Why We Chose Homeschooling

Why We Chose Homeschooling for our family (And the Kind of Childhood We Wanted to Create)

I have to admit, I never imagined I would become a homeschooling mom — let alone helping lead a play co-op, starting a children’s book club, driving an hour every week to another co-op, and doing everything in my power to make this lifestyle work for our family.

I grew up in public school my entire life, aside from a brief season of homeschooling during sixth grade because of bullying. Otherwise, my understanding of homeschooling was probably what many people imagined in the 90s: isolated kids with strict rules and no socialization. I truly had no idea what homeschooling could actually look like.

Like most people, I assumed I would work full time one day and send my children to public school so they could have a “normal” experience and fit in with everyone else.

It’s funny though — all I wanted growing up was to fit in, and now here I am working so hard to make sure my children never feel pressured to do exactly that. Instead, I want them to know they are allowed to be different. I want them to feel celebrated for who they uniquely are.

Changing the Script

As my oldest entered the toddler years, I started paying attention to families a few years ahead of me. I noticed something different about the homeschooling mothers I admired. Their homes felt slower. Their parenting felt more intentional. Their children seemed deeply connected to them, and they simply had more time together.

Around that same time, I picked up the book Wild + Free (highly recommend), and for the first time homeschooling stopped feeling like recreating school at home and started feeling like creating a meaningful childhood.

The flexibility, wonder, and slower rhythm of homeschooling showed me a completely different vision of childhood. One where curiosity was nurtured, imagination was protected, and learning felt deeply connected to everyday life.

Reading Wild + Free simply gave language to something I think I had already been longing for deep down.

Now of course, I believe structure is incredibly important for children, and I’m not suggesting we live some kind of chaotic “free for all” lifestyle. In many ways, it’s actually the opposite. While we incorporate parts of classical education into our curriculum, we also deeply value life skills, creativity, independence, family culture, and giving our children room to play and explore.

Preserving Childhood

As I reflected on my own school experience — and honestly, my childhood as a whole — I realized preserving my children’s innocence for as long as possible was something I cared deeply about.

I personally had to grow up too fast.

So many of us were immersed in adult culture long before we were emotionally ready for it. I also realized how little I truly learned during some of my own school years. Between large class sizes, struggling socially, and never being a particularly strong test taker, school often felt overwhelming more than inspiring. I missed a lot of days simply because it felt emotionally draining.

Not sheltered in the sense of hiding our children from the world, but in giving them time to grow before carrying the full weight of it. We want our home to be the place where their foundation, values, and sense of identity are formed first.

And honestly, one of the greatest gifts homeschooling has given us is simply more time together.

Taking my time

I’ve heard it mentioned that the majority of the time I will know my children is when they will be adults. I want to feel like I really got to know who they are every step of the way, not learn it second hand from teachers. The time we’ve gotten back with our kids is irreplaceable.

It always breaks my heart when I get the response from other moms after sharing that we homeschool that “I could never spend that much time with my kids”. But isn’t spending time with them the whole point?

Soaking in every moment, for the good and the bad- It is my joy to know I was there. Of course I recognize that it is a privilege to be able to stay home, and not every family is able to do that. It comes with sacrifices too, and for us- time with our kids is the most important priority.

We’ve explored farms and museums in the middle of the week, gone to the beach on random Tuesdays, lingered over books, adventured with friends, and built relationships with other families who value a similar rhythm of life.

Finding this community has been such an unexpected blessing.

Realistic Expectations

Homeschooling hasn’t made life easier or more perfect. Some days feel messy, loud, and overwhelming. There are still moments I question myself or wonder if I’m doing enough.

But when I picture the kind of childhood we hoped to create — one filled with connection, wonder, meaningful rhythms, time together, and room to simply be children — I can already see pieces of it unfolding in our ordinary days.

And for us, that has made all the difference.