by Renée Gotcher

Whether you’re just finding your footing or you’ve been on this road for a while, we all know the homeschooling journey isn’t exactly a straight line. All homeschoolers go through different seasons — some years are full of energy and excitement, and others where we’re just doing our best to keep up. Even second-generation homeschoolers like myself experience times of insecurity, doubt, and re-evaluation.

The good news? Those of us who have been in your shoes can help you move past the unique challenges of your stage in this journey. Having overcome these seasonal hurdles ourselves, we can point to a few small adjustments that will help you keep moving forward with confidence in your homeschooling mission. 

• If you’re just getting started, you are likely to be in a season of excitement, also known as the “honeymoon” phase. However, you’re probably feeling a little overwhelmed by change, choices, and opinions.
• If you’ve been homeschooling for a few years, you might be stuck in a season of fatigue, also known as a “mid-journey slump.” Instead of excitement, you’re beginning to feel exhausted and wondering whether your current pace is sustainable.
• If you’ve been homeschooling for a while but feel like something isn’t working anymore, you might be in a re-evaluation phase. It could be the transition from homeschooling young children to teens, or it could be outside factors, such as relocating or managing family change. No matter the reason, the season of change doesn’t have to stop you in your tracks.

Whether you are in the honeymoon phase, in a slump, or in re-evaluation mode, I’m here to encourage you to press on: homeschooling is so worth it! Start with three simple steps to help you get unstuck based on your current season of homeschooling.

 

New to Homeschooling — A Season of Excitement

This “honeymoon” phase of homeschooling is characterized by a fresh curriculum, new planners, and high expectations for the year. You are likely feeling inspired by the unique potential of your child(ren) and the freedom to tailor their education around their interests and strengths. You might even find yourself smiling when you say, “So much to do, so little time!”

However, you are probably feeling overwhelmed by the plethora of homeschool options, curriculum vendors, and community-building activities available. Overthinking or overanalyzing all of these choices can bring your forward motion to a halt and paralyze your decision-making. How do you prevent analysis paralysis? 

1. Focus on relationships first.

It’s easy to get caught up in checking off boxes — especially if you’re an organized, Type A overachiever like I was! However, the foundation of a successful homeschool is the stronger bond you get to develop with your child(ren). Discovering a love for learning—together—lays the groundwork for handling more difficult subjects or workloads down the road without becoming overwhelmed. If they’re coming out of a traditional school environment, this is especially important! 

2. Keep it simple.

Resist the urge to do “everything” just because you think you should, your friends are doing it, and you think you have the energy to do so. Take the time now to develop a sustainable rhythm rather than trying to adhere to a rigid, overloaded schedule. It’s easier to add something later if it won’t disrupt your rhythm than to try to bow out of obligations and commitments you made at the beginning of the school year.

3. Document the wins.

Take photos, keep a “victory log” of moments you don’t want to forget, and celebrate a variety of accomplishments (not just the academic ones) throughout the year. Looking back on these memories will help motivate you to press forward if you find yourself in a “slump” down the road.

 

In a Homeschooling “Slump” —  A Season of Fatigue

Let me assure you that every homeschooler experiences burnout or exhaustion a few years into the homeschooling journey, even if it seems like they have it all figured out. You might be showing up on the outside, but beginning to shrink back on the inside, afraid that someone might discover that you actually don’t have your act together.

I was one of those moms who prided myself on being at every homeschool group meeting, enrichment class, and park day with a smile and a helping hand because of my “veteran” homeschooler status. I wanted to be a positive, supportive example for new homeschoolers so they would be encouraged to continue. However, there came a point when I found myself avoiding social activities for moms, skipping optional events, and feeling like May couldn’t come soon enough so I could be done with the leadership roles I’d taken on. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I knew I was nearing burnout and needed to regroup.

If you can relate to those feelings, just know that being in a slump is not a sign of failure — it is feedback that your current pace is unsustainable. Increased irritability, impatience, exhaustion, or a sense of being “behind” all the time are signs that you are probably investing more energy than you have to spare. How do you keep moving forward if you think you’re out of gas?

1. Give yourself grace.

I’m sure you’ve heard that you cannot pour out from an empty cup. A metaphor that made more sense to me when I was experiencing burnout is: You can only carry a certain number of “balls” (priorities) at one time. If you add just one more ball, you’ll have to let go of another you’re already holding. As caretaking moms, we tend to let go of our own priorities first. When my counselor asked me to name the “must do” responsibilities I was trying to carry, it was clear that I had to let go of some so I could take back the essential ones, such as my health, mental well-being, and core family relationships. When it comes to the daily school routine, you can always scale back to just the basics (such as reading and math) for a short time to lighten the load on yourself and your children, too!

2. Change the scenery.

One of my favorite perks of homeschooling was the freedom to “do school” outside, on a family road trip, or simply at someone else’s house (because homeschooling together is even more fun!). Moving some lessons to a park, the library, or even a different room in your house can be enough to shift the mood and reignite some excitement about what you’re working on. Research also shows that spending time outside provides a physical and mental energy boost — benefits that extend beyond your schooling hours.

