My family has been on our homeschooling journey for 12 years. Our journey has been filled with both joys and sorrows, laughter and crying, victories and obstacles.
My wife would tell you that she often thought about quitting, but she would also tell you that she is happy she never gave up.
Why We Homeschool
One of our family values is seeking new things to learn and exploring new ways to learn. We believe that learning is an important endeavor that should last the lifetime of the learner.
As a homeschooling family, we value the flexibility that comes with being our children's primary educators. We set the schedule. We decide when it is time to take a break. We have the flexibility to schedule vacations, field trips, and other activities as desired, without being bound by the traditional school schedule.
We also value the freedom we have to decide what to teach. Each of our kiddos is different. They have different needs, desires, and dreams. As parents, we desire to tailor our children's learning opportunities to our family values and morals. As students, our children enjoy the freedom to lean into subjects and lessons that bring them the most joy and have the most impact on their future.
From my perspective, homeschooling has been a win-win for our family.
Are We Succeeding in Our Goals?
Choosing to start homeschooling is different from choosing to continue homeschooling. As I mentioned previously, there have been many hard days. As those hard days have come and gone, my wife and I have often asked, "Did we make the right decision? Are we doing what is best for our kiddos?"
I believe we have. Our children are smart (even though their primary educators are not trained teachers), sociable (even though they don't spend 8 hours a day with 20 kids their age), and impactful to the world (even though we spend so much time together as a family). As I said, we have had our challenges, but I would not change a thing about how we have chosen to educate our children.
Graduation - A Homeschool Milestone
Before I continue, I want to make something very clear. Not all kids are heading in the same direction. Not all milestones are appropriate for every kiddo.
That being said, homeschool graduation was a significant milestone of success for our oldest daughter. For several years, she has recognized that a college degree will be necessary for her to achieve some of her future goals.
So ...
- We have been talking about what is needed to make college a reality (from an academic and financial perspective).
- We have had many conversations about managing schedules, finances, and expenses as we prepare for our oldest to move to another city.
- She has been taking dual-credit courses through the college she plans to attend.
It was a long time coming, but my daughter has graduated. Class of 2025. And this pappa is very proud of her!
A Special Ceremony
There is a community of homeschooling families that live in and around our town. My wife and children have received a lot of encouragement from our homeschooling community. Special fields have been planned. Special lunches have been set up. Most recently, a special, highly personalized graduation ceremony was held.
Forgot those long ceremonies where all you do is watch graduate after graduate walk across the stage. Instead, each graduate ...
- was allotted five minutes for a picture slideshow
- had the opportunity to present an exceptional talent (my daughter sang a song with me and performed a dance with her sisters and brother)
- was presented with their diploma by their parents
- given the chance to show appreciation to those who have been important in their education journey
Our 2025 Graduate enjoyed her day alongside the other graduates. It was our honor to celebrate her, her accomplishments, and her future dreams.
While on a recent car ride, she told me, "I never thought I would have a graduation ceremony as a homeschooler." Although homeschooling affords us the chance to be different, I was glad that we could give her something that other graduates get to enjoy — a ceremony.
A Word of Encouragement
I'm not sure where you are in your homeschooling journey. Maybe you are in the planning stage, asking, "Can we make this happen?" Perhaps you've just started and are already facing those challenging days. You are asking, "Did we make the right choice?" Others are moving happily along, but they are wondering, "Is this right for our child's future?" And still others, some like me, have enjoyed the results of your time, effort, and energy. We are telling the rest, "It is worth it. Never doubt for one second!"
Thanks for stopping by!
Honestly, it's not like I really want to have children, but I really admire the parents who are currently making the effort to break the barriers of what is morally accepted to try to give their children a better life experience.
If I had them, I know I would seriously contemplate homeschooling them, because who hasn't seen so many horrible news stories of things going on in schools? And of course the education in the established schools isn't like it's the best anyway, the kids graduate and still know very little about the real world.
