104: Stop Stressing! Your Homeschool Journey Is Right Where It Should Be

If you’re anything like most homeschool moms I talk to, there’s a little voice in your head that loves to stir up doubt.

She’s loud.
She’s dramatic.
And she LOVES to tell you that you’re falling short.

Scroll through Instagram for five minutes and she’ll whisper,
“Look at her routine. Look at their progress. Look at how together they are. Why aren’t YOU doing it like that?”

Meanwhile, you’re sitting there feeling like you’re just trying to make it through the week without questioning your entire life plan.

And if I’m being honest, I’ve been there too. But I need you to hear me clearly:

You are NOT behind. You are exactly where you need to be.

Once I finally learned how to silence that voice and replace it with truth, our entire homeschool rhythm shifted.

So I‘m sharing these four truths that will help you release the pressure, trust your pace, and recognize that your homeschool journey is unfolding right on time.

 1. There’s No “Behind” in Personalized Learning

About a year ago, I was stressed out thinking they were slipping behind in math. No matter how hard I tried, math just wasn’t clicking the way I hoped. 

So by second semester, I started looking at classes on Outschool, an online platform for virtual K-12 classes. Before I signed my kids up, I reached out to different teachers, explaining that my girls were behind and to please let me know if we should redo the previous grade.”

But when they actually started in those classes, something shifted.

Once they were in the right learning environment - with teachers whose styles connected with them - they thrived.

Their confidence grew. Their understanding deepened. And this year, they picked up their regular grade level like nothing ever happened.

That’s when I realized: Kids learn at the pace that works for THEM. And when you honor that, there is no such thing as “behind.”

2. Every Season of Learning Looks Different

Some seasons of homeschooling are academically heavy: reading, writing, math, science, etc.

On the other hand, some seasons are full of travel, creativity, life skills, or simply reconnecting with your family rhythm.

And both seasons matter.

My family is planning to do a lot more traveling soon  - both domestically and internationally -  and I’ve been preparing myself for that shift. Because when you’re immersed in a new country, a new language, and new customs…the learning that takes place is substantial.

It’s like being a baby again:
You’re absorbing everything around you at a tremendous pace.
You’re learning through curiosity, context, and experience.
You’re growing in ways you can’t measure in a workbook.

So during those seasons, I’ll need to pull back a little on the bookwork - not because academics don’t matter, but because I don’t want to overwhelm my kids (or myself!).

And that’s the beauty of homeschooling: You get to honor the season you’re in and let all forms of learning count.

3. Comparison Is The Thief of Confidence

I know and follow quite a few trained educators who now homeschool their kids. And to be honest? It has given me some serious imposter syndrome.

When I see them at co-op, I’m thinking: “Wow, her kids are lucky. My poor kids just get me.” 😔

When I see them online, I sometimes think: “If they ever see my content, they’re gonna say, ‘This chick has NO idea what she’s doing.’”

And when teachers join my coaching programs, I worry they’re secretly judging everything I suggest because they have the degrees, the classroom management skills, and the years of training.

Meanwhile, I’m just out here with my coffee and my spreadsheets, trying to make it all make sense.

But here’s the truth I had to swallow…gently, but firmly:

I DO know what I’m talking about.
Not because of a degree…but because I’ve lived this.

Every plan I’ve created.
Every family I’ve supported.
Every pivot I’ve made for my own girls.
Every lesson I’ve adjusted on the fly.

Lived experience is experience.

And your value as a homeschool parent doesn’t come from credentials. It comes from: your connection with your family, your consistency and how you show up for them, and your commitment to learn alongside your kids.

That’s the magic your kids benefit from. Your experience as a homeschool mom is just as valuable as degrees and certifications.

4. Your Timing is Right on Time

Sometimes progress moves slowly. Sometimes it feels shaky or inconsistent. And sometimes, it looks like absolutely nothing is happening.

But in homeschooling, the foundation is often forming quietly.

For a long time, I was worried my girls weren’t writing at the level I thought they “should.” We take online classes with kids from all over the world, and some of them are truly phenomenal writers.

So naturally, I panicked. I thought, “I should be doing more…they should be writing essays by now!” 😰

Then one day, I sat next to a woman on a flight who homeschooled all four of her kids, and she gave me the BEST advice I didn’t know I needed:

“Writing is a muscle. And nobody starts off by lifting 500 pounds.”

She told me to begin giving them short, daily writing prompts about things that interest them. And when we started doing that, I realized something so pivotal…

Even though they hadn’t been writing big, complex essays yet, we had been building their foundations in writing through consistent, daily work in grammar.

So when it was time to write longer pieces, they were ready. Because we’d been preparing for it all along.

My favorite line from the musical Hamilton says it best: “I’m not falling behind or running late. I’m not standing still, I am lying in wait.”

So the next time doubt begins to creep in, channel your inner Aaron Burr and remind yourself…

I am not late. I am right on time.

You’re Not Behind. You’re Becoming.

If there’s one thing I hope you take from this, it’s that your homeschool journey isn’t supposed to look like anyone else’s. Your pace, your rhythm, and your children’s grow are all unfolding in a unique, beautifully intentional way.

So remember: you’re not falling short, you’re not messing this up, and you’re definitely not behind.

You’re becoming the homeschool parent your kids need: day by day, lesson by lesson, season by season. And every single part of that journey matters.

So give yourself grace. And remember: you and your kids are right on time.

Need a Reset?

If you’re reading this thinking, “Yep…that’s me. I feel behind and I don’t know how to get out of my own way…”

You don’t have to figure it out alone.

Book a free Homeschool Discovery Call with me, and let’s talk through what’s feeling heavy or off-track.
I’ll help you find a clearer, more peaceful path forward — one that fits your family and supports your confidence.

 👉🏾Book your free call with me here.

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