Wish I knew these things before we started homeschooling
As we head into our second year of homeschooling, I wanted to share what I learned as a parent/educator in our first year of homeschooling. Although I did all the research and read all the articles, no one could have prepared me for these real life things I wish I knew beforehand.
1. Before you withdrawal your kids from school, please be sure you know your WHY. Why do you want to homeschool? What does this give you back by homeschooling?
2. Don’t plan out the entire year. Start with a month out, then after the first two month, plan out for the quarter. Trust me, it’s a lot less heartache when you don’t spend all your time planning just to have to go back and rewrite plans.
3. Your first year is basically unschooling. While the “term” unschooling has been used in multiple ways in the homeschool community. This particular term for us means that we had to “undo” all of the habits from public schools. The long time spans in a desk, the routine of sitting for 45 minutes and then having to run to your next class, the 20 minute lunches. This was probably one of the toughest for us because my boys were pulled in Middle School.
4. Listen to your kids. I cannot stress this one enough. We have one kids with ADHD, and one that is incredibly intelligent. One of our boys excels in area the other does not. Sitting down with them and finding out from them what they like about the school day and what they wish was different helped to give them a sign of authority over their own education. It was incredibly empowering.
5. Don’t give up on the hard days! You will have so many days that you wake up and get lost in the sauce. You will tell yourself that you’re failing and that this kids are miserable. That you should have left the kids in public school. Do NOT let those thoughts win. Take the kids on a field trip, have fun and then reset and get ready for the next day!
You got this!
#emergingcreator #homeschoolmom #homeschooljourney #lemon8community
Starting homeschooling can truly be an eye-opening journey, and by sharing my experience, I hope to make it easier for others embarking on this path. One of the biggest lessons I learned is how critical it is to establish your "why" before beginning. This internal motivation keeps you grounded during difficult weeks and reminds you of the benefits homeschooling brings to your family, like personalized learning and strengthened relationships. Another aspect that wasn’t obvious at first is the value of flexibility in planning. Instead of trying to map out an entire year, breaking the curriculum into smaller, manageable chunks like monthly or quarterly plans allows you to adjust based on your child’s needs and interests. It saved me from burnout and constant revisions, because homeschooling truly isn’t static — it evolves as your children grow. The concept of "unschooling" in the first year was a new idea to me. It’s less about strict academics and more about breaking free from old school routines that may not fit the home environment. This period helped us rebuild curiosity and confidence, especially transitioning from a traditional middle school schedule to a more fluid homeschool day. It takes patience but it’s worth it. Listening to my children has been transformational. Each kid is unique — for example, one with ADHD and another who thrives intellectually in different areas. Respecting their voices in planning their day cultivated their autonomy and enthusiasm. Asking what works and what doesn’t gave them ownership of their education, which encouraged engagement and reduced frustration. Lastly, the tough days will come, and they can feel discouraging. But it’s important to remind yourself that setbacks don’t mean failure. On overwhelming days, we’ve benefited from stepping away for a field trip or simply having fun to reset our mindset. Perseverance through those rough patches is part of the homeschooling adventure, and with time, you and your kids will find a rhythm that works. For anyone starting out or struggling in their homeschooling journey, remember you’re not alone and adaptability is your friend. These insights from my own experience can hopefully help you feel more prepared and confident as you make this meaningful educational choice for your family.