10 Hard-Won Homeschool Lessons from a Year of Growth, Struggle, and Joy

What worked, what failed, and the small changes that made our year more joyful, connected, and sustainable

May is a great time to look back.

Not to plan. Not to push ahead. But to pause—and reflect.

The school year is still fresh. There was a lot of beauty: a cross-country trip, the start of a learning club, deepening of friendships, incredible literature, and the quiet joy of watching my children grow and learn.

But also some painful lessons—mistakes I’d rather not repeat, like the unexpected end of that learning club I’d hoped would represent a bright future for our family.

But now is the moment to gather what the year taught me before time dulls the details. I’m writing it all down so that when July comes and it’s time to plan again, I’ll remember the most important lessons.

Maybe some of these lessons will resonate with you. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to skip my mistakes!

I hope it serves you♥️

Me & My Girls Photo by Maren Elizabeth Photography

✨Leaving My Job Was the Beginning of Coming Home

I left my job as a university professor a year ago this month, and to my surprise, I almost never think about it. I expected to grieve it—after all, walking away was gut-wrenching. So many tears. But the moment I stepped away, everything felt right, like this is what I was supposed to be doing all along. Every time I look back, there’s this quiet tightening in my chest—a reminder of what it feels like to live a life that wasn’t aligned with my values. Leaving was hard. But it was exactly what my girls and I needed.

🌸Switching to a “Boring” Math Curriculum Boosted My Child’s Confidence

This year, math was a bit of a roller coaster for my 10-year-old. In September, we switched curricula—trading a more advanced curriculum for something slower, steadier, and honestly... a little dull. But it was exactly what she needed. For six months, we moved slowly, rebuilding confidence. Finally, one day she looked up and said, “Mama, I’m bored.” I was thrilled. Boredom meant she wasn’t overwhelmed anymore. She asked to go back to the original curriculum—the one that’s more advanced, more playful, and much more her. Technically, she’s now “behind,” but she’s doing math for hours a day, joyfully, and asking for more. I count that as a huge win for the year!

✨We Sing Together Now—And Mornings Feel Like Ours Again

When my girls were babies, I used to sing them to sleep. Over time, that faded replaced by bedtime stories, then novels. I missed the music more than I expected.

This year, I made it a small personal goal to sing again—just for me. I started in the mornings as a way to ground myself before the day started. And of course, it wasn’t long before the girls joined in.

Now, it’s one of the sweetest parts of our day. We often weave in morning prayers, but whether your family does that or not, I can’t recommend this enough: a few minutes each morning to simply be together, no agenda, no rush—just connection and song before the day unfolds. It grounds us. And it reminds us that joy doesn’t have to be complicated.

🌸I Can Do It Alone, But I Shouldn’t

We’ve always struggled to find our homeschool “tribe.” I’m grateful for the warm, supportive online community I’ve found—but in real life, we have a few beautiful friendships but we’ve never quite landed in a co-op that worked for us. So this year, I decided to build one. I invited two or three of our dearest friends and started a little co-op of our own.

At first, it was wonderful. But over time—as so often happens—moms got tired, life pulled at everyone, and I found myself holding it together alone. Eventually, it unraveled. The co-op dissolved last month, and there were tears. Mine. And, heartbreakingly, my children’s too.

It’s one of my deepest regrets this year—that I couldn’t make it work. It was devastating.

What I’ve learned is this: I can do this alone, but I shouldn’t. I need a community. The kind that sees the effort it takes to create something meaningful for kids, and shows up for it. I’m lucky though, because when things fall apart, you find out who your people really are. And I’m grateful to say, I’ve got some wonderful friends in my life (if you’re reading this you know who you are).

✨Started Playing Classical Music—And Something Magical Happened

This year, I started playing classical music during our study time. I wasn’t expecting much—just hoping it might create a calmer atmosphere. But something surprising happened: the girls started recognizing the composers.

“Mama, can we listen to Scarlatti today?”, my oldest asked one morning. It felt a little bit like magic. Classical music quieted the room. Fewer distractions, fewer squabbles over who was being too loud at the table (is this just my kids that do this?!?). Just focus, calm, and beauty woven into our days. It’s been such a simple shift—but truly, one of the most meaningful additions to our rhythm.

