by Shari McMinn

I was so tired. Weary to the depths of my despairing soul. For years, I had homeschooled nine children, many of whom were unique learners. The days were incredibly long.

Then my beloved husband died unexpectedly, and I was single-parenting with five homeschooled children yet to graduate. We took the summer off from life, slowing way down, grieving, and learning to cope with that tremendous loss. 

Three months after Cary’s death, I went on a weeklong vacation by myself while a couple of my older children provided childcare for their younger siblings. I breathed deeply. I read. I rested. I slept. A lot! I ate what I wanted, when I wanted. I lazed around in an affordable, “off-season rate” condo in the Florida Keys. I even went deep-sea fishing with my college-aged daughter, who was attending a nearby university. It was the fresh air, quiet, sunshine, and “vitamin sea” I needed to be restored to health — emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually — so I could continue the single parenting/homeschooling journey ahead.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9 ESV).

Are You a Weary Parent?

Does “weary” describe your state of life right now? Are you “bone tired”? Just breathe. Deeply. Akin to the flight steward’s instruction as you prepare for take-off, we parents of unique learners need to “put on our oxygen mask first” before we can assist our child(ren). 

This is not easily done, and it never occurs often enough — nor regularly — but it is crucial for continuing the marathon of home educating our often-challenging children. I hope you will consider your own situation and be encouraged by considering the following 11 ideas and implementing a few of them, one step at a time, as you move forward this coming year.

1. Spend time daily in God’s Word. This may mean a quick 5 minutes in the bathroom with the door locked at midnight for your own personal devotion, but it will encourage you, provide hope, and give you peace. Practice daily family devotions, studying, and memorizing Scripture to grow closer to the Lord and to each other.
2. Make daily exercise a priority. Colorado is a beautiful state, so get outdoors to walk with your kids, or tag-team with your spouse to exercise alone, even if just outside your front door.
3. Get regular sleep if at all possible. Try to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up without an alarm. If children join you in bed, turn over and sleep alongside them. Nap when they nap or when they have “quiet time” in their own rooms each afternoon. Just 15 minutes can recharge you!
4. Eat nutritious, regular meals. We called this “three meals a day plus snacks.” Children can help prepare the snacks mid-morning and mid-afternoon for your family, served with water. Cook from scratch to minimize chemicals found in processed foods. Double what you make for some meals so you can freeze the second batch for your busiest days. Crock-pot freezer meals are a no-brainer.
5. Take vitamins and supplements. Research your needs for more energy, restful sleep, and better health. 
6. Consider the use of essential oils. I did not personally use them very much, but I know of countless families who have been greatly helped by their judicious use for overall wellness and to calm stressed children. 
7. Find a good family doctor who shares your values. Schedule an appointment annually for yourself, just as you would for your child’s overall health and wellness tracking.
8. Attend church together weekly as a family. It’s a lot to organize and follow through with, but over time, you will build a crucial support network to help you and your family in the tough times.
9. Married? Plan an annual vacation to keep your relationship strong. Staying a few days at an inexpensive local or distant hotel — without your children interrupting — will reinvigorate your marriage. For peace of mind, ask an adult couple at your church to come stay with your children.
10. Single? Take at least one long weekend annually for a complete break from your life. Ask a friend to come stay at your home with your children if you don’t have a responsible older child to do so. Even if you just book a motel room in your community, the getaway will be restorative.
11. Plan now to attend a homeschool event this year. Two good choices would be our Refresh Ladies Conference, a one-day event this spring, or our Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference this summer (registration opens on February 13). Can’t get a childcare provider for the summer conference? Your children can attend alongside you. Not only will you increase your homeschool teaching skills, but you will also enjoy Christian networking that strengthens your faith for the long haul ahead.

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“Oxygen” for Weary Parents

The above suggestions may sound unattainable at this very moment for you and your crazy-busy household, but I urge you to care for yourself in the midst of caring for your needy family members. If you don’t get the “oxygen” you need now, you could be really gasping for the “air” you need in the future. It’s wiser to pre-emptively strike now, rather than be struck down later. With that in mind, I want to leave you with some resources for weary homeschooling parents. Whether your child is delayed, gifted, traumatized, or just challenging, these might be helpful for continuing your journey on the road ahead. It is a marathon; so remember — as Aesop said in his fable about the tortoise and the hare — “Slow and steady wins the race.”

• Family Life Today Marriage Encouragement Resources
• Focus on the Family Resources for Parents of Special Needs & Disabled Children
• Focus on the Family Dad Encouragement Resources
• Getting Good Sleep, a 2-page article from Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) 
• Generations’ “Teach Me the Faith” Scripture memory resources with FREE weekly family audios

Identify Solutions for Learning Struggles

Finally, here is something that might be very helpful for homeschooling your unique learner. One of our vetted CHEC advertisers and Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference exhibitors, LearningRx, is graciously providing free cognitive skills assessments to our families, but you have to register here before March 4th. “The Gibson Test of Cognitive Skills” normally costs $97 and provides invaluable insights into the way your child’s brain works. 

Learning struggles stem from your child’s cognitive skills. If these skills are weak, no matter what curriculum or teaching method you try, schoolwork will STILL be more of a struggle than it needs to be. The assessment takes only 45 minutes and can be taken from a laptop or tablet. It evaluates your child’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses so you can know the best way to support your child and grow their ability to think, learn, focus, and remember! 

The deadline to sign up is 5pm on Wednesday, March 4: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER beginning February 18, 2026! For additional insight, watch a short video about the Gibson test. The test is normed, validated, and supported in peer-reviewed literature; and it has been administered by educators, psychologists, neurologists, audiologists, and speech and language professionals, as well as brain training professionals around the world. This is an amazing opportunity to get a free baseline of your child’s cognitive abilities! Just click the link above and register by Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

For more information that will support you and your unique learner, go to CHEC’s Unique Learners webpage. 

My next Unique Learner blog, “Identity: What is Social-Emotional Learning, and Do Unique Learners Need It?” will be posted on March 11, 2026 (the 2nd Wednesday).

Shari McMinn, your trusted homeschooling friend  

P.S. If you have a topic I should write about, please email me with your suggestion(s). This blog is for you!

About the Author: Shari McMinn

Shari Howard McMinn has graduated from homeschool teaching and is a professional editor, public speaker, and writer. After living in Colorado for 45 years, she continues to work remotely for Christian Home Educators of Colorado (CHEC) from her new home in the Fort Myers, Florida area. Shari is the author of five books, which are detailed on her website, ShariMcMinn.com. She is an advocate for adoption, homeschooling, safe and stable families, and unique learners. A few years ago, she entered a very fun new season of life: grandparenting! She is available to answer your questions via email, Shari@CHEC.org.