One of the reasons why I love this community is precisely because there are people who have understood the shortcomings and risks of the traditional educational system. In my particular case, I see every day the consequences in poorly prepared children and young people, whose parents seek the help of my mom and me to try to improve their academic performance.
Of course there will be moments of doubt, life is just that, ups and downs, good times and bad times, but the fact that you are thinking about these things, makes me presume that you are a parent concerned about your children. Keep it up.
@gabrieladifazio - Thanks for commenting on my post. First, thank you for being so transparent. Second, thank you for the encouragement.
I will be the first to admit that homeschooling is not for everyone, but my immediate pushback would be that many more families should consider it. The most common pushback that people give is, "I just couldn't do that." In most of those cases, fear is talking. When we understand the "why" behind our decisions, it becomes much easier to live out those decisions, even when we face obstacles and challenges.
Have a blessed day!
I love that your eldest got to have a graduation ceremony. We are in a state with a low population and while homeschooling was gaining popularity, it was still relatively rare, so most homeschoolers had to travel quite a bit to meet up. I think my eldest would have loved a graduation ceremony and I'm sad that we couldn't do that for her. She got one for her degree, but it was very crowded with those mere seconds to go and claim.
My youngest, on the other hand, had the opportunity for a graduation party even, as she went through Open Access for her last years, but she had no interest in it and wouldn't have known anyone there anyway.
They have a partying tradition here called Schoolies for high school graduates. I wonder if my eldest also felt she missed out there. She's never mentioned that, though.
@minismallholding - Each child is unique, but you already know that. What one child might want is something another child might dread.
We feel blessed that we were able to give our eldest both a graduation party and ceremony, because they were meaningful to her. I hope that we don't force certain exceptions on the rest of our kiddos. We homeschool because we want to provide customized education for each child. Sometimes I have to step back and remember that I also need to customize other aspects of life for each child.
Parenting is definitely not a cookie-cutter adventure! All the twists and turns make it so amazing and so complicated at the same time!
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Hey @sumatranate, it’s been a while — I’m glad you’re still here on Hive! 😊
And what a beautiful milestone - congratulations on this big achievement! 🎓👏 Homeschooling takes heart and grit, and you’ve clearly poured both into the journey.
@diabolika - I am still around. Not as active as in the past, but still around.
Thanks for the kind words regarding this wonderful milestone. I believe it reflects a lot on my oldest daughter, but it also speaks volumes to the character of my wife.
Congratulations! It's always inspiring to hear success stories from homeschooling families.
Having been homeschooling for 7 years, this is definitely a something we go through all the time. And yes, we always ask the same questions - "Did we make the right decision? Are we doing what is best for our kiddos?"
And we always go back to why we started- we want the children to learn, have solid values foundation, and equip them for that tough world outside.
@arrliinn - Keep it up, especially on the hard days. I hope that someday you will look back on your homeschooling journey and you say, "It was a blessing! It was the right thing to do!"
You have a very lovely family to be sincere and the step you and your wife showcase in impacting knowledge to your kids is an awesome one. There are times you will want to feel like the whole steps you've taken to impact knowledge on them is a waste of time likewise also there are times you will be happy you never stop doing the right thing to unites everyone together.
I like the fact that your wife always try her possible best not to give up on situation especially when it seems challenging. Your family have a goal which will always be part of them and that will really play a positive part in their lives. No doubt, every kids have a dream to chase which you cant force them but showing them the part to accept knowledge will lead them to the right path.
it's an honour for your graduate to celebrate as it is worth celebrating especially sacrificing oneself to dedicate time in learning and also accepting tough times and challenges. No one is perfect as we are opportuned to learn everyday. Your family is a good example many people will always want to look up to and I appreciate the effort your family is doing to touch lives positively.
@emeka4 - Thank you for the kind words. It means a lot.
You are correct. We do make mistakes, so many of them. Even in those times, we want to keep learning and keep growing.
I hope and pray that my children will continue to have an inquisitive nature and learning mindset.
Have a blessed day!
I wish them the very best and you as well.