Podcast: Play in new window | Download
If your 1st-year homeschool frustrations have left you feeling overwhelmed; however, you still want to try to make homeschooling work for your family, this is for you.
Gia’s experience in her 1st-year homeschool frustrations…
“I am a mom of 3, ages 13, 11, and 6. My older two are in public school but I homeschooled my youngest this past year because I didn’t think he was ready for public school kindergarten. We will be moving at which point, I will likely be homeschooling all three kids…
This past year was a disaster.
These are my 1st year homeschool frustrations: I definitely homeschooled out of fear and anxiety. Though I had a support teacher with an online homeschool, she was not the right fit and did not provide me the support I needed.
And I was trying my best to unschool but felt lost without much of an experience with doing so.
I felt overwhelmed with other commitments with part-time work, volunteering, and homeschooling. Definitely had too much on my plate and lacked time to research into what I could be doing with my son.
We tried things that the teacher recommended but they failed.
I struggled even to help my son remember letters of the alphabet or numbers to 10. Then I realized there probably wasn’t enough repetition in applying them in different activities, but it was honestly challenging when I could not homeschool full time.
I did not know how to set things up so he could do some learning on his own. Also, I did not know what to do when he just couldn’t remember things.
I also realized that my own learning style preference is class learning. So this experience was just too overwhelming.
I’m done with these 1st year homeschool frustrations and need someone to guide me to plan homeschooling, which I why I’m here!
I had a curriculum for only math and language arts. They were helpful but depending on the day, a lesson that was supposed to take 15-30 minutes would get drawn out quite a bit when my son lost focus or got tired and needed a break.
Ideally, I would have a simple non-time intensive curriculum that covered all the basics, leaving time to reinforce learning through daily living. I would also appreciate help to know how to teach the unschooling way.”
The Problem: First-year homeschool moms often feel overwhelmed and unsupported due to a lack of clear guidance, effective curriculum, and time management strategies. This leads to frustration, anxiety, and a sense of failure in their home education efforts.
They often share with me that they are challenged by these things…
1. They need clear, step-by-step guidance, especially when they prefer structured learning environments and aren’t familiar with how children learn and child development concepts.
2. Moms want a comprehensive, simple, and non-time-intensive curriculum that covers all the basic subjects and allows for reinforcement through daily living.
More on the curriculum discussion here:
- how to choose the best curriculum for your homeschool
- when you buy new homeschool curriculum: 5 clever suggestions
- 7 Things to Structure a Grade 1 Homeschool Curriculum
- Expert Guidelines for Choosing the Perfect Homeschool Curriculum
- choosing the right homeschool curriculum
3. Homeschool moms struggle to balance homeschool with other commitments, leading to a lack of time for planning and executing their plans.
Consider using a Time Audit to clarify what matters most:
- 9 Steps to Thrive: Confident Homeschool Mom in Year 1
- How to Live the Balanced Homeschool Life
- How to Include Mindfulness Practice in your Homeschool
4. Many moms want to incorporate unschool principles but lack the knowledge and confidence to do so effectively.
Consider incorporating child-inspired learning:
- curiosity and education: how to facilitate it
- Why Deschooling? To Feel Confident, Certain & Good Enough
- How to Facilitate Child-Led Learning in your Homeschool
5. Moms need a supportive community where they can share experiences, seek advice, and feel encouraged.
Read more about building community:
- how to build and create community as a homeschool mom
- Crack the Loneliness Code: How to Find Homeschool Community
It’s never a surprise to me when I hear they want to throw in the towel!
These challenges are totally normal for first-year homeschool moms.
I totally get what you’re going through.
1st-year homeschool frustrations can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. That’s why I created the Confident Homeschool 101 group coaching program.
The Goal: To address these challenges by providing first-year homeschool moms with personalized planning, a comprehensive and easy-to-implement curriculum, effective time management strategies, guidance on unschooling, and a supportive community to help them thrive in their homeschool journey.
Steps to Solve Gia’s Problem:
- Build Confidence: Get clear, step-by-step guidance tailored to your family’s needs.
- Gain Clarity: Create a clear, step-by-step action plan, so she can feel clear and certain about what to do next.
- Create an Action Plan: “Balance” homeschooling with other commitments and set up independent learning activities.
- Navigate Uncertainties: Learn practical unschooling strategies and understand boredom & motivation.
- Handle Tough Moments: Manage challenging times with your kids.
- Confidently Answer FAQs: Feel secure in your homeschooling decisions.
- Prevent Burnout: Set a strong foundation to keep you and your kids motivated.
- Create a Supportive Routine: Develop a routine that supports individualized learning.
