The Journey of Homeschooling: Why We Chose This Path from the Start

Homeschooling has become a fulfilling journey for our family, and we’d like to share the core reasons that led us to this choice. First and foremost, homeschooling allows us to tailor our children's education to their unique learning styles and interests. This personalized approach fosters a love for learning, as they can explore subjects in depth and at their own pace. Additionally, homeschooling provides flexibility in scheduling, enabling us to incorporate real-world experiences and field trips that enrich their education beyond traditional classroom walls. We also cherish the strong family bonds that homeschooling has nurtured.

The early years: Engaging in playdough activities with my toddler while wearing her baby brother.

Working together on projects and sharing learning moments has brought us closer as a family unit. Furthermore, the ability to be a part of their day-to-day, while instilling positive values into the children's upbringing and education creates a supportive environment where they feel safe to express themselves. Ultimately, the reasons we chose to homeschool reflect our commitment to providing a reliable support system, sparking creativity, wonder, and joy, and fostering lifelong learners who are curious and confident.

Deciding to homeschool our children was a choice made long before they were born. It was not a hasty decision, but a carefully considered path shaped by our experiences, values, intentional parenting aspirations, and hopes for their education. Over the years, the reasons for continuing to homeschool have only grown stronger.

This post shares the story behind the decision to homeschool and why it remains the best fit for our family.

The kids busy at work with independent creative projects, at their desks, in our homeschool room.

How Our Homeschool Journey Began

On our first date, my husband and I talked about our desire to have children and our interest in homeschooling them. After our first child was born, I realized I wasn't ready to send her to preschool. It didn't seem logical to have a child and then place her in someone else's care for the day. I understand not every parent feels this way; these are just my personal feelings and a significant reason why we considered homeschooling. Each homeschooler has their own motivations. We wanted to create an environment where learning was flexible, personalized, and aligned with our family’s values.

The decision to homeschool came from several key reasons:

• Individualized attention: Children benefit more from one-on-one time and personalized teaching versus being in a classroom with 25 other students.

• Interest-led learning: Every child is unique and can have their education tailored to their individual learning style.

• Curriculum choice: We wanted to ensure our children studied subjects and life skills that supported their interests and aligned with our family beliefs and values.

• Value-based: Family should be at the core and foundation of a child's development, providing friendship, a moral compass, and guidance for good character development.

• No peer-pressure: In a school environment, children are led mostly by other children. Peer pressure, and bullying, are distractions from actual learning.

• Socialization: Contrary to popular belief, homeschooled children, who are nurtured with love and confidence and have the freedom to explore their interests throughout more hours of the day, while being involved in daily activities with their parents and family members, gain a well-rounded exposure to both adults and children in diverse settings, unlike in a classroom filled with peers of the same age.

• Intentionality: We didn't want rushed mornings, grabbing a quick or no to low nutrient breakfast, running off to the bus stop, driving to and from school. We didn't want our children to lose 8 hours, 5 days a week to sitting in a classroom, then losing the evenings and weekends to homework and extracurriculars.

• Practical life skills: Sewing, grocery shopping, baking, cooking, cleaning, proper handling of tools, budgeting, and financial literacy are a part of everyday learning at home.

Choosing, weighing produce, and printing a price label at the grocery store.

• Flexible schedule: We envisioned a lifestyle where learning could occur at any time, not just between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. We wanted to take back time, rather than give away 8 hours of our time everyday. Homeschooling can take anywhere from 1-4 hours a day depending on your child's age and stage of learning.

• Freedom: Free to travel when we want, and to visit parks, museums and other places, on our schedule, when they're not as crowded.

• Lifelong learning: Being passionate learners that learn for the sake of learning not for grades and test scores. Learning alongside one another, following our curiosity, and sparking creativity.

• Closer family bonds: Homeschooling offered more time together, which we considered crucial for emotional growth. Relationships with parents and siblings should supersede those with peers.

Family Appalachian Trail hike.

These reasons were just some of the basis for our decision to homeschool. When I first started homeschooling, I was filled with doubt and fear, particularly when the children were both under 2 years old. We knew it would require an open mind to explore something new and different, along with dedication and patience. However, we believed that the potential benefits would outweigh the challenges, and we wanted to at least try it out. Make a list of positive and negative scenarios to weigh the situation. Worst case scenario, you give it a go, its not the right fit for your family, and your children go back to school. At least you experienced it, and tried something that was tugging at your heart strings and weighing on your mind.

What Keeps Us Committed to Homeschooling

Almost 10 years into our journey, the reasons for continuing to homeschool have become clearer and more personal. Here are some of the most important factors that keep us on this path:

Personalized Learning That Fits Each Child

Every child learns differently. Homeschooling allows us to tailor lessons to each child’s pace and interests. For example, our eldest loves science and spends hours on experiments, while our youngest thrives with hands-on art projects. This flexibility helps them stay engaged and excited about learning.

