Stop Asking These 6 Homeschool Questions (That Sabotage Your Life)

Because we’re often questioned about our homeschool choices, we assume others are our greatest critic. And yet, as homeschool moms, we’re experts at interrogating ourselves. We wonder if we’re doing enough, if we’re behind, if we’re getting it “right.” What if some of these questions are actually working against us? Today, I’m sharing 6 homeschool questions we need to stop asking—and what to ask instead to feel more confident and empowered.

If you’re tired of asking questions that leave you feeling defeated, my free Reimagine Your Homeschool Mini-Course will help you shift from self-doubt to confidence.

You’ll learn how to clarify what really matters to your family, let go of external standards that don’t serve you, and create a homeschool approach that’s aligned with your values—not someone else’s expectations. It’s time to stop questioning yourself and start living your homeschool purpose.

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The 6 Homeschool Questions to Stop Asking (And What to Ask Instead)

If we haven’t met, I’m Teresa Wiedrick, a graduated homeschool mom turned certified life coach. After nearly two decades of homeschooling and now helping overwhelmed homeschool families do this homeschool thing with clarity, confidence, aligned from the inside out, I’ve noticed we often ask ourselves self-defeating questions that leave us feeling defeated rather than empowered.

Today, I’m sharing 6 homeschool questions we need to stop asking—and what to ask instead to feel more confident in our journey.

1. Stop Asking: “When Will My Child Catch Up?” or “What If We’re Behind?”

Ask Instead: “Are They Making Progress?”

It’s natural to compare our kids to traditional school timelines or even to their siblings. But catch up to what, exactly? Your child’s learning journey is unique to them. Instead of measuring success by external standards, focus on their individual growth.

Consider whether they actually need to “catch up” to something specific, or if they can simply continue learning at their own pace—which is one of homeschooling’s greatest gifts.

And the Flip of that Question Coin: The Challenge of Feeling “Behind”

Let’s acknowledge something we all struggle with: that nagging feeling of being “behind.” This shows up everywhere—when we’re new to homeschooling, transitioning to high school, comparing our kids to others, or watching one sibling excel while another struggles.

The beauty of homeschooling is that kids can learn at their own pace, if we allow them to. They can dive deep into subjects they love and take extra time with challenging concepts. So what do we want? A child doing what every schooled child is doing? Struggling to stay on task and timeline? Or learning at their own pace. Your decision;)

2. Stop Asking: “What Is the Right Curriculum?”

Ask Instead: “What’s the Right Approach for My Child?”

With thousands of curriculum options available (millions even?), it’s tempting to think there’s one perfect choice. But here’s the truth: the perfect curriculum doesn’t exist.

Instead of searching for that magic bullet, consider what works best for your specific child. Ask yourself:

• How does my child like to learn?
• How do I like to teach?
• What approach aligns with our family’s goals?

Learning happens in many ways beyond textbooks and workbooks. The right approach is the one that works for your family.

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3. Stop Asking: “Shouldn’t We Be Doing More Worksheets?”

Ask Instead: “Is My Child Engaged and Learning?”

Some kids love worksheets—they enjoy “playing school.” (I have that kiddo–now she’s grown and in her second degree and still loves playing school–good thing, because she’s got a long road to her final goal, but every child really does not, surprise, no surprise). Other kids learn better through real-life experiences, storytelling, experiments, or play-based learning.

The key is engagement. Are they present and engaged? Do they care and are they motivated?

Homeschooling offers flexibility to use different learning methods. Education doesn’t have to look like traditional school to be effective. If your child is engaged and learning, you’re on the right track.

4. Stop Asking: “Are We Covering Everything?”

Ask Instead: “Are We Focusing on What Really Matters?”

I don’t know what “everything” is, and neither do you. Our kids won’t compete with Wikipedia or AI for information storage—that’s not the goal of education. (Unless it is yours, and I’m sure this will come as no surprise, it’s not gonna happen. Humans don’t process like AI, or God, and that’s not really the goal of enabling a home education anyway, right?)

The crucial question is: What do you believe education should accomplish? When you’re clear on your educational values, you can determine whether your daily activities align with what truly matters to your family.

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5. Stop Asking: “Am I Doing This Right?”

Ask Instead: “Is This Approach Working for My Family?”

“Right” means different things to different people. Are you comparing yourself to your own childhood school experience? To other homeschool families? To some idealized version in your head?

You get to decide what the best approach to education looks like for your family. It doesn’t have to mirror a traditional classroom, and it doesn’t have to be pure unschooling either. Many families find success with a hybrid approach.

By the fifth or sixth year, most of us declare that we are eclectic homeschoolers anyway: a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

The real question is whether your current method is working for your kids and your family.

6. Stop Asking: “What About Socialization?”

Ask Instead: “Is My Child Building Meaningful Connections?”

Ah, the infamous “S” question. The myth that homeschoolers are isolated is just that—a myth. Homeschooled kids are rarely locked away; they’re often busier than their traditionally schooled peers because they have more time for activities.

The real goal isn’t socialization for its own sake, but meaningful connections. Can your child communicate with important people in their lives? Are they building relationships that matter? That’s what counts.

Some of you are saying, stop right there! I’m not asking THAT question. Rightly so, if you’ve stumbled upon this post and you’re an established homeschooler, you might have worked through this one. Or you may still be secretly harbouring concern as your kids move into adolescence. If you have any concern, read this post. Oh, and this one. And also this one.

There is ONE socialization question that sometimes concerns the homeschool family, but it’s not about the kids, it’s all about mom. Read about that here.

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The Long Game

Homeschooling is a long-term commitment—sometimes spanning decades. That’s why it’s crucial to reinforce positive truths about this lifestyle and shift the unhelpful mindsets that make us feel like we’re never doing enough. By reframing these 6 homeschool questions, we become confident.

Instead of asking questions that defeat us, let’s ask questions that empower us:

• What really matters to our family?
• Who is the child right in front of me?
• How can I show up in healthier ways?
• How can we all enjoy this journey more?

When we live more aligned with our values and get clear on what matters to us, we create space and breathing room in our homeschool life. And we model for our kids how to identify what really matters.

Moving Forward

Remember, you’re not just educating your children—you’re creating a lifestyle that works for your family. Trust yourself, focus on what matters, and remember that there’s no single “right” way to homeschool. So you can stop asking yourself these 6 homeschool questions;) Or book a conversation with me to overcome them.

Ready to dive deeper into creating a homeschool life that aligns with your values? Let’s chat about how you can move from questioning yourself to confidently living your homeschool purpose. Join me in your free Aligned Homeschool Reset session.

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