🌸Spring Hit Us Hard— But We Found Our Way Back

A veteran homeschooler told me last month, “It took us years to realize we always wanted to quit in the spring.” At the time, I was exhausted—and his words were exactly what I needed to hear. We needed a reset. I added something new: curiosity projects (I’ll share more on how those went soon). The shift was beautiful. My oldest is now deep into writing a historical fiction novel, and my youngest is identifying fossils and building a display case. They’re lit up. They’re excited. I’m so happy supporting their sparks of genuine, joyful learning.

✨When We Got Too Busy, We Forgot What Mattered

As I’ve shared before, Family First is our family motto. But this year, we let it slide. We said yes to too many outside commitments—learning clubs, extracurriculars, jobs. In doing so, we too often said no to just us. Our little four-person family didn’t get time together; time we needed to thrive.

We’ve never been a big “family dinner” kind of household—we do breakfasts and lunches instead. But after adjusting my husband’s job so I could leave mine, even those shared meals became scarce. The rhythm of togetherness slipped through our fingers.

Next year, we’re bringing it back. Family First, front and center. That means protecting our time, saying no more often, and creating a more mindful life. I need to take on less. So do the girls. Because this beautiful, ordinary life we’re building? It only works when we get to live it together.

🌸Redoing Our Homeschool Space Didn’t Help Me Find What I Needed

We purchased our small home before we had any plans to homeschool or work from home full-time, and to say we’ve outgrown it would be an understatement. This year, we even decided to host a learning club at our house, which led to a lot of home renovations—new paint, new floors (in one room), and a lot more storage.

But, truth be told, it was exhausting, and in the end, the changes didn’t make a significant difference. I know many people thrive in remodeled spaces, but for us, it didn’t quite solve the problems we were facing.

Looking ahead to next year, I’m focusing less on the physical space and more on what truly matters—creating a clean, peaceful life where I can decompress, spending more time in nature, reducing the clutter of homeschool materials, and prioritizing more family time. Because in the end, if you fill a home with love it doesn’t matter what it looks like.

✨The Kids Make Breakfast Now, And It’s GRAND

In the past, my kids would occasionally help with cooking, but recently, they've taken full responsibility for breakfast. To clarify, we don’t rely on cereal—we prepare everything from scratch. So, breakfast is real cooking - with the stove.

One of the girls handles the cooking, while the other unloads the dishwasher and sweeps the floor. This not only lightens my load but also frees me up to focus on preparing more elaborate lunches, which has made everyone happier.

It’s been a beautiful reminder that kids are capable of so much more than we often realize. They embrace these responsibilities with enthusiasm and pride. They truly love contributing to the family, and it’s been a gift to witness their growth and sense of purpose.

🌸Even Healthy Habits Can’t Compete With Exhaustion

Perhaps the most important lesson I’ve learned this year is that I can do everything "right"—eat well, get enough sleep, and even exercise—but if I’m stressed, overextended, or exhausted, none of it matters.

I’m intentional about my health, but none of that matters if I’m not giving myself enough space to simply be. To sit with my family, to enjoy the quiet moments, to look up at the sky or hike a beautiful trail. As I plan for the year ahead, I’m reminded that I need to prioritize self-care more. I need to carve out time to relax and recharge because I can’t be the best mom I can be without first taking care of myself.

💐Looking Back, I’ve Learned A Lot

There is joy in the little moments—like playing classical music during our studies or singing with my girls in the mornings. But there were hard lessons too—like realizing I can’t do it all alone or that we let outside commitments take time away from what matters most: family.

The big takeaway?

I need to take more time to reflect, pause, and make space for what truly matters. It’s not always about doing more; it’s about doing what nourishes us.

What will you take away from this year?

I’d love to hear it. If it moves, you please leave a comment below.

I wish you a future with connection, growth, and presence over perfection.

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If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy👉 Our Month in India: A Journey into Beautiful Chaos

~Dr. Claire Honeycutt