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I’m Teresa Wiedrick—a graduated homeschool mom turned Certified Life Coach. My mission? To help homeschool moms shed what’s not working so they can show up in their homeschools and their lives authentically, confidently, and purposefully.
Today, I’m standing at my kitchen sink—a complete disaster zone—talking about the perfect homeschool. And honestly, what better way to illustrate this topic than by standing in front of a mess? If you want to see what I mean, head over to the Confident Homeschool Mom Collective on Patreon, where I’ll share the behind-the-scenes look.
The Struggle with Perfectionism in Pursuing the Perfect Homeschool
If you’ve ever wondered, Am I doing enough? Could I be doing better?, or if you find yourself constantly frustrated by unrealistic expectations of the perfect homeschool, this conversation is for you. Perfectionism manifests in homeschool parents in so many ways: from ensuring the kitchen is always tidy, to keeping all curriculum perfectly up to date, to making sure every single lesson is completed exactly as planned.
But here’s the thing: chasing the “perfect homeschool” can be exhausting and counterproductive. It gets in the way of happiness and steals the joy from the homeschool experience.
Three Common Perfect Homeschool Myths Holding You Back
Let’s talk about three myths about the “perfect homeschool” that might be keeping you stuck:
1. The Perfect Homeschool is Always Happy and Motivated
One homeschool mom shared with me:
“I want my kids to be motivated and enjoy the homeschool life I’m giving them, but they just don’t. Sometimes they spend hours trying to figure out that I’m serious: you have to finish your work before you play outside. I hate it, but I feel like we really have to do the work, so I insist they do it.”
I’ve been there. Have you? Forcing motivation doesn’t work. Instead, we need to cultivate a love of learning by making education engaging and meaningful for our kids – a key aspect of creating a sustainable (not perfect) homeschool.
2. The Perfect Homeschool Requires Complete Control
Another mom told me:
“I struggle with overreacting, expressing anger or frustration, and feeling anxious about uncertainty. Parenting has been a huge growth opportunity for me as I unlearn harmful behaviors from my own childhood. But it’s a constant struggle.”
Homeschooling is as much about learning as it is about unlearning. It’s okay to feel uncertain. It’s okay to admit when something isn’t working. Growth happens when we release control and embrace flexibility – this is the reality of homeschooling beyond the perfect homeschool ideal.
3. The Perfect Homeschool Proves I’m Doing It Right
Another common belief I hear from homeschool moms:
“My husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law, or my entire family is against homeschooling. I have to prove to them that if I do it right, it’s the best thing for my kids.”
If you’re homeschooling to prove something to someone else, you’re setting yourself up for unnecessary pressure. Your homeschool is about your family, not about meeting someone else’s expectations of what the perfect homeschool should look like.
You Are Not Alone in Your Perfect Homeschool Doubts
One of the most common things I hear from homeschool moms is:
I don’t know if this is good enough.
If you’ve ever felt that way about your homeschool journey, you are not alone. I wish I had known, when I was deep in homeschooling, that so many other moms were feeling the same doubts but just weren’t saying them out loud. Now, as a coach, I hear these stories all the time, and I want to encourage you to release the burden of perfectionism and the myth of the perfect homeschool.
Join the Conversation Beyond the Perfect Homeschool
If this resonates with you, let’s talk! I’m hosting a free Homeschool Mom Masterclass series where we’ll dive deeper into these topics, including handling sibling bickering and overcoming perfectionism in homeschooling.
You don’t have to navigate this alone. Whether you’re just starting your homeschool journey or you’re years into it, there is space for grace, growth, and letting go of the perfect homeschool fantasy.
📅 I’ll see you LIVE! Drop your questions in the comments, and I’ll answer them in our Homeschool Mom Masterclass Series.
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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.
