basics of Learning and Homeschooling – I take you through the course and do a coaching call with you each month

My shop for homeschool merch, t-shirts, mugs, notebooks, phone covers, and much more!

linktr.ee/penneydouglas – All the places you can find me!

Changed By Love – My original Blog about Homeschooling, Family, Faith, and Alternative News

My YouTube Channel – Safe Haven Homeschooling Channel – Homeschool Encouragement for Newbies and Burnt-out veterans, Family projects, Relationship Building, and Interviews with Homeschool Experts

My Substack – Where I share posts with a rich blend of educational insight, spiritual encouragement, and practical wisdom to help families embrace homeschooling as a lifestyle—not just a school alternative.

Interview about Homeschooling with Ramona Trevino of Blossoms of My Life Radio

Interview about Refined By Fire – Our Family’s Journey with Ramona Trevino of Blossoms of My Life Radio
Copyright © 2025 Safe Haven Homeschooling, All rights reserved.

Homeschool Burnout Got You Down? – Safe Haven News November

It’s so good to see you here at Safe Haven again!

I hope your family is doing well. How is homeschooling going for you?

Are you feeling some signs of burnout setting in?

I have an encouraging message for you today.

🕯️ When the Days Get Darker: Fighting Burnout with Light and Truth

Dear Homeschool Mama,

As November rolls in and the days grow shorter, something happens in the hearts of many homeschool moms.

At first, we think we’re just tired. We tell ourselves, “I need to go to bed earlier,” or “I just need to get more organized.” But deep down, something heavier lingers. The early fall energy fades. The schoolbooks lose their shine. The to-do lists get longer while our joy feels smaller.

This, dear friend, is what we often call burnout—and you’re not alone if you’re feeling it.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
—Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

🌒 The Signs of Burnout

Sometimes burnout creeps in quietly:

  • You dread starting the homeschool day.
  • You feel resentful of your responsibilities.
  • You question your ability to keep going.
  • You’re constantly exhausted—even when you’ve had sleep.
  • You feel like you’re failing, even though you’re doing your best.

But here’s the truth: burnout is not failure. It’s a signal. A holy whisper saying, “Slow down. Come back to Me. Let there be light again.”

🕯️ Light in the Darkness

When your homeschool days feel dark, remember: you were not meant to be the light. You were meant to walk in the light—guided by the One who never grows weary.

Here are a few ways to bring light back into your homeschool heart:

1. Start your day with the Word, not the worry.

Even five minutes in Scripture can reset your soul.

2. Simplify wherever you can.

What can you pause, drop, or adjust? This is your homeschool—you have permission to pivot.

3. Invite beauty back in.

Play worship music. Light a candle. Read poetry. Take a nature walk. These small things restore weary hearts.

4. Talk to someone who gets it.

Another homeschool mom, a mentor, or your spouse—don’t carry the heaviness alone.

5. Let grace lead.

God doesn’t measure your homeschool by output. He sees the love you pour in.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
—John 1:5 (NIV)

💡 Light-Filled Encouragements for This Month:

  • Write down one thing that’s going well each day.
  • Choose one verse to meditate on this week.
  • Ask God, “Where do I need more light?”—and listen.
  • Remind yourself: burnout is not the end; it’s an invitation to rest and realign.

You don’t have to do everything. You only need to walk with the One who carries everything.
Let this November be a time of returning to the Light—and watching the darkness lose its grip.

Here is a free printable of Scriptures for Weary Homeschool Moms.

Another thing you can do to bring back the light is to make homeschool FUN!!! And I have some exciting ways you can do that right HERE as you’re homeschooling through November and celebrating Thanksgiving.

This Thanksgiving season, you might want to get this Gratitude Journal for your older students. This is a Gratitude and Listening Prayer Journal.

Keeping a gratitude journal is a good way to reduce stress. Counting your blessings and writing them down increases positivity. Keeping a journal is a very personal activity and allows you to be present with your own achievements. Showing gratitude has been proven to reduce social comparisons, and by expressing what you are thankful for, you are less likely to be resentful towards others. This packet also includes pages for writing your thoughts while you are doing listening prayer. There is an explanation of how to do this if you are unfamiliar with it. This is a great way to get students writing for a purpose while producing good mental health effects for them.

Something you may not know about autism

I read an article about autism by the dad of a young autistic man named Jamie. Here’s an excerpt from the article:

What Jamie Taught Me

Through spelling on a letterboard, my profoundly autistic, non-speaking son revealed the truth that destroys the neurodiversity movement’s narrative.

Jamie is intellectually intact. He’s been aware of everything his entire life but trapped inside a body that won’t obey him. His hand-flapping, his repetitive behaviors, his inability to make eye contact—none of that is his choice. His motor system is damaged.

Jamie doesn’t want his autism celebrated. He describes it as torture—being locked in a prison he can’t escape. He wants to be treated, not accepted. He remembers developing normally as a toddler before autism took over. He knows he was injured.