- Curriculum Clarity: Understand how and when to use curriculum.
- Create a Supportive Community: Not feel isolated without the right kind of support from a community or a knowledgeable mentor.
Here’s how we can work together step-by-step:
- Initial Consultation:
- We’ll start with a no-obligation conversation to clarify your homeschool and life goals and identify your challenges and expectations.
- Goal Setting & Planning:
- We’ll dive into your specific goals and priorities.
- Together, we’ll create an individualized A.C.T.I.O.N. plan tailored to your needs.
- Perspective Shifts & Strategy Implementation:
- We’ll have 8-week online group coaching sessions, an opportunity to deep dive into your homeschool & life challenges to address and explore new strategies.
- You’ll track progress with gentle accountability and support.
- Cheerleading, Clarifying & Challenging:
- You’ll get ongoing support through weekly email interactions to address specific scenarios and questions.
Let’s chat about how we can make your homeschooling journey a more positive and fulfilling adventure.
I’m here to help you every step of the way! Book a no-obligation conversation with me to learn more.
If you don’t address your homeschool challenges, you risk increased overwhelm, burnout, missed learning opportunities for your children, and a decline in your confidence, making the journey even more difficult.
Imagine homeschooling with confidence and ease.
You’re guiding your kids through fun and engaging learning opportunities & activities that spark their curiosity. Your routine flows smoothly, balancing learning with family time.
You’ll feel supported, so challenges are easier to handle.
As your children thrive, you celebrate their little successes together, creating joyful moments that strengthen your bond.
With this family climate, your days feel like open books for beautiful memories to be written, and you know you’re building a great foundation for your family’s future.
Are you feeling overwhelmed and done with 1st-year homeschool frustrations — trying to make homeschooling work for your family? It’s time to change that.
Teresa, your Homeschool Life Coach
ps I’ve made room on my schedule to talk to homeschool moms considering the Confident Homeschool 101 group coaching program. To schedule a time, click on this link.
“Let’s face it. Homeschooling is hard. And amazing. There is elation and devastation – all in an average day. Teresa comes alongside to help you navigate your relationship with your homeschooling. Not to fix you, but to sufficiently assist you in detaching your identity from the activity so that the activity is elevated to new heights. Why homeschool coaching? Teresa helps you poke through your assumptions and inner narrative to help you parent and educate gently – not only for your children but for yourself. She matches your pace to co-create sustaining practices for life and the long haul.”
Diane, Graduated homeschool mom of 3
A Meaningful Step-By-Step Guide To Plan Your Homeschool Year
Planning your homeschool year doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or like you’re missing something important. You want to be intentional, not rigid; but also confident, not second-guessing.
This Meaningful Step-By-Step Guide To Plan Your Homeschool Year helps you create a plan that actually works for your family—without the guilt, the guesswork, or the pressure to copy what everyone else is doing.
Inside you’ll find:
- A simple process to map out your year without overstuffing it
- Reflection prompts to keep your values and priorities front and center
- Practical tools to organize your days while leaving space for spontaneity
- A roadmap that feels flexible, life-giving, and sustainable
This isn’t about checking all the boxes. It’s about creating a homeschool rhythm that helps your kids thrive—and lets you enjoy the journey, too.
People also ask:
- Nine Simple Steps to Kickstarting your New Homeschool so you Can Be Confident & Clear
- Encouragement for Homeschool Moms in the 1st Year
- Empowering Newbies: Homeschool Mama Self-Care Podcast
- 9 Common Mistakes That Can Make Your 1st Homeschool Year Stressful
- my new well-planned gal homeschool planner: my favourite things
- Homeschool Help for Mom: Create a Plan for Your Big Emotions
- Get Help with your 2024 New Homeschool Year Planning
- Unshackle Homeschool Mom Frustration: Unleash for Growth in 5 Ways
- when you buy new homeschool curriculum: 5 clever suggestions
- What Does Homeschool Cost: What I Wish I Knew Before I Began Homeschooling
- Three Things I Wish I Knew Before I Homeschooled
- If You’re Planning for your Homeschool Year: 10 Lessons in 10 Years
- Supporting the Overwhelmed Homeschool Mama on the Podcast
- Do you offer one-on-one homeschool coaching? Why, yes I do!
- 9 Steps to Thrive: Confident Homeschool Mom in Year 1
- Encouragement for New Homeschoolers
Teresa Wiedrick
I help overwhelmed homeschool mamas shed what’s not working in their homeschool & life, so they can show up authentically, purposefully, and confidently in their homeschool & life.
Subscribe to the Homeschool Mama Self-Care podcast
Call to Adventure by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3470-call-to-adventure
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
