When we first started homeschooling, I was on a mission to get it “right.” I stayed up way too late researching every curriculum option under the sun, trying to line up our lessons with what traditional schools were doing, and checking off every box like I was going for homeschool valedictorian.
Newsflash: no such award exists. Bummer, right?
But here’s the thing I’ve learned—and honestly, am still learning:
It’s all going to keep changing.
My mom says, “You finally figure it out… and then everything changes again.”
Truer words have never been spoken. Except maybe, “We’re out of coffee.”
Our homeschool life has been one big evolution. And looking back, I’m actually thankful it didn’t go “perfectly” in the beginning—because it gave us space to grow into something better: something that feels like us.
From Control to Connection
Back then, I was all about structure. We had a tight schedule, a color-coded plan, and enough laminated charts to start a small teaching supply business. But slowly, I started to notice the magic happened not in the structured moments, but in the in-between.
In the mud castles.
On spontaneous field trips.
When the girls were playing so beautifully together that I couldn’t bring myself to interrupt with a math worksheet.
We’re ahead in lessons anyway—why not pause and just be?
They only get one childhood. And I only get one chance to be present for it.
Our Philosophy Now: Built on Four Pillars (Not Laminated, Promise)
- Curiosity Over Curriculum
If a topic sparks interest, we chase it down every rabbit trail we can. I’ll take a day of passionate learning over perfect pacing any time. - Movement and Nature Daily
Brains work better after a bike ride, creek stomp, or a barefoot wander through the yard. So do attitudes. (Mine included.) - Relationships First
No math fact or grammar rule is more important than the vibe in our home. If we’re all cranky, we reset. If we’re connected, the learning flows naturally. - Mastery, Not Speed
I don’t care when they learn to read—I care that they love reading. That they understand deeply. That they have space to ask questions and take their time.
Homeschooling Isn’t Something We “Do”—It’s How We Live
I’m not here to recreate school at home. I’m here to build a learning life where wonder and rest and adventure can live side by side. One where the kids see their mom loving to learn, too (even if it’s just learning how to grow tomatoes or fix the WiFi again).
Homeschooling no longer feels like something I have to prove.
It’s something we live, breathe, and adapt—as we grow together.
What’s your homeschool philosophy? Has it evolved? Or are you still figuring it out as you go? (Spoiler: we all are.) I’d love to hear what’s working—and what you’ve let go of.
Run Teach Bike 