My JOMO Era:
The Joy of Missing Out

Most of us have heard of FOMO: the fear of missing out.

FOMO tells us that everyone else is doing more than we are. Their children are involved in more activities, visiting more museums, reading more books, completing more beautiful nature journals, and somehow learning Latin before lunchtime.

Meanwhile, we are still trying to find the missing math book.

FOMO makes us believe that if we say no to an invitation, opportunity, activity, or event, we may be missing something important.

But JOMO is different.

JOMO is the joy of missing out.

It is looking at an overflowing calendar and choosing peace.

✦Choosing Peace

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15, ESV

It is realizing that an open afternoon is not an empty afternoon.

It is staying home without feeling the need to explain why.

It is saying no to something wonderful because saying yes would take too much from the people and priorities that matter most.

For this season, I want to stop measuring our days by how much we accomplish and start paying attention to how they feel.

Those questions matter more to me now than how many boxes we checked.

I will be honest: saying no does not always come naturally to me.

Sometimes, I want to say yes because I do not want to disappoint anyone. Other times, I say yes because something sounds fun in the moment, and I forget that the fun thing will eventually require packing snacks, finding shoes, locating water bottles, driving across town, and getting everyone out of the house on time.

Suddenly, our peaceful morning becomes a full-scale family evacuation.

I am learning that saying no does not make me selfish, unhelpful, or boring.

Sometimes, saying no is simply good stewardship.

✦Rest Is Not Wasted

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28, ESV

My time is limited. My energy is limited. My children's energy is also limited, although they seem to receive a mysterious second wind every night around bedtime.

When I say yes to everything, I am often saying no to something else without realizing it.

This year, I want my yeses to be thoughtful.

And I want my noes to be joyful.

The funny thing about embracing the joy of missing out is that I am not actually trying to miss the important things.

I am trying to make room for them.

I do not want to miss the slow mornings when one child curls up beside me with a book.

I do not want to miss the unexpected questions that turn into an entire lesson.

I do not want to miss lunchtime conversations, backyard discoveries, ordinary errands, or the small moments that would never make it onto a carefully planned curriculum map.

I do not want to be so busy creating the perfect homeschool experience that I forget to enjoy the children I am homeschooling.

These years are not going to last forever.

There will come a day when our table is no longer covered with pencils, books, half-finished projects, and crumbs from somebody's snack.

There will come a day when no one needs me to explain a math problem, listen to a narration, or help find the scissors that are somehow never where scissors belong.

I know some days will feel long. Some lessons will not go according to plan. We will probably have tears, frustrations, interruptions, and moments when I question every decision that brought us here.

But I also know this season is a gift.

I want to receive it with open hands instead of filling those hands with more than I was ever meant to carry.

I am giving myself permission for this first year to be gentle.

✦Holding Our Plans Loosely

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9, ESV

My goal is not to build the busiest homeschool.

My goal is to build a home where learning can happen naturally, curiosity is encouraged, our relationships are protected, and we have enough margin to enjoy the life God has given us.