Homeschooling can be an incredible journey, but let’s be real—it’s not always easy. Having a solid support group in place can make all the difference. Surrounding yourself with people who understand and encourage your decision to homeschool is key to staying motivated and grounded. Over the years, I’ve learned just how vital it is to have the right people in your corner, and today, I want to share what’s worked for me when it comes to building a homeschool support system that keeps me going on even the toughest days.
Spouse
First and foremost, your spouse needs to be on board. When you’re having a tough day, it’s much better to have someone at home saying, “You’re doing the right thing by keeping the kids home and educating them,” rather than, “Why don’t you just put them in school?” Your spouse is your teammate. When you’ve spent a week trying to teach your child that 5×2=10, not 7, and you’re ready to pull your hair out, your spouse might step in with a unique approach that suddenly clicks. Even if they can’t devote time to teaching a full subject, just knowing they have your back in this important area of your life is priceless.
Kids
No matter how, when, or why you start your homeschooling journey, your kids need to be on board. Helping them understand why you’ve chosen to homeschool can be incredibly powerful. This is part of teaching them your values. In our family, we started by explaining that we valued our time together. Later, we shared our personal experiences with public school and homeschooling, and eventually, we included our political and spiritual reasons. Being open about our reasons didn’t magically make them eager to do their schoolwork, but it did help them appreciate the value of being educated at home.
Family & Friends
When you start talking about homeschooling, you’ll quickly see where people stand. Reactions usually fall into one of three groups: Skepticism, Undecided, or Supportive.
Skepticism
This is the toughest group to face. Often, their hearts are in the right place, but their comments can come off as unsupportive, judgmental, or even questioning your parenting. Try to view them as uninformed rather than hostile. Answer their questions, have open conversations about homeschooling, and let your results speak for themselves. A word of advice from my experience since 2015: avoid putting your children on the spot by letting others, or yourself, randomly quiz them in public. Keep the conversation between you and the skeptic.
Undecided
This group can be either curious or uninterested. I usually let them lead the conversation about homeschooling. It’s easy to accidentally overwhelm them or bore them with too much information.
Since we want as much support for homeschooling as possible, I keep the discussion general, touching on both the rewards and the struggles, and then let it drop when they lose interest.
Supportive
I’ve found a wide range of friends and family members who support homeschooling, from those with children in public school to those with no children of their own. This is the group where you can share your experiences, struggles, and victories. While I don’t hide challenges from the other two groups, I don’t seek parenting advice from skeptics or the undecided. Instead, I turn to this group for support and encouragement.
Other Homeschoolers
Fellow homeschoolers will likely be some of your biggest supporters. They understand what you’re going through and can offer practical advice for both homeschooling and parenting. Finding a group of homeschoolers in your area or that you click with might take some time, but it’s worth the effort. Good places to look include Facebook, GroupMe, online local group forums, co-ops, charter schools, churches, and even parks. Seek out groups that share something in common with your family, like faith or teaching style.
Bottom Line
We all need people in our lives who love and support us. This sense of community, connection, and identity helps keep us grounded. So, find your supporters, connect with others, and build your homeschool support group.
Final Thought
Homeschooling is a rewarding journey, but it’s not one you have to take alone. With the right support system in place, you can navigate the challenges with confidence and joy, knowing you’re giving your children the best possible education.