I've wondered where my energetic daughter went and why she never seemed rested no matter how much sleep she got. I finally made a trip to the doctor for another battery of blood work. Nothing was wrong. So why wasn't my daughter her old self?

After some prayer and discussion with a medical friend of mine, I think I discovered the answer: stress.

As homeschoolers it is easy to get caught up in the demands of the academics and miss other important needs of our children. Just we need to monitor ourselves and make time for renewal, we need to watch our children for signs of stress and give them time for the refreshment they need, even if it means occasionally lowering our expectations.

I used to teach public school. We never completed every page in our math book. It didn't bother me back then. I'd chart my days, accomplish what I could in the allotted time, and when the last bell rang, we were done. Here's an interesting fact. Most textbooks are designed to cover more material than can be handled in a school year. Few teachers finish the whole book in a year. In fact, most subjects are considered a complete credit when 75% of the material is covered.

Too often homeschoolers fall into the trap I did with Sarah, letting the curriculum dictate our teaching. Curriculum needs to be what it was designed to be: a helpful tool, not a demanding taskmaster. The book isn't the boss, you are! I forgot and let the curricula dictate our stress level this summer. And it wasn't good for my daughter--or me.

I have a friend whose son is a gifted competitive hockey goalie. He's also perfectionist, strong in academics, and dedicated to earning rank in Boy Scouts. Recently, he struggled with being tired all the time. His mom and the doctors couldn't find a reason for his symptoms. My friend canceled Boy Scout camp, packed away the schoolbooks, and put a moratorium on even talking about hockey. The family focused on renewal. They rode go-carts, rented movies, and played laser tag. After three day of complete rest from responsibilities, their son awoke and said, "wow, Mom. I feel like myself for the first time in weeks!"

As homeschooling moms we need to take into account our children's need for refreshment and times of play. Renewal doesn't have to be as big as my camping trip in the mountains, but it does need to be recognized as a priority in our life and in the lives of our children. Let go of an expectation or two and take time to play!

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A home schooling mother of four, Paula Moldenhauer is passionate about God's grace and intimacy with Jesus. Her website offers home schooling hints, book reviews, and a free weekly devotional, Soul Scents. Subscribe to Soul Scents at www.soulscents.us. You can contact Paula at Paula@soulscents.us.