Mar 09 2025 16 mins
Only my close friends knew what I am going to tell you today. In Confessions of a Homeschool Mom, I tell you the truth that most homeschoolers won’t tell others because of fear of judgment. There is no judgment here!
Confessions of a Homeschool Mom ~ 552
“Welcome to Vintage Homeschool Moms; today, our topic is Confessions of a Homeschool Mom! I’m Felice Gerwitz and if you’re listening, chances are you’re a homeschool mom—or maybe you’re thinking about becoming one. Either way, you’re in the right place. This is a space where we’re real about the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Today, I want to share some confessions from my own homeschool journey—because, let’s be honest, we’ve all got them—and sprinkle in some encouragement to keep you going. So grab your coffee, your tea, or that cold cup you’ve been meaning to reheat for the last hour, and let’s dive in!”
First, I’d like to thank my sponsor, Judson College. Judson College offers biblical and practical training wherever a student is called to equip and live all of life for Christ.
Confession number one: I didn’t plan to homeschool. I was a teacher and decided to stay home with children once I had them; little did I know that my child would fit the category of “gray area,” meaning the school wasn’t equipped to teach him as well as I could. And I didn’t sign up to be a superhero.
Seriously, when I started homeschooling, I had this vision of calm mornings, kids eagerly gathered around the table, and me dispensing wisdom like some kind of pioneer woman crossed with Mary Poppins. Spoiler alert: That’s not what happened. Some days went smoothly, but often, everything was a mess. In fact, I tried to model the private school at home and that was a disaster. Who knew that giving kids recess meant they didn’t want to come back in and do more school.
That brings me to confession number two: Some days, I felt like I was failing. The laundry piled up, the science experiment didn’t work, and when I looked up to the ceiling, I noticed one of the gummy toys stuck to the ceiling fan—and I’m pretty sure my kids learned more about Legos than actual science. But then I watched my son reading a book she picked up on her own or my daughter explaining greater and less than to her brother because she gets it now, and I realized—those little wins? They’re huge. You’re not failing! You’re planting seeds, and they’re growing, even when you can’t see it yet.
Okay, confession number three—and this one’s a biggie: I didn’t have it all together, and you don’t need to either, and that’s okay. Social media can trick us into thinking every other homeschool mom has a color-coded schedule, a spotless house, and kids who recite Shakespeare know all of the classical composers and their greatest works while baking sourdough. Meanwhile, I’m over here Googling ‘how to get gum out of hair.’ But here’s the truth: You don’t need a perfect system or a Pinterest-worthy schoolroom. If you’ve got the determination, love, and a heart for your kids—that’s more than enough. You’re building something beautiful, a mess and all. Sure, organization is important, but what most moms don’t understand is that you are teaching more than you realize.
Now, let’s talk about why you’re doing this. Maybe you started homeschooling because you saw what was being taught in the schools and were rightly appalled. Perhaps you wanted flexibility, noticed your child wasn’t thriving in a traditional setting, or felt this tug in your soul that said, “I need to try this, if even for a season.” Whatever it was, that reason still matters. You’re not just teaching math or reading—you’re teaching your kids how to think and actually giving them time to think! You’re giving them time to chase their dreams. That’s powerful. You’re giving them a gift, and no one else in the world can do it quite like you. My children are all thinkers; they don’t often make rash decisions, and they had an opportunity and time while homeschooling to pursue their interests. That is priceless.
Confession number four: I’ve worried about how my kids were doing academically, if I was doing enough, where they were on the chart, or if we were on grade level. After the first few years, I went radical (for me), and I began teaching through unit studies and eventually wrote and published some of my own. I soon realized that the kids were excited about learning. It was working! I went full force into studying on topic instead of on grade, and learning opened up for my children in an entirely new way. They were interested in learning; I didn’t have to force or threaten them to do their schoolwork, and other than a math book and reading curriculum, we studied what we wanted. For six weeks, it was oceanography and then astronomy. Then, it was Creation Science and Anatomy; before I knew it, we had covered history, science, writing, reading, spelling, language arts, and so much more. The children thrived. At the end of the year, I was nervous about their evaluation, yet the results confirmed what I knew in my heart. My younger and middle school-aged children thrived with hands-on learning. I do wish I had continued with this in high school, but with some of my children who were collegebound we switched to books that would help them with entry exams. I still handpicked the books and we didn’t use a set curriculum but looked for the best. (Check out CathyDuffyReviews.com for great suggestions.)
Confession number five: I wouldn’t trade my years of homeschooling for anything. After five children spread out through the many years of marriage, I clocked in at thirty-two. I never dreamed I would finish one year of homeschooling, let alone thirty-two! Sure, it was hard. Sure, there were days I dreamed of going out to lunch with friends or going to the bathroom without someone knocking on the door. But let’s face it: the relationship I built with my children is everlasting. I was the one who went to the park with the kids and watched the awe on their faces during field trips. I was the one who watched them grow, learn, and become who they were meant to be That’s a privilege I’ll never take for granted. And I bet you feel that way, deep down, even on the tough days.
We managed to do some amazing things in our homeschool journey. Study about ancient civilizations and eat Greek food, travel to Georgia to find rocks that were not found in Florida when we studied Geology, go on an archeological dig and fossil float, go to the nature center on Sanibel Island for private tours, watch the stars in a planetarium for a homeschool-only group, group ice-skate lessons with one of the Olympic judges and so much more. It seems that southwest Florida, where I live, brings some of the most interesting people in the world, and many of these people touched my children’s lives in some way, with me able to watch and participate.
So here’s my challenge to you today: homeschool mom, dad or grandparent. Give yourself some grace. You’re juggling a million things—teacher, mom, chef, referee—and doing it with love. Take a minute to look at your kids and see what you’ve already done. That book they read? That’s you. The way they’re kind to each other? That’s you too. The curiosity in their eyes? You’re the one who is encouraging them instead of discouraging them. You’re not just keeping the ship afloat—you’re steering it somewhere amazing.”
Wherever you are right now—whether you’re in the middle of a lesson, scrubbing glitter off the table, or sneaking a quiet moment for yourself—know this: You’re enough. You’re doing something incredible, and your kids are lucky to have you. Keep going. You’ve got this.
That’s all for today from Vintage Homeschool Moms. Thanks for hanging out with me—I’d love to hear your confessions too! Drop me a message, share your story, and let’s keep lifting each other up. Until next time, keep the coffee strong and the grace stronger. See you soon!”
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