Real Talk: What I Wish I Knew Before I Started Homeschooling

If I Could Go Back to Day One

Let’s be real—I had some big ideas when I started homeschooling. I pictured a beautifully organized homeschool space, kids happily engaged in lessons, and a smooth daily rhythm that just worked. Fast-forward a few months, and reality hit: math lessons sometimes ended in tears (mine included), curriculum choices felt overwhelming, and I questioned everything.

If I could sit down with my past self and spill some homeschooling truths, I’d say this. So if you’re starting—or even if you’ve been in the trenches for a while—take a deep breath. You don’t have to get it all perfect. Here’s what I wish I had known from the start.

Your Homeschool Will Not (and Should Not) Look Like a Traditional Classroom

At first, I thought homeschooling meant recreating “real” school at home. I set up a dedicated homeschool room and printed out a color-coded schedule.

But here’s the thing—homeschooling isn’t just about moving school into your house. It’s about creating a learning environment that works for your family.

✅ Learning happens curled up on the couch with a good book.

✅ It happens in the kitchen while baking cookies and casually throwing in a math lesson.

✅ It happens outside on a nature walk when your kid randomly asks why the sky is blue.

💡 What I Wish I Knew: You don’t need desks, a rigid schedule, or hours of sit-down lessons. Homeschooling thrives on flexibility—lean into it!

Some Days Will Feel Like a Hot Mess—and That’s Normal

I used to think a successful homeschool day meant checking off every subject, having zero meltdowns, and feeling like a rockstar by the end of the day. But in real life? Some days, nothing goes as planned.

📌 Your child refuses to do math?

📌 The toddler dumps flour everywhere during science?

📌 You feel like calling it quits before lunchtime?

Yep, been there. Some days, the best thing you can do is hit pause, go outside, or call it a “life skills day” (a.k.a. make them clean their room and call it home economics). Progress isn’t about perfection—it’s about the big picture.

💡 What I Wish I Knew: One rough day (or week… or month) doesn’t define your homeschool. The messy days are part of the journey, and guess what? Your kids are still learning.

The “Perfect” Curriculum Doesn’t Exist

Oh, the hours I spent researching curriculum, convinced that if I just found the right one, homeschooling would magically be easy. Spoiler: that’s not how it works.

The truth? Curriculum is a tool, not a magic wand. What works for one family might not work for yours. And even if a curriculum seems perfect, your kid might still resist it like a cat avoiding bath time.

✔ It’s okay to switch things up if something isn’t working.

✔ It’s okay to mix and match different resources.

✔ It’s okay to ditch a curriculum altogether and go rogue with library books and hands-on projects.

💡 What I Wish I Knew: You don’t need the “best” curriculum—you need one that works for your family. And if it stops working? Change it. No guilt is required.

“What About Socialization?” Is the Wrong Question

Before I started homeschooling, I worried my kids would miss out on socialization. What I didn’t realize is that socialization isn’t just sitting in a classroom with 25 same-age peers—it’s learning how to interact with all kinds of people in all kinds of situations.

Homeschooled kids socialize everywhere:

🏡 At homeschool co-ops and park days

📚 At the library or local museum classes

⚽️ Through sports, music lessons, and community groups

🛒 Even while chatting with the grocery store cashier

And the best part? Because they’re around people of different ages and backgrounds, they often develop better social skills than their traditionally schooled peers.

💡 What I Wish I Knew: Homeschoolers don’t miss out on socialization—they do it differently. And that’s a good thing.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Initially, I thought homeschooling meant I had to be my kids’ only teacher, coach, and mentor. But here’s the game-changer: you don’t have to do it all.

🌟 Join a local homeschool group or co-op.

🌟 Outsource subjects that drain you (looking at you, hands-on art projects).

🌟 Lean on community resources—museums, library programs, tutors, and online classes.

And most importantly? Find your homeschool people. Other homeschool parents get it. They’ll be there when you need advice, encouragement, or just someone to vent to about that math lesson gone wrong.

💡 What I Wish I Knew: Homeschooling is way more fun (and less overwhelming) when you have a support system. Find yours and hold on tight.

Final Thoughts

If I could go back and whisper some wisdom to my past self, I’d say this:

✨ You don’t have to get it all right.

✨ Your kids will learn, even on the messy days.

✨ You are enough.

Homeschooling is an adventure—some days will feel magical, and others will feel like a train wreck. But at the end of the day, your kids are getting something incredible: a childhood filled with curiosity, connection, and learning that fits them.

So, if you’re in the thick of it, wondering if you’re doing enough—take a deep breath. You’re doing better than you think.

What about you? If you could give advice to your former homeschooling self, what would it be? Please drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear it!