How to Stop Being a Hostage to Homeschool Pressure (& What to Do Instead)

What happens when you finally stop asking permission to be yourself? If you’ve been wondering how to stop people-pleasing as a homeschool mom, this conversation will show you it’s possible. Homeschool mom and creative entrepreneur Latoya shares her journey from living for everyone else to discovering what she actually wants—and why that shift changed everything in her homeschool life. This month’s focus: Nurturing the Nurturer — because you can’t give what you don’t have, and your kids don’t need your perfection. They need your presence. Latoya hit 40 and realized she’d spent decades doing what everyone expected—but had never asked herself what SHE actually wanted. As a homeschool mom, restaurant management graduate, and someone who always made sure everyone else was okay, the idea of prioritizing herself felt selfish. Scary. Wrong. But when she finally gave herself permission to explore her creativity, build her crochet business, and trust her own voice? That was when things began to shift. Her homeschool days became more peaceful. Her kids became more autonomous. And she discovered that choosing herself wasn’t selfish—it was the best thing she could do for her family. How to Stop People-Pleasing as a Homeschool Mom: Latoya’s Journey from Self-Sacrifice to Self-Trust What You’ll Discover in This Episode The Permission You’ve Been Waiting For: Why serving yourself actually serves your family better How to distinguish between what you want and what others expect of you The power of silence and solitude in discovering your authentic voice Why “waiting for the answer” is part of the process From Rigid to Present: Redefining Homeschool Success What a “good day” used to look like (spoiler: checking all the boxes) vs. what it looks like now How to choose peace over productivity for a more meaningful family life Why your kids’ autonomy grows when you honour your own The truth about gaps, “behind,” and what kids actually need to thrive Caribbean Flow vs. Hustle Culture: The cultural pressure to always be “doing something” Why presence matters more than productivity How to give yourself permission to just BE with your people What happens when you stop measuring success externally Creative Work as Life Force (Not Luxury): Why Latoya’s crochet business isn’t “extra”—it’s essential How creative pursuits actually fuel better mothering Choosing fulfillment over financial gain (and being okay with that) Teaching your kids to honour their interests by modeling it yourself The Inner Work Nobody Talks About: Why inner work is gritty, messy, and nothing like social media portrays How to extend to yourself the same compassion you give others The first small decision where you stop explaining and start trusting yourself Why disappointing others is sometimes the most aligned choice “What is best for you, for me is what’s best for them because it trickles into everything else. So the happier I become, the more comfortable I become with myself, the better everything around me gets.”  — Latoya Why This Conversation Matters This isn’t just another interview about homeschooling. It’s about what happens when you finally permit yourself to ask: Who am I beyond the roles I play? If you’re struggling with how to stop people-pleasing as a homeschool mom, Latoya’s story is for you. She’s every mom who’s ever wondered if wanting something for herself makes her selfish. But here’s what Latoya discovered (and what you will too): When you choose yourself, your kids don’t suffer. They thrive. Because they get to see what it looks like to honor your own voice, trust your own knowing, and live from alignment instead of obligation. Your homeschool doesn’t need more curriculum. It needs more of YOU—the real you, the aligned you, the unapologetic you. Connect with Latoya YouTube: Toya in Stitches Instagram: @toya.in.stitches Latoya creates DIY crochet tutorials that go beyond simple instructions—she teaches you to understand your body, measurements, and personal style so you can create garments that actually fit YOU. Coming This Week on the Confident Homeschool Life YouTube Channel: “The Inner Critic Pattern So Many Homeschool Moms Don’t Realize They’re In” How you talk to yourself REALLY matters. So you’ll definitely want to catch those on YouTube. Join the Calm the Inner Critic Workshop Ready to go deeper and learn how to stop the inner critic as a homeschool mom?This month, I’m hosting a workshop to help you see what’s been driving you—and choose something different. Not to fix yourself. But to untangle the overwhelm and stop reacting from inherited survival mode. So you can lead your homeschool life from a place that actually feels like you—with presence, calm, and clarity. YES, I NEED THIS Want more support? Join the Confident Homeschool Mom community Read: Homeschool Mama Self-Care: Nurturing the Nurturer Listen: Previous episodes on setting boundaries Episodes You’ll Also Love: Unlearning People-Pleasing as a Homeschool Mom How to Stop the Inner Critic as a Homeschool Mom: The Charmed Life I Was Chasing (& the Pattern I Didn’t Know I Was Living) Homeschool with Purpose: Honouring our Values & Priorities Stop Asking These 6 Homeschool Questions (That Sabotage Your Life) Finding Healing & Purpose When Life is Life-ing How to Stop Being a Hostage to Homeschool Pressure (& What to Do Instead) Deschooling and Life Purpose: Is there a connection? The Real Reason You’re Overwhelmed (It’s Not the Curriculum) How to Make Confident Homeschool Decisions (Without Seeking Permission) Awakened Homeschool Family: Living with Purpose, Learning from Heart Self-Compassion for Homeschool Mamas Course to Nurture You Share This Episode Know a homeschool mom who’s been living for everyone else and wondering when it’s her turn? Send her this episode. It might be exactly the permission she needs to finally ask herself: What do I actually want? Remember: Your kids don’t need your perfection. They need your presence. They need to see what it looks like when you honor yourself, trust yourself, and choose alignment over obligation. Because when you give yourself permission to stop people-pleasing? That’s when everything shifts. Press play and discover how to stop people-pleasing as a homeschool mom—and start leading from the inside out. 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