Sewing stuffed animals with the kids.

Freedom to Explore Beyond the Classroom

Homeschooling opens doors to learning outside traditional textbooks. We take field trips to museums, nature parks, and historical sites. These experiences bring lessons to life and create lasting memories.

Building Strong Family Connections

Being a homeschool family means spending more time together. We share meals, work on projects, and support each other’s growth daily. This closeness has strengthened our relationships and created a supportive environment where our children feel safe to express themselves.

Overcoming Challenges Along the Way

The decision to homeschool is not without its challenges and sacrifices. We have faced moments of doubt, exhaustion, financial limitations, and uncertainty. Deciding to have one parent as the main income provider and the other parent as the main home educator, can be stressful for the sole provider and isolating for the stay-at-home parent. Balancing being teacher and mom or dad, with other responsibilities can be tough. Being a work from home parent that homeschools and works can be hard to balance. Having a mainly one income home requires extra planning to budget for things. Choosing curriculum and a homeschool approach that will work for your family and your child's specific needs can be daunting. Having children at different ages, in different grade levels, and with different interests, can sometimes make it hard to hold everyone's attention or efficiently cover learning topics.

Playtime: Horse-back riding on daddy. :)

To address these challenges:

• We educate year-round to allow for regular breaks, preventing burnout for both parents and children. This approach helps us maintain momentum instead of trying to regain it after a lengthy summer break.

• Get outside and get moving. Going for a walk and getting outdoors helps us all to reset and approach school with a clear and focused mindset. An exercise routine helps me have time dedicated to my self and my health.

Scootering on a trail.

• Use social media to connect with other moms, parents, caretakers, educators, and homeschooling families, providing camaraderie, support, information, and resources.

• We enhance our learning with curriculum, guides, and unit studies to stay on course.

• We strive to maintain a rhythm that aligns with our current life season. A set routine helps the kids know what to expect and keeps us organized. Sometimes, this means a few hours of school in the morning followed by play for the rest of the day. Other times, it involves doing core subjects during meal times, evenings, or weekends. Learning happens all of the time, in so many ways.

• Curriculum that complements my teaching style and the children's learning methods is essential. Low-prep, open-and-go curriculum simplifies the teaching and preparation process for me, accommodating our busy days and varied grade levels.

• Explore different homeschool styles and teaching methods to find the right fit for our family. Be willing to experiment and change what doesn't work, remembering that what suits one family might not suit another.

  

  Incorporating visual, tactile, and auditory learning methods.

• Work remotely, freelance, and create content to generate an additional income source.

• Prepare home-cooked meals most of the week and dine out once to stay on track with nutritious eating and budgeting goals.

• Use free downloads and curriculum resources. Utilize the library for most of our books, and purchase favorites.

• Incorporating family-style learning where possible to cover subjects with the entire family, each child participating in ways suitable for their age and learning stage.

  
  

These strategies help us maintain a healthy balance and keep the joy of learning alive.

Advice for Families Considering Homeschooling

If you are thinking about homeschooling, here are some practical tips based on our experience:

• Begin with clear intentions: Know your motivations and what goals you aim to accomplish. Your "why" will support you during challenging times and moments of uncertainty.

• Remain adaptable: Plans may change, and that’s perfectly fine. Adjust to meet both your needs and those of your children throughout different phases of life.

• Find community: Engage with other homeschooling families for support and inspiration.

• Incorporate varied methods: Combine literature-based learning, themed unit studies, interest-driven activities, hands-on experiences, movement, play, and sensory-rich activities, along with learning through practical life skills.

• Acknowledge accomplishments: Highlight progress by concentrating on the positives instead of aiming for perfection.

Handicraft time, gathered around the homeschool table.

Comparison is the thief of joy. Keep in mind your "why", be willing to adjust to changes in each homeschooling season, and understand that, like anything important in life, there will be joyful moments and challenging ones. Homeschooling will look different fo every family, based on different life experiences, lifestyles, and goals. Cherish your time with your children and remember that you are learning together with them. Embarking on the homeschooling journey requires patience and dedication, but it provides unique rewards, especially after giving yourself grace through the initial years and the challenging seasons of life. Homeschooling has positively transformed our lives. The strong bond we share with our children is a result of the time we spend together, and with this lifestyle, so many fundamental and important shifts have taken place in our hearts and minds in regard to what we once considered meaningful. Our children are teaching us just as much, if not more, than we are teaching them.

Homeschooling isn't for everyone, but with the new year approaching, if you're looking for a change for your family and considering homeschooling, I'm here to support, encourage, and be a friend. Feel free to comment here and or message me with any questions or concerns on Instagram @happy_learning_moments.