It usually starts in the library or grocery store, on a random morning or early afternoon. A curious stranger notices my children with me and asks, “No school today?” When I reply that we homeschool, the response is almost always the same: a mix of awe and confession—
“I could never do that. I don’t have the patience,”
OR
“My kids would never listen to me. We would drive each other crazy,”
AND sometimes there is the assumption that it’s only possible if one parent has the luxury of not working, then I share that I actually do work…
“But how do you do all that and still work?”
While I don’t share the sentiment about my children’s behavior, I smile because I’ve been there—on the edge of “not enough.” Not patient enough. Not organized enough. Not teacher-y enough. But here’s the truth: I didn’t start this journey because I had everything figured out. I started because I believed in something bigger than the fear—something like presence, purpose, and passion. Just kidding; God told me to do it, so I did it. But for real though, I do believe in the freedom to manage my children’s education.
On Patience
This is my biggest flaw, and, unfortunately God does not just download patience (though I wish He would). He has placed me in numerous opportunities to develop my patience – and this just happens to be one of the rewarding ones. Homeschooling definitely requires daily grace, both for them and for myself, along with a ton of structured flexibility. Some days, we flow. Other days, we reset at lunchtime or ditch the plan entirely for a walk outside or a good book on the couch. I lose my cool sometimes. But patience is a muscle, not merely a personality trait. We have to work it, build it, mature into it. It’s a fruit of the Spirit.
On Teaching Your Own Kids
Maybe you’re in the “I can’t teach my own kids” camp. Can I just say that you are your child’s first and best teacher??! And might I add that you know them best, and, outside of God, no one has a more personal stake in their learning and well-being than you. I don’t have all the answers (community helps), but I know for sure I’m not trying to replicate school at home (anymore). I’m here to foster curiosity, curate experiences , and invite wonder into our days. We learn together. That’s honestly one of my favorite parts. I learn so much and I am not intimidated by not knowing everything.
On Balancing Work and Homeschool
When I quit my corporate job in 2021, it was not an impulsive move. There was prayer, strategy, and planning. My two older sons were in private Christian school, and I liked the environment. My goal was to work on my blossoming productivity coaching business to help women find harmony in their personal and professional lives. While I landed some really amazing clients and awesome contracts…God had other plans.
So, my honest answer is: it’s not easy. But if it were, everyone would be doing it. It requires intention, sacrifice, unlearning, mindset shifts, boundaries, and a whole lot of flexibility. Over time, I have learned to create a work schedule that works for us. Sometimes I bring the kids into what I’m working on, and sometimes they work independently (worksheet, video, online class, or reading) while I take a meeting. Homeschooling isn’t about doing everything; it’s about deciding what matters most and building around that.
Oh, and if you thought that kids literally receive instruction or learn for the 8+ hours, they are in institutionalized education, think again. A lot of it is classroom management, lining up, reviewing, redirecting. At home, you won’t need to educate for 8 hours straight. (I tried that; don’t do that!)
There’s no one-size-fits-all schedule or secret sauce. There’s just you, your family, and your reason why. In addition to wanting to disciple them and the reasons I previously shared, my why is simple: my husband and I want to give our children an education that honors their pace, their purpose, and our family’s rhythm of life.
So, no, I’m not superhuman. I’m a mom (not just a mom) who accepted this path and keeps showing up. One day, one book, one not-so-beautiful mess at a time.
This was not meant to be a practical guide for getting started, but a gentle mindset shift of “You can…”
During the pandemic, I heard a lot of parents complaining that they are stuck at home with their kids. Hopefully, there is a mindset shift from “I have to homeschool” to “I get to homeschool.”
