As the carefree days of summer wind down, our family looks forward to creating a new family rhythm. It’s a tradition of sorts. One that consists of setting new schedules and boundaries as the children grow and mature. A chance to have some “do-overs” and make new memories. During this annual reset, God always gives us a new roadmap for our family’s journey.

We recently started our family’s 15th year of homeschooling. And as we got back into the swing of things, my husband and I were met with a lot of resistance. While resistance is something that we’ve come to expect, we’ve also learned that a little preparation goes a long way. 

Revelation 21:5 (NIV) also gives us a great perspective on resetting:

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

3 Ways to Reset Your Family Rhythm After Summer

1. Allow God to give you a new routine.

One mistake we made in the early years of homeschooling was that we would start off the homeschool year with the exact same schedule we had the year before. And while this may have worked when the kids were younger, as they became older, it did not. 

One night my husband and I were at our wit’s end when we prayed and asked God for wisdom to help our family reset our rhythm and restore His peace in our lives. And what did He tell us? To allow Him to make a new plan and schedule for our family. These words have been a lifesaver for us!

Our tradition is to have a family meeting near the end of summer to pray and ask God to show us the new routine He has for us. We always make this a night of fun to include food, games, and reminiscing about the gift of summer. God always speaks to us through His Word and we use the Scriptures He gives us to begin planning our new homeschool year.

 

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2. Seek new ways to serve those around you.

This has been a game-changer for our family as we find our “new” normal each fall. While we still love serving our community in ways we have always served, we’ve learned that finding new ways to serve has drawn us closer to God and each other. 

We find new opportunities through local churches, organizations, and even the newspaper. It’s always fun discovering new needs and talking and praying about which ones the Lord wants us to fill.

Seeking new ways to serve those around you helps start a brand new family rhythm and brings us closer to God. It’s a time of refreshing that we look forward to each year. And as the children get older they find so much joy in having input in areas of service to God. It’s truly a win-win for everyone!

 

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3. Make new plans for family time.

Family time is something that we reset often. Because our children’s interests change as they grow up, we make sure that we are having ongoing conversations about how they like to spend time as a family.

My husband and I always look forward to embracing the children’s newest ideas of how we can experience quality time as a family. Their ideas are fresh, fun, and totally different—just like their personalities! 

There are so many fun ways that your family can reset your rhythm after a fun-filled summer. Just because summer ends doesn’t mean that life has to be boring. Let your children help you keep the fun alive all year long; even when structure and responsibilities mount. 

 

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It’s never too late for a reset. You may feel defeated after a season of too much screen-time, lots of treats, and not enough structure. The truth is that God will give your family a unique rhythm to follow in every season of life that brings you peace and joy. Just be sure to listen to the Holy Spirit as you figure it all out; then you can’t go wrong!