Growing up, I didn’t need to know what the word “priority” meant, to understand what my parents’ priorities were.

Every single workday, without fail, my mom and dad were up and out the door. No sick days, no “I’m not feeling it” days—providing for their family was their non-negotiable. The night before, they’d start talking about the next day, almost like actors rehearsing for a big scene. It was as if our home was a stage, and we were all practicing our lines and preparing for the live show that was tomorrow.

This got me thinking: As homeschool parents, how much are we preparing our kids for the day, the week, the month, or even the entire school year ahead?

We often put more thought and energy into planning a vacation than our daily lives. Imagine if we were sending our kids on a trip to Seattle. Would we just buy a ticket, tell them to pack, and drop them at the airport? Of course not! We’d prep them like pros—talk about the flight, explain the airport, share stories, show them pictures, and help them pack for the Seattle weather. We’d make sure every detail was covered to give them the best shot at a smooth trip.

But here’s the kicker—do we treat our everyday homeschooling life with the same level of priority? Do we plan, talk, and act like HOMESCHOOLING is a top priority in our lives?

Let’s dig into three different ways to think about priorities and how we can use them to shape our homeschooling journey.

1. Priority as “Earlier in Time”:

How do you start your mornings? While some people swear they’re night owls, the truth is, mornings often hold the most potential. After a night’s rest, our energy levels are at their peak (even if it takes a bit to get moving). I once worked with someone who claimed she wasn’t a morning person—until I asked her about her behavior on vacation. Unsurprisingly, she was full of energy and excitement in the mornings while on vacation. Her aversion to mornings was all about her mindset and environment, not her biology. The most successful people tackle their biggest priorities first thing in the morning, before the distractions of life can get in the way. What’s something your homeschooler is passionate about or needs to focus on? How can you model the power of a morning routine that puts those priorities front and center?

2. Priority as “Privilege to Go Before Others”:

This definition is all about doing the most important tasks when we’re fresh and full of energy. Morning prep begins the night before at the latest. Do your kids have access to a planner? Is their schedule visible in a place they see often, like the fridge or bathroom mirror? Do they watch you plan out your week and see the results? Prioritizing means sometimes saying no to things we want in order to focus on what truly matters. It’s a powerful lesson for our kids to see us practicing self-discipline and delaying gratification.

3. Priority as “Special Attention and High Rank of Importance”:

Not everything on your to-do list is equally important, and it’s up to us as parents to decide what takes precedence. If your kids want to play or watch a movie, do they need to clean their room first? Is schoolwork required to be completed before lunch? Are they responsible for cleaning up after themselves before moving on to something else? Whatever standards we set for our kids, we should hold ourselves to an even higher standard. Imagine if the owner of a company was less responsible than a part-time employee—the whole business could crumble. The same goes for our homes; as the leaders, we need to model the very priorities we want our kids to adopt.

Remember, we’re our kids’ primary example of how to prioritize life.

Let’s make sure we’re leading by example everyday!