After reading everything I could find about how to homeschool, educational philosophies, curriculum options, and so much more, I realized that I needed to just take the plunge.

My husband and I decided to commit to homeschooling, at least for a few years. He wasn’t so sure about committing to homeschool for the long haul but was game to give it a try for the elementary years. (I was ready to dive in and commit to longer. I tend to be an all-or-nothing kind of gal. But that’s a story for a different day.)

Once we had decided to homeschool, what should we do next? I wanted to do it right. It would have been easy to let fear and perfectionism win and procrastinate. I knew I needed to just jump in even though it wouldn’t be perfect. I had to let go of the vision of the perfect homeschool.

Here’s the Cliff Notes version of the steps we took to get started on our homeschool journey.

We made many adjustments over the first few years as I learned more about myself and my children. Eventually, we found a rhythm to our homeschool days and a curriculum that met our needs.

I began to develop the confidence to make decisions for our homeschool. Friends began to ask me how I decide what to do so quickly and confidently.

Homeschooling has become a way of life and a natural extension of our identity. Yes, we still have rough homeschool days. It’s not all rainbows and roses. But just like you learn to be a good parent by parenting and making mistakes, I learned to be an effective home educator by homeschooling and learning as I went.

If you are ready to jump in and get started homeschooling or improve your skills and effectiveness as a home educator, I’ve shared the lessons I’ve learned and the mistakes I’ve made over the years in these podcast episodes and posts. This is the practical advice I wish I had found all in one place when we started our homeschool journey. (And it’s what I want to leave as advice and a legacy for my children if they decide to homeschool when they have a family someday.)