So outsiders thought I was crazy. Some well meaning in laws (not my amazing mother in law), but others had tons to say about our choice to homeschool. And to be honest, at first, my own husband thought I’d lost my mind. Because I never wanted to homeschool. I wanted to work, travel, have a thriving career. And God had other plans for me. It took my hubby a little to get on board, but he finally did after a few months of prayer and conversations!

Decision Time

Deciding to homeschool is a big step— one made with care, thought, and love for your children. But what happens when your family or close friends don’t see it that way? The people you’d hope would be your biggest cheerleaders might instead become your loudest critics. It can be discouraging and even lonely at times. I’ve been in your shoes!

The good news? You can thrive as a homeschool parent even if your support system isn’t on board. To be honest, brutally honest, I got tired of answering questions doubting my abilities to homeschool or my choices early on. But now, 14 years in, I’ve learned a lot! You can thrive! Here are 5 practical tips for navigating doubt and staying confident in your decision!

Know Your Why: When the questions and doubts come (and for sure, they will come), nothing is more powerful than remembering why you started or why you are deciding to homeschool. Maybe you wanted to give your child more one on one attention, more flexibility, or freedom to learn at their own pace. For me, I started because I wanted to lay a strong Christian foundation for our daughter before sending her out into the world. That may not be you, but write your “why” down. Post it on your fridge. On hard days— go back to it and remind yourself that your decision has purpose.
Set Boundaries around the Conversation: I remember one time a relative came to stay with us and they were quizzing our then 4 or 5 year old on what “they thought” our child should know at that time. My child had no clue, and looked at them like they were crazy. At first, I felt a little defeated, but it actually prompted me to do a Unit Study on that very topic for the next time that relative wanted to second guess my abilities. I wanted to “stick it to him” so to speak. I know I know. Petty. But that was 10 plus years ago! I’ve learned and grown a lot since then! Anyway, it’s easy for every family dinner to turn into a debate if you don’t set limits. Protect your peace by steering the conversation elsewhere when homeschooling comes up. You may say, “We’ve made the decision that works best for us. Let’s talk about something else.” Boundaries aren’t rude—they are healthy.
Find Your Support System— I have to say we were super blessed here. I started homeschooling with some of my church friend moms. And we would all get together weekly for time together at one of our houses. We encouraged each other, and it was absolutely fantastic. We did that for years, and later, I truly truly missed that community. Seeking community is healthy. Local homeschool groups, co-ops, or even online communities can make all the difference. Surround yourself with people who “get it” and can offer both practical tips and emotional encouragement. Having one or two voices cheering you on can drown out the noise of criticism or negativity.
Let Results Speak for Themselves— So we just graduated our oldest at 17, she had a business and LLC before she graduated, internship, and all the things. She was leaps and bounds ahead of her peers, but early on people couldn’t see that. Nor did they think I was capable. Y’all. I dropped out of college my senior year to raise my oldest baby with my then boyfriend (who became my husband later…and now we’ve been together for almost 20 years)! I was young, dumb, and thought my life was over getting pregnant my senior year of college. But she was the greatest gift, and I have zero zero regrets! I don’t have a college degree, but my daughter was reading at 3, excelled in so many different things, and graduated with honors via Homeschool! Let your results speak for themselves. Over time, your child’s growth, progress, and confidence will be evidence of your amazing decision. You don’t have to argue with people over your decision; over time, your results will speak for themselves.
Protect your Confidence— Criticism has a sneaky way of making you doubt yourself. I’ve been there. Truly, many times over the last 14 years of homeschooling 4 kiddos. But remember this: no one knows your child like you do! You’re the one who sees their strengths, their struggles, their potential every single day! You are uniquely equipped to guide them! YOU ARE! Hold onto that truth when others try to shake your confidence! God chose you to parent and homeschool your child if you feel led! You got this!

Not everyone will understand your choice to homeschool, and that’s ok! You don’t need universal approval to do what’s right for your family. By staying grounded in your “why” setting boundaries, and surrounding yourself with the right support, you can homeschool with confidence even when loved ones doubt you.

You’re not alone— thousands of other homeschool parents have faced the same criticism and come out stronger on the other side. And so will you!

Until next time friend,

Shelly (updated Sept 22, 2025)