One of the most common fears parents have about homeschooling is that they aren’t “qualified” to teach their children at home. There’s a misconception that homeschooling requires expertise in every subject or that a parent must have the skills of a professional teacher. But as experienced homeschool moms June, Christina, and Maggie discuss, homeschooling is about so much more than traditional teaching. Here, they share insights on how homeschooling can be a fulfilling journey of learning alongside your children, using resources around you, and adapting as you go.

This is just part of a longer conversation between these homeschooling moms. You can read all the interview articles on our blog, or view the video interviews in our How I Homeschool course, available for free on My Compass Classroom.

“I Could Never Teach My Child”: Overcoming the Initial Fears

You Don’t Need to Be a Professional Teacher

June addresses a concern she hears frequently: “I could never teach my child.” She points out that most states only require parents to have a high school diploma or GED to homeschool. Christina echoes this sentiment, sharing her own doubts when she first started. “I felt like I wasn’t ready or didn’t know enough,” she says, but soon discovered that with a love for her children and the ability to open a book and learn alongside them, she could do a great job.

Maggie, a former elementary school teacher, explains that homeschooling is not the same as teaching in a classroom. “It’s freeing for moms to know they won’t be replicating a school environment at home,” she says. Homeschooling allows for a personalized approach, adapting to the child’s needs without the rigid structure of a traditional classroom.

Trial and Error is Part of the Journey

All three moms emphasize that homeschooling involves learning as you go. There’s no need to have everything figured out from the start. Christina reassures parents, saying, “We’re regular moms, learning as we go.” Each year offers a chance to make adjustments, try new methods, and find what works best. Homeschooling is an evolving process, one where both parent and child learn and grow together.

You’re Not Alone: Tapping into Family and Community Support

Homeschooling Doesn’t Mean Isolation

One misconception about homeschooling is that it isolates both the parent and the child. June addresses this concern by emphasizing that homeschooling families are rarely alone. “You’re free to bring in other people to help,” she says, describing how grandparents, siblings, and friends can all contribute. Christina adds that in her home, older children often help younger siblings by reading to them, playing educational games, or even teaching simple skills. This dynamic not only strengthens family bonds but also fosters a collaborative learning environment.

Making the Most of Family Resources

Homeschooling allows parents to get creative with the resources already around them. Maggie shares a story of a friend who introduced French to her younger children, with the older sibling acting as the tutor after studying the language for several years. In June’s household, her husband handles math lessons in the early morning before work, making the most of each family member’s strengths and interests.

June also highlights how her mother-in-law, who lives 2,500 miles away, calls her son weekly to read together over the phone. This remote reading session has not only enhanced her son’s learning but also created a special bond between grandparent and grandchild. For June, these small but meaningful connections demonstrate that homeschooling is often a team effort, with family members from near and far contributing to the child’s education.

Bringing in Outside Help and Resources

Tutorials, Co-ops, and Online Classes

As children grow older, especially into high school, parents may feel unsure about tackling more advanced subjects. Maggie points out that homeschooling doesn’t mean you have to become an expert in every subject. Many homeschool families take advantage of tutorials or co-ops that offer weekly classes in subjects like math, science, or foreign languages. These programs provide structure and guidance, allowing children to interact with teachers and peers while parents oversee their work at home.

Christina also highlights online classes, which offer flexibility and access to subject matter experts. “You can bring in a subject matter expert without it taking up every day,” she says, explaining that many online tutorials involve one or two sessions a week, with independent study in between. This hybrid model allows students to benefit from professional instruction while keeping a flexible schedule.

Finding Creative Solutions Close to Home

For parents new to homeschooling, Maggie recommends looking around at the resources in your immediate community. From neighborhood friends with expertise in various subjects to local college students who can offer tutoring, families often have more support available than they realize. Maggie herself has a college-aged family friend who tutors her children in math weekly, a solution that has provided both academic support and a positive role model for her kids.

June shares a similar experience, arranging small co-ops with friends where each parent teaches a subject aligned with their interests or skills. These “mini co-ops” provide enrichment and social interaction for the kids, without the cost or commitment of a full-time program. Homeschooling, they emphasize, doesn’t have to be a solo endeavor.

The Joy of Learning Alongside Your Child

Homeschooling as a Shared Journey

One of the unexpected rewards of homeschooling is the opportunity to learn alongside your child. Christina describes this as one of the greatest joys of her homeschooling experience. “It’s so much fun to discover stories, history, and literature with your child,” she says, explaining how they often read books together, learn new things, and discuss them. This shared journey not only enhances the parent-child bond but also fosters a love of learning.

June adds that homeschooling often looks different from traditional education in that it’s less about strict instruction and more about creating a “feast of ideas.” This approach allows children to explore topics and ideas with delight, rather than simply memorizing facts. She believes that homeschooling offers a unique chance to present knowledge in a way that sparks curiosity and encourages lifelong learning.

Encouraging Independence in Older Students

As children progress into middle and high school, they become more independent learners, but parents remain involved. Maggie notes that while high school brings higher-level subjects, homeschooling doesn’t require the parent to become a chemistry or calculus expert. With the abundance of online resources, tutorials, and guides, parents can support their child’s education by providing structure and guidance without necessarily mastering every topic.

Christina shares that as her children’s independence grows, she enjoys discussing what they’re learning, often diving into deeper conversations about ideas they encounter. “It’s fun for them to learn and then come to you and say, ‘Let’s discuss this,’” she says. This approach helps older children feel ownership of their education and strengthens family relationships through meaningful conversations.

Homeschooling Allows for Flexibility and Freedom

There’s No “One-Size-Fits-All” Schedule

One of the greatest advantages of homeschooling is the ability to shape education around the family’s schedule, values, and needs. June encourages parents to start slowly and embrace flexibility. “You don’t have to have it all figured out right away,” she says, reminding parents that homeschooling is about progress, not perfection. Families can adapt their schedules to accommodate work, family commitments, and the individual learning styles of each child.

Finding Joy in Each Season

As the moms discuss, homeschooling allows for an evolving educational journey where families can adapt their approach with each season. Christina recalls how insecure she felt when she first started homeschooling her oldest child. “I just said, ‘I’m going to try it for a year and see what happens,’” she recalls. Now, many years later, she’s still homeschooling and enjoying the journey. Her experience illustrates that homeschooling doesn’t require a lifelong commitment from day one. Many parents start with a trial period and, over time, find that homeschooling suits their family.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Learning Adventure

Teaching your kids at home doesn’t require professional training, perfect planning, or the latest resources. What it does require is a willingness to learn alongside your child, reach out to family and friends for support, and make use of community resources. Homeschooling is a journey of shared discovery, where parents and children grow, explore, and adapt together. As June, Christina, and Maggie highlight, it’s an adventure that enriches family relationships and brings the joy of learning into the heart of the home.

If you’re considering homeschooling, take heart: you don’t have to be an expert, and you don’t have to do it alone. With a community of support, a flexible approach, and the courage to embrace trial and error, homeschooling can be a deeply fulfilling experience for both you and your children. And as these moms have found, each year brings new opportunities to learn, connect, and grow together.

Enjoy the entire conversation between these homeschooling moms in our How I Homeschool course, available for free on My Compass Classroom.

Need some help and encouragement to take these steps in your own homeschool? Christina, one of the moms from the interview above, would love to come alongside you for help and encouragement. Book a one-on-one appointment with her or one of our other veteran moms—no long-term commitment is needed. Learn more about our coaching services.