The neurodiversity movement serves a specific purpose for the pharmaceutical industry: it reframes vaccine injury as genetic variation. If autism is natural human diversity that’s always existed, it can’t be an epidemic and can’t be caused by vaccines. But kids like Jamie who regressed after vaccination prove autism is acquired injury, not innate identity.

Jamie didn’t write about being “blessed” with autism. He wrote: “I want to be free of this prison.”  ~

You can read the rest of this article on Substack HERE.

The dad, J.B. Handley, also helped make a movie called Spellers: The Movie. This movie explains how nonverbal autistic people can communicate through letterboards and the shockingly profound things they say when they get the chance to make their voices heard. Make sure you have your tissues handy as you watch it!
Read his Substack article about how spelling-to-communicate changed his son’s life and the whole family’s life.

Freebie Corner!

🦃 A list of my Favorite Books about Gratitude (with age ranges)

🦃 Teaching Children to Be Thankful – All ages

🐿️ Discussion for parents and teens – Raising a Thankful Leader

🐿️ 30 Days of Fall Activities

🦃 Fall Scattergories Printable Game

🦃 Free when you subscribe to her site – Fall Handprint and Thumbprint Art printable pack

🐿️ Free when you subscribe – Puritans and First Thanksgiving Mini-unit and lapbook

🐿️ This is not free but it’s only $2.95 – “I Remember” Thanksgiving cards – Use these to get Thanksgiving memories flowing!

Here’s something that will cheer everyone up!

Turkey Cookies!All you need to make them is:

Fudge Stripe Cookies

Bon Bons

Chocolate chips

Candy Corn

How to put them together:

1. We melt the chocolate chips to use as glue. We glue the bon bons (the body of the turkey) to the Fudge Stripe cookies with the stripes going up and down so they look like feathers.

2. Then we glue the candy corn to the front of the bon bon to look like the head of the turkey.

3. Then we use toothpicks to dot eyes on the top of the candy corn with the melted chocolate chips.

4. Then we set them up together to make it look like we have a whole flock of turkeys!

Very easy to make and they taste delicious. No baking necessary!

If there’s anything I can help you with, just reach out to me. If you’re fighting burnout or depression, I’m here for you. I can pray with you and help you to overcome whatever is trying to steal your joy and energy.

To book a 15 minute call with me just go to:
https://calendly.com/safehavenhomeschool

 If you have a friend who would like to read this newsletter, please pass it on!

Please come back next month when we’ll be talking about Letting Go of the Public School Mindset (Again).

With light and love,
Penney Douglas
Safe Haven Homeschooling

My books on Amazon

Curriculum I’ve created with a Charlotte Mason twist plus other conventional types of curriculum

E-course I created – The Basics of Learning and Homeschooling

Coaching Course I created – Also called The Basics of Learning and Homeschooling – I take you through the course and do a coaching call with you each month

My shop for homeschool merch, t-shirts, mugs, notebooks, phone covers, and much more!

linktr.ee/penneydouglas – All the places you can find me!

Changed By Love – My original Blog about Homeschooling, Family, Faith, and Alternative News

My YouTube Channel – Safe Haven Homeschooling Channel – Homeschool Encouragement for Newbies and Burnt-out veterans, Family projects, Relationship Building, and Interviews with Homeschool Experts

My Substack – Where I share posts with a rich blend of educational insight, spiritual encouragement, and practical wisdom to help families embrace homeschooling as a lifestyle—not just a school alternative.

Interview about Homeschooling with Ramona Trevino of Blossoms of My Life Radio

Interview about my book Refined by Fire with Ramona Trevino of Blossoms of My Life Radio
Copyright © 2025 Safe Haven Homeschooling, All rights reserved.

Faith over fear in homeschooling – Safe Haven News October

I’m so glad you’re here today!

As you know, faith is a big theme of my life. I believe there’s no place for fear in a Christian’s life. No fear of evil, because Jesus has overcome all evil. And no fear of failing, because He is our strength. So I wanted to share this message with you today.

✝️ Faith Over Fear in Homeschooling

Dear Homeschool Mama,

October is often filled with talk of fear—haunted houses, scary movies, and spooky costumes seem to be everywhere. But for many of us, the real fear isn’t found in a costume shop. It’s the kind that creeps in late at night when we’re lying awake wondering:

  • Am I messing this up?
  • What if my kids fall behind?
  • What if I’m not enough?

Fear can feel overwhelming when you’re carrying the weight of your children’s education, character, and future. It whispers lies about your worth, your capability, and even your calling. But friend, the Lord has something very different to say.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
—2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

🌿 Faith Looks Different

Faith doesn’t mean we never worry—it means we choose to believe God is bigger than our fears. It’s trusting that He called you to this homeschool journey on purpose, for your children, in this season. And He promises to walk with you.

