89: Feeling Overwhelmed? How to Start Your Homeschool Journey with Confidence

When spring comes around, if you're anything like me, you get the itch to start planning. Maybe it’s figuring out summer camps and family vacations…or it could be just dreaming about slower mornings and warm-weather fun.

But if you’re also thinking about making plans to begin homeschooling the upcoming school year, I want to pause and talk directly to you. Because I’ve been right where you are: excited, nervous, hopeful… and also a little overwhelmed.

When I decided to return to homeschooling after my daughters finished 1st and 4th grade, I was already over it with their school situation. So I knew I wanted something different—but I also felt like I had more questions than answers…

🤔What curriculum should I use?
🤔Will my kid have any friends, or are we just going to live on an island now?
🤔And how am I supposed to homeschool and still juggle work?

I started doing what most of us do: researching like crazy, opening 52 tabs at once, scrolling for hours, and second-guessing everything. But after months of information overload, I realized something really important…

Clarity doesn’t come from doing more research.

It comes from stepping back and getting clear on your family’s vision first.

How to Start Homeschooling Strong…Without the Stress

Before you go down a Google rabbit hole like I did, I want to offer a simpler, more grounded way to begin your homeschool journey. Here are three foundational steps that helped me—and that I know will help you too.

1. Start With Your “Why,” Not Your “How”

I know it’s tempting to dive into the logistics. What curriculum should you use? What should your schedule look like? What does your state require?

Those are important—but they’re not the first questions to ask. Instead, ask yourself:

• Why are we choosing homeschooling?
• What do we want to experience as a family?
• What values do we want our kids’ learning to reflect?

When your “why” is clear, the “how” becomes so much easier to figure out. It becomes yours—not something copied and pasted from someone else’s plan.

2. Focus on Your Family

It’s easy to get caught up in the shiny, color-coded homeschool rooms and perfectly structured daily schedules that you see online. But those shouldn’t be your focus...your family’s needs are what you need to hone in on.

Start with understanding how you’re built and what you need to be successful:

• What’s your child’s learning style?
• What’s your family’s rhythm like during the week?
• What kind of community and support will you need?

Homeschooling is not one-size-fits-all. And that’s actually what makes it so powerful. It allows you to create something that reflects your family’s values, personalities, and goals.

3. Take Just One Step at a Time

Repeat after me: I don’t have to figure it all out before I start.

Seriously!

Instead of planning the next 12 years of your child’s education, just focus on the next few months:

• Set 1–2 intentional goals.
• Learn your state’s homeschool laws.
• Start exploring curriculum options—without rushing to buy anything.

I’m naturally a planner (hello, calendars and spreadsheets!), so I totally get wanting to map it all out in advance. But when it comes to homeschooling, too much planning upfront can actually hold you back.
You’re allowed to learn as you go. You’re allowed to pivot. Remember: progress over perfection.

Want Help Mapping This Out?

If you’re nodding along and thinking, “Yes, I want to do this…but I could really use some support to figure it out,” I’ve got something for you!

I created a free START Homeschooling Workshop that walks you through all the first steps of homeschooling—at your own pace.

🎧 Inside, I’ll guide you through:

✅Setting your homeschool goals
✅Understanding your state’s legal requirements
✅Choosing curriculum without the overwhelm
✅Honoring your child’s full development
✅Building your support system

 The best part? It’s all in short audio lessons that you can listen to while doing life—folding laundry, driving, or hiding from your kids in the pantry (no judgment 😉).

You’ll also get a printable workbook so you can jot down notes, reflect, and keep everything in one place.

👉🏾Grab the free workshop at homeschoolourway.com/start

The Bottom Line

If homeschooling is on your heart for the upcoming school year, don’t let fear, overwhelm or decision fatigue talk you out of it. 

You don’t have to get it all perfect. You just have to get started! 

 Ready to Homeschool in a Way That’s Aligned With Your Family?