What I Wish I Would Have Known Before Homeschooling

7 things to help you start homeschooling with more clarity, confidence, and peace

Homeschooling has been one of the most unexpected blessings of my life. What began as a random question from my 3-year old daughter has turned into a deeply rewarding lifestyle— one that allows me to be the primary educator of my children and to spend more time doing life with them than I ever imagined possible. The years at home with them, watching them learn and shaping who they’re becoming, have been full of joy, discovery, and growth—not just for them, but for me too.

I’m a big advocate for the homeschooling lifestyle, after all I started a blog about it! But I won’t sugarcoat it— it’s not the easiest, cheapest, or least stressful option. It’s stretching. It calls for more patience, flexibility, and energy than I anticipated. Still, I can’t imagine not homeschooling my children— because the blessing of carving a deeper relationship with them and watching them learn far outweighs the challenges.

As I reflect on the past five years of homeschooling our four children (now ages nine, seven, five, and two), I find myself thinking about what I wish I had known before we began this journey. My hope is that these lessons will encourage you, whether you're just considering homeschooling or are early in your journey, and give you a more realistic picture of what this lifestyle really looks like.

7 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before Homeschooling

1. It demands a lot of emotional and physical energy. Homeschooling is a mix of being a stay-at-home-parent + the sole educator of your child— neither one being a small feat. Combine them both and it’s a full day of juggling emotional demands, teaching topics that you may not feel like an expert in, and being on call round the clock, whether for academic support or merely being a mom.

   Although we allow for slower days occasionally, homeschooling means I’m “on” as a parent, teacher, homemaker, nearly every waking hour of the day. Knowing that it’s okay to feel tired doesn’t mean I’m doing it wrong, it means that I’m doing something right by investing a whole lot of myself into my children’s lives and education.

2. You don't need a fancy schoolroom to homeschool well. When starting any new hobby or endeavor, it’s easy to get sidetracked by details along the way and forget where we’re going. When I first began homeschooling, I dreamed of a beautiful, Pinterest-worthy school space that we would sit at each day and learn together. These rooms are inspiring, but absolutely not essential for success.

   Today, our learning takes place all over the house— the kitchen table, in the backyard, on the couch, or at the school table. What matters most is having an atmosphere that promotes focused energy, ample space to work, and a place to display hard-earned achievements like projects or artwork.

3. Don't search for the perfect curriculum, just get started. The search for the “perfect” curriculum can be paralyzing— I’ve been there. It’s better to begin with something simple, find your rhythm of homeschooling, and adjust as you go. You won’t know what works for your family until you’re actually in the routine of learning together.

   It’s better to just get started with a “good” plan than to delay the process because you’re searching for the “perfect” plan. You’ll have plenty of time to make tweaks, change curriculum, or revise your homeschool style.

   If you’re looking for a Christian curriculum, one of the most common, open-and-go options is The Good and The Beautiful. Although we no longer use it for our core subjects, it’s a great option, simple to follow, and provides a well-rounded approach.

4. Prioritize relationships over checking all the boxes. Some days, we check everything off our list and others we spend more time investing in what grabs our attention in science or take a spur-of-the-moment hike on our favorite trail. I’ve learned that homeschooling isn’t about checking all the academic boxes, it’s about having an opportunity to make real-world connections that create meaningful memories.

   Looking back, I wish I would have placed less focus on finishing up a workbook by the end of the school year and more time pouring over rich experiences that my kids will remember far longer than any facts learned in a textbook. Homeschooling gives you permission to break some of these academic rules— you are your child’s teacher and know how they’ll learn best.

5. Community matters more than you think. Homeschooling can be isolating if you're not intentional about finding support. Seek out other homeschooling families, through co-ops, playdates, or even online groups. Having a few like-minded friends to walk with you through the highs and lows makes a big the difference.

   We began our co-op the second year of our homeschooling journey but it wasn’t until recently that we were more intentional about investing in this community through park meet-ups, having friends over for playdates, and inviting families to our home for dinner.

6. Routines will save your sanity (but it’s okay to be flexible). Nearly every year that I’ve been homeschooling, I’ve either had a baby or toddler alongside my school-aged children. This has always been the hardest part of homeschooling, and one I wasn’t quite equipped for at the beginning. However, establishing simple routines has been the most helpful way to bring peace in the midst of managing four young children.

   Daily rhythms like have a set start time for learning, chores for kids, a closed kitchen between meals, regular outdoor time instead of screens, and family dinners every night are ones we’ve grown to see as anchors to our day. Even though each day comes with its regular routines, we leave room for flexibility, pivoting when a need arises. Because life happens…toddlers meltdown, babies choose not to nap, field trips pop up. I’ve found that a loose structure that is able to bend with your life is often better than a rigid schedule that fails when put under pressure.

7. Learning doesn’t only happen at home. I was a public school teacher before we began homeschooling, so breaking that traditional schoolroom mindset was something I had to unlearn. Since those early days, some of our best homeschool moments have happened outside the house—on a hike studying birds, at a museum, or simply exploring a new place together. One of the greatest gifts of homeschooling is that learning becomes a lifestyle, not just something done at a table.

Homeschooling isn’t always easy, but it is always fulfilling and worth the effort. The beauty of this lifestyle is that it doesn’t require perfection—it simply requires being present and a willingness to grow alongside your children. If you're just beginning, remember this— you don’t need to have it all figured out. Start small, stay connected, and give yourself (and your kids) grace. This journey is a long one, but it's rich with joy, purpose, and deep, lasting connection.