Why I Chose to Homeschool - 30 Years Ago

When my oldest son, Shawn, was just a year old, I had no idea the path God would gently lead me down.

At the time, homeschooling wasn’t something I had seriously considered. I had heard about it while listening to Focus on the Family. Dr. James Dobson was interviewing Dr. Raymond Moore, and I remember thinking it sounded intriguing… peaceful, even.

But also?
A little out of reach.

I didn’t know anyone who homeschooled. It felt like something meant for someone else—someone more confident, more capable, more prepared.

Not me.

But God has a gentle way of bringing things closer when He’s calling you toward them.

Not long after that, we started attending a new church.

And to my surprise, it was full of homeschooling families.

Suddenly, homeschooling wasn’t just an idea I had heard on the radio—it was right in front of me. Real families. Real children. Real life being lived in a completely different way than what I had known.

And something in my heart began to lean in.

Before becoming a mom, I had been a first-grade teacher. So as I reflected on what I had heard and what I was now seeing, it all began to make sense in a deeper way.

I had seen the classroom from the inside.

I knew how much time children spent with other children—and how often they learned immature behaviors from each other instead of being shaped by maturity. I had seen how classrooms often had to move at the pace of the lowest common denominator, leaving little room for children to truly flourish.

And I understood something else too…

How easily children can begin to look to their peers and teachers for direction, instead of their own parents.

That realization stayed with me.

But it wasn’t just the ideas that drew me in.

It was the families.

This church didn’t just have homeschoolers—it had a homeschool support group led by the pastor and his wife. There was encouragement, shared wisdom, and a sense of purpose that felt both peaceful and strong.

And the families… they were close.

The children were respectful. Joyful. At ease.

There was a warmth in those homes that you could feel.

And deep down, I thought,
This is what I want.

I wanted to be with my children.

Not just in the early mornings or tired evenings—but in the middle of their days. In the learning. In the conversations. In the moments that quietly shape who they become.

I loved teaching. That part of me had never gone away.

But I also loved being home with my children.

Homeschooling felt like a gift I didn’t know I was allowed to open…
A way to hold both of those loves in my hands at the same time.

As time went on, I began doing homeschool assessments for families in our group.

That experience changed everything.

I got to see what homeschooling really looked like behind the scenes—the curriculum, the methods, the rhythms of daily life.

And what I saw only confirmed what my heart had already begun to believe.

It wasn’t just about academics.

It was about connection.
It was about character.
It was about raising children in an environment where they were truly known and guided with intention.

Somewhere along the way, something settled in me.

What once felt uncertain became clear.

Homeschooling wasn’t just something I could do…
It was something I deeply wanted to do.

In fact, I knew it was the only way I wanted my children to be educated.

Not because it was perfect.
Not because I felt perfectly equipped.

But because it aligned with what I believed mattered most.

Maybe you’re in a place I once was.

Curious… but unsure.
Drawn… but hesitant.
Feeling like this might be for “other moms”… not you.

I just want to gently tell you:

Sometimes God places a desire in your heart before you feel ready for it.

And sometimes, He brings the people, the confirmation, and the clarity… one step at a time.

That’s what He did for me.

And if He’s stirring something in your heart too—you don’t have to have it all figured out yet.

You just have to be willing to take the next small step.

💛 If this encouraged you, I’d love to walk with you a little further.

I created a simple, gentle starting place for moms who are feeling unsure or overwhelmed:

“You Are Not ‘Just a Mom’: 5 Truths God Says About Your Role”
A short devotional to help you see your role—and your calling—with fresh eyes.

Because what you’re doing matters more than you may realize.