Thinking of Homeschooling – Are You Crazy?

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Homeschooling. The thought usually sneaks in quietly — maybe during summer break, when the pace slows just enough to remember what it’s like to breathe and enjoy your kids (most of the time). Or maybe it shows up midyear, in the middle of yet another drop-off meltdown, a forgotten permission slip, and the early morning panic over mismatched shoes. Maybe the thought of homeschooling comes when you realize your kid just spent seven hours out of your sight, learning who-knows-what from who-knows-who.

You brush it off, of course. Because homeschooling sounds a little… crazy. But maybe the crazier thing is doing more of what’s not working. And maybe, that “what if” thought is the start of something that actually makes sense.

Homeschooling feels crazy… until you realize what ‘normal’ has become. Normal now means dropping children off to strangers to spend hours soaking up who-knows-what kind of propaganda cleverly disguised as “education.” Creativity and curiosity get shoved aside for endless test prep and scripted lessons designed to churn out cookie-cutter thinkers.

Now that’s crazy.

That’s when the questions should start creeping in: Do we really want to go back to all that? Is there a better way? Or maybe it’s that gut feeling that your child — or you — simply aren’t ready for kindergarten, no matter what the school district claims. And here’s a fun fact for my fellow North Carolinians: your child isn’t required to attend kindergarten.

Here’s What’s Actually Crazy

Forcing your kid to squeeze into a one‑size‑fits‑all desk.
Whether they’re racing ahead, falling behind, or just plain bored, the system still expects them to sit still, follow the script, and thrive on a schedule designed for the “average” child — whoever that is.

Running a daily marathon.
Early alarms. Half-eaten breakfasts. Car-lines. A full day of not knowing what your kid is doing, followed by after-school meltdowns and homework you don’t understand. And then what? Repeat.

Kindergarten that looks more like grad school. Remember when kindergarten meant finger paint, story time, and naps? Now it’s all about assessments, rigid standards, and reading material that makes you do a double take. Academic pressure is high, playtime is low.

Saving your sanity for summer — instead of building a life around it.
You know that relaxed summer vibe? Slow mornings, books on the porch, fishing before lunch? That doesn’t have to be a seasonal perk. That can be your everyday.

Does it really seem crazy to imagine school that actually fits your kid—and your life?Homeschooling starts as a mini rebellion against the idea that education must be rigid, exhausting, or identical for every child.

Those Crazy, Common Fears

Let’s get something out of the way: everyone who has ever even thought about homeschooling has panicked at some point. Here are three very common misconceptions that I’ve heard over and over (and may have even said myself – in the beginning).

“I’m not a teacher!”
Oh but you are! Have you taught your child to eat with utensils? Zip a coat? Not lick the cart at Walmart? Congrats — you’ve already tackled some of life’s most advanced curriculum. Homeschooling isn’t about becoming a a perfect educator — it’s about guiding, modeling, and learning with your kid.

“What about socialization?”
Ahh, the classic. The myth that without a school building, your child will not know how to socialize. In reality, homeschoolers socialize all the time simply by living a life that isn’t trapped between bells. Want to know what else? If we had said yes to every co-op, park day, museum trip, and group activity offered, we’d never have been home long enough to crack a book. Socialization? Not a problem. Over-socialization? Now that’s something to watch out for.

“What if I mess this up and ruin them forever?”
You will mess up. Everyone does. But you know what? So does every parent, everywhere, regardless of how their kid is educated. But unlike the school system, you can pivot quickly when something’s not working. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s connection. If your kid knows they’re safe, seen, and supported, they will be more than fine.

What the Crazy Homeschooling Life Actually Looks Like

Spoiler alert! It probably doesn’t look like anything you’re picturing.

Homeschooling is not just public school with fewer desks and more snacks. It’s a whole different world — one that’s built around your family, not a school bell. It doesn’t require a whiteboard, color-coded binders, or even a desk – but if you want all that, it’s totally fine too! Some days are magical. Some days are chaos. Most days are a little bit of both. Some families thrive on structure. Others live for spontaneity. Some follow curriculum guides like gospel. Others wing it with library books and curiosity. It’s not always tidy. It’s rarely predictable. But it’s real.

There is no one “right” way to homeschool.

Is Crazy Beginning to Seem Normal?

If you’ve made it this far, there’s a decent chance you’re still intrigued. I’m not here to wow you with charts, studies, or standardized test stats (though believe me, I could). My goal isn’t to convince you that homeschooling is “better.” It’s to give you a glimpse of what’s possible — from someone who’s seen what the homeschool life can offer. That little voice in your head whispering maybe? It’s not crazy. Or if it is, it’s the good kind — the kind that leads people to do bold, slightly terrifying, worthwhile things!

Homeschooling isn’t about being the perfect parent, raising flawless kids, or proving anything to anyone. It’s about stepping off the assembly line and saying, “Let’s do this differently.” You’ll end up learning things you never expected — about your kids, about yourself, about long division at 11 p.m. You’ll have days where you wonder what on earth you’ve signed up for… and others where you look around and think, this is it. This is the good stuff. And honestly? Doing anything else would feel crazy.

When Crazy Starts to Make a Lot of Sense

Have you got 57 more seconds? CLICK HERE to see what a 30 year award-winning public school teacher has to say about public education. Maybe I should’ve led with that and saved you some scrolling and myself some typing — but I wanted to share my own take first. If you’re seriously considering homeschooling (or just curious), I highly recommend checking out two resources that shaped my early thinking in a big, big way: the book, Dumbing Us Down and the documentary, Indoctrination. They both changed my life early on – in the best way possible! And if you want a peek at how our own crazy homeschool adventure played out, check out Crossing the Homeschool Finish Line— it’s a quick and honest snapshot of our journey.

So, if homeschooling still sounds a little crazy… good. Because crazy is exactly what it takes to question the status quo, and to imagine something better for your family. It’s the kind of crazy that chooses connection over chaos, freedom over friction, and curiosity over conformity.

Crazy might just be the smartest thing you’ve ever done.