Three-fourths of my kids will load buses in less than twelve hours. The fourth will join them in one week when kindergarten begins. After a beautiful year of extremely messy homeschooling, I brace myself for the buses. While I sat in shock and denial today, they bustled around, found school supply lists, schedules, school maps, bus cards, lunch boxes, school and PE clothes, and loaded backpacks. They made their lists for the morning and went to bed early.

They are excited.

I feel a little unhinged.

Will this school/ teacher/ curriculum be a good fit? Will they make friends? Will I have to become more closely acquainted with the principal this week? Will other kids bully them because they are new? Will they be kind? Will they be light? Will I be able to breathe while they are gone each day?

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. Jeremiah 17:7

When I stop wallowing in my own fear, I already know the answers to all my questions.

Will the school/ teacher/ curriculum be a good fit? Some will and some won’t, and we’ll take each as it comes, learning from it all

Will they make friends? Yes, please Lord, help them make positive friends, and at least one good friend who knows and loves You

Will I have to become more closely acquainted with the principal this week? If not this week, at some point, yes. I have every year—not sure why this year would be different.

Will other kids bully them because they are new? Probably not, but if they do, God is with them—He is enough.

Will they be kind? They will try. Lord let them not lose hope in doing what is right, knowing that their actions are for Your glory and not for the applause of other kids who don’t understand

Will I be able to breathe while they are gone each day? Only if my confidence is in Him, knowing He loves them more than I do, He is with them when I can’t be, and His grace is enough for us all.

Won’t you pray with me for this back to school season (even if you are already a month in)? For the parents who are putting their babies on buses, for parents who teach patiently at home, for the grandparents and family who support and encourage, for the teachers who pour time and energy into our kids. I think at some point we all worry if we have done enough, and the answer is always no. But God is always enough, and I pray we rest solely in Him. Amen.