When I was pregnant, I pictured postpartum life as soft and serene, a sleepy baby snuggled beside me, while my older kids worked happily through their homeschool lessons. The house would smell like coffee, the laundry would be folded, and I’d be back into a peaceful rhythm in no time.
But the truth? Postpartum doesn’t look like that. It’s not the picture-perfect moment we imagine but it’s sacred, messy, and holy in its own way.
The Expectation
I expected to balance it all with grace; keeping up with homeschool schedules, meals, and the baby’s needs, all while still finding time for myself.
In my mind, we’d start the morning with Bible study, flow into math and reading, and end with crafts and laughter.
The dishes would be done, the baby would nap on cue, and I’d feel like the mom who finally had it all together.
But reality came quickly and it looked nothing like that vision.
My Reality
These days, my home tells a different story:
- Dirty dishes wait patiently in the sink.
- Laundry piles up faster than I can fold it.
- Pumping parts and baby gear cover my bed like an obstacle course.
- My hair lives in a messy ponytail because showers feel like a luxury.
- Homeschool lessons happen between diaper changes, snack requests, and contact naps.
Sometimes we trade worksheets for read-alouds snuggled on the bed.
Sometimes math happens with a baby in my arms and my heart praying for patience.
And somehow, God keeps meeting me in every bit of it.
My Just Ingredients electrolytes are on the counter next to my coffee mug because hydration and grace are two things I can’t afford to skip.
What I’m Learning
Motherhood, especially postpartum, has a way of dismantling our perfectionism. It forces us to let go of schedules, tidy rooms, and control.
I’m learning that peace doesn’t come from getting everything right; it comes from resting in God’s presence, even in the chaos.
My children are learning far more from my patience, my prayers, and my perseverance than from any textbook I could hand them.
Each messy day is an invitation to slow down, to see the beauty in the ordinary, and to remember that this is holy work nurturing bodies, minds, and hearts, including my own.
A Word of Encouragement
“He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom.” — Isaiah 40:11 (ESV)
Mama, that includes you.
The same God who carries your baby also carries you through sleepless nights, homeschool meltdowns, and endless piles of laundry.
So if your home feels undone and your lessons go sideways, breathe. You are enough.
This season isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence.
Hold your baby. Hug your older ones. Drink your electrolytes. And thank God for the grace that fills the gaps you can’t.
P.S.
If you’re walking through this postpartum-homeschool season, I see you. Over on Instagram (@ss.healthierliving), I share faith-based encouragement, holistic tips, and the real-life rhythm of a mom learning to thrive … one grace-filled day at a time.
Living Life with a Purpose 