Faith doesn’t always look bold. Sometimes it looks like:

  • Starting the day with prayer when everything feels chaotic.
  • Teaching the same math lesson again—because you love them.
  • Saying “I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out together.”
  • Resting, even when the to-do list is long.

🙌 You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

When you feel the grip of fear, don’t try to power through alone. Lean into God’s Word. Speak truth aloud. Reach out to a fellow mom who understands. Worship. Breathe.

Ask God to replace fear with faith—and He will.

“When I am afraid, I will trust in You.”
—Psalm 56:3 (CSB)

🍁 October Challenge: Faith Over Fear

This month, I challenge you to do one small thing every day that puts faith over fear in your homeschool:

  • Write a scripture on your bathroom mirror.
  • Say a short prayer before your homeschool day begins.
  • Let go of one unrealistic expectation.
  • Speak one life-giving truth over your homeschool.

You don’t need to do all the things. You need to do the next right thing, in faith.

💌 P.S.

Would you like a printable of the “Faith Over Fear” challenge to keep nearby this month? Just click here and it’s yours! And let me know if you find this helpful. Just hit reply and tell me what helped the most.

If you’re afraid you’re messing up, I would be happy to come alongside you as a mentor or coach to give you some tips or advice through my coaching course HERE.

👻Don’t be afraid to make learning fun!

There are so many things you can do to make learning fun in October. Here’s an extensive list of activities, books to read, websites, art tutorials, and other resources to help you make learning fun in the fall.

 🦟And fear not! I have found a way to keep the mosquitoes from biting you!

Did you know that mosquitoes don’t like vanilla extract? You can put 10-15 drops into a spray bottle of water and spray it all over you and the mosquitoes will leave you alone. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Watch this:
https://t.me/BarbaraOneill_official/3475

If you have been looking for a way to add copywork and narration into your homeschool, I have the perfect way for you to do that!

I have a bundle that goes with the book The Green Ember. This bundle includes a copywork journal and a narration journal that include some of the best passages from The Green Ember; a place to write favorite quotes, write about favorite characters, favorite scenes, an alternate ending; a place to draw pictures to go with the story; and even a crossword puzzle! And there’s more. You get A Writer’s Journal which encourages your kids to think about their writing. They get a chance to explore why writing is important, and what helps them to write better.

Get your bundle here at a reduced price and you’ll save $1.10.

Freebie Corner!

🍂Get my annual Fun Ways to Homeschool through the Holidays for October HERE!🍂

🍂 Here are some really cute Fall Graphing Worksheets for preschool and kindergarten. They’re free!🍂

🍂 I haven’t forgotten about your second-fourth graders!  Here’s a set of Autumn Multiplication Worksheets covering multiplication facts 1 through 12. Also free!🍂

🍂 And here’s a free Fall Festival Logic Puzzle for upper elementary to middle school.🍂

🍂 And here’s one for your football fans Football Word Search 🍂

🍂 A fun game for the whole family Fall Scattergories! 🍂

🍂 Here’s a freebie from JoDitt Williams who has the Fruitful Creativity Community that I’ve told you about before. You can join that group HERE. This coloring page is called Faith Over Fear! 🍂

🍑 Here’s a cozy recipe that my family loves. I know everybody talks about pumpkins and apples in October, but this recipe is all about PEACHES!

My mother-in-law gave me her famous (among church people) recipe, and my family loves when I make it (or my son makes it).

Margaret’s Easy (But Delicious!) Peach Cobbler

1 stick butter
1 c. sugar
1 c. flour
3 t. baking powder
1 c. milk
1 pinch salt
2 cans peaches, 1 drained

Melt butter in pan. Mix dry ingredients with milk, pour over butter. Drain one can of peaches. Spread peaches evenly over batter. Start with the one without the liquid.
Bake @350 degrees for 30-40 min. until golden brown.

Note: Other fruits can be used in place of peaches as long as you have the liquid.🍑

If there’s anything I can help you with, just reach out to me.

Do you find yourself battling fear about whether you’re doing enough in your homeschool?

Are you afraid that you’re messing up your kids by homeschooling them?

I would be honored to come alongside you with encouragement and solutions.

To book a 15 minute call with me just go to:
https://calendly.com/safehavenhomeschool

 If you have a friend who you think would like to read this newsletter, please pass it on!

Make sure you come back next month when we’ll talk about how to fight homeschool burnout.

And remember: “Your homeschool doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.”

With love and faith,

Penney Douglas

Safe Haven Homeschooling

My books on Amazon

Curriculum I’ve created with a Charlotte Mason twist plus other conventional types of curriculum

E-course I created – The Basics of Learning and Homeschooling

Coaching Course I created – Also called The Basics of Learning and Homeschooling – I take you through the course and do a coaching call with you each month

My shop for homeschool merch, t-shirts, mugs, notebooks, phone covers, and much more!

linktr.ee/penneydouglas – All the places you can find me!

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