3. Seek community.

I learned from experience that isolation is not the solution for burnout; it just adds weight to the overwhelming burdens you are carrying. Reach out to a veteran homeschooling friend or even an online group if you haven’t connected with local homeschoolers yet. Although too many outside activities contributed to my burnout, don’t be tempted to cut them all out — stay connected with activities that are building your support system. I was extremely grateful for the empathetic homeschool friends I made along the way, who encouraged me to keep going and reminded me that simplifying was not a sign of failure.

 

In Re-Evaluation Mode — A Season of Change

Sometimes the fatigue isn’t just about physical or mental exhaustion — it’s a sign that your current method, curriculum, or schedule isn’t working for your family’s needs anymore. You might feel ready to go back to the drawing board and try something new, but you might also feel guilty about the “wasted” time or money you have already spent.

I can honestly say we made more than a few curriculum and method changes along the way — and every change was well worth the time and effort. My daughters also learned to think outside the box when they felt frustrated with a particular subject or method, and we found solutions together. Selling curriculum and swapping with homeschooling friends to try new resources kept the cost of change to a minimum. 

Should you rip up the old lesson plans and give away the books gathering dust on your shelves? If you have to make changes, does that mean you’ve failed in some way to make what you have work?

1. “Deschool” your mindset.

Remember that homeschooling doesn’t have to mirror a traditional classroom — nor should it. Remember why you started, and ask yourself: what needs to change right now so we don’t burn out before we finish? If a particular curriculum, workbook, or teaching method is causing tears every day, give yourself permission to put it on the shelf and try a different approach. If you’re homeschooling multiple ages, what worked for one child might not work for the younger one when he or she moves up to that level. If needed, you can sell that curriculum and use the proceeds to purchase something that is a better fit.

2. Involve your children.

Ask them what they enjoy and where they feel stuck. Involving them in the planning can reignite their ownership of the learning process and build self-confidence. Of course, you’ll need to take their suggestions with a grain of salt: not every lesson can be turned into an interactive game or creative project. However, you might be surprised at how many good ideas they bring to the table that improve the experience for both of you!

3. Try a “Soft Pivot.”

Before investing in a whole new curriculum package, try a unit study or project-based learning for a few weeks to see if a change in style helps more than a change in content. For example, a textbook that is challenging to read (and intimidatingly thick!) might be more approachable if used sparingly as a parent read-aloud to spark discussion or a launching pad for recommended activities, followed by a trip to the library to pick up free supplemental reading. Little adjustments can often have a big impact and save you the cost of starting over with new purchases.

 

Confidence in Your Calling

It’s important to keep in mind that homeschooling is a “marathon, not a sprint” — even as you approach the finish line. (In fact, homeschooling high school was one of my most cherished seasons of our journey. Don’t sprint to finish!) No matter where you are right now in your homeschooling journey and what challenges you need to work through to move forward, be confident that your dedication and perseverance are making an eternal impact on your children. 

 

Dive Deeper With These Additional CHEC Resources

• Find Encouragement on The Colorado Homeschool Podcast: Are you striving for an ideal that just feels unattainable, especially as real-life challenges and unexpected setbacks pop up? Veteran homeschooling mother of nine children, Nastashia McMillen, explores what truly matters in home education and discipleship in “The Myth of the Perfect Homeschool Family—Debunked!”
• Receive Education and Inspiration at Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference Workshops: Soak in biblical inspiration and how-to advice tailored to your specific season in life and homeschooling. Each workshop is a 50-minute session focused on a specific topic, led by inspiring featured speakers. Find a workshop track that fits your needs here.
• Equip Yourself for Your Next Stage (New Homeschoolers or Homeschooling High School): CHEC offers in-person seminars for families new to homeschooling and those preparing to homeschool a high schooler. Because these one-day seminars are only offered a couple of times per year, you can purchase on-demand recordings of both seminars online at any time! 
  • Introduction to Homeschooling Seminar Recording
  • High School & Beyond Seminar Recording

Which “season” of homeschooling are you currently in? Which suggestions resonate with you most? What else has helped you get unstuck and move forward with confidence in the past? Share your thoughts in the comments!

 

About the Author: Renée Gotcher

Renée Gotcher is the Communications Coordinator at CHEC, as well as a freelance writer, editor, and recently “retired” homeschooling mother of three daughters (two are also college graduates and the youngest attends BJU). Renée and her husband of 31 years, Kenny, are next-generation homeschoolers who were homeschooled in the late 1980s and began homeschooling in 2010. Soon after, Renée launched a homeschooling blog, NextGenHomeschool.com, and actively supported the local homeschool community through various leadership roles for 14 years. She recently contributed to Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today devotional series and writes monthly devotionals for the Daybreak Devotions series on Crossmap.com and her personal blog, The Pace of Grace.