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Homeroom to Homeschool

Homeroom to Homeschool

Is Public School Really Working For Your Family?

Featured, Public School

If you’ve landed here, I’m guessing it’s because your family is running on fumes from the grind of public school.

Every day feels like a race you never signed up for, let alone trained for! You wake up already tired, hustle kids out of bed, throw breakfast together, rush out the door, sit in the carline, then race to work or tackle the endless to-do list at home. By afternoon, it’s another round of pickups, practices, errands, a quick dinner, and then the dreaded homework battle…until everyone collapses into bed, only to wake up and start all over again.

And it’s not just you who’s drained, your kids are too. Maybe their grades are slipping, maybe every evening turns into a fight over assignments, or maybe they’ve started saying the words you feared most: “I hate school.”

On top of that, the social scene can be brutal. The drama, the pressure to fit in, the bullying that gets brushed off as “normal.” And then there’s the exposure to things you never dreamed your child would face so young: pornography, alcohol, drugs.

But sometimes the hardest part isn’t the academics or the peer pressure. It’s the silence. It’s watching your child retreat, hiding behind a screen, the joy and curiosity you once knew fading into a quiet, heavy cloud you can’t quite understand.

So if you’re wondering why your child seems exhausted, anxious, or disconnected let me reassure you: you’re not crazy, and you’re not alone. Public school burnout is real, and it’s where we were too.

What the Research Says

The truth is, the struggles are everywhere. You may even be surprised to know:

  • Three out of four teens say they don’t like school.
  • Most kids are exposed to pornography by age 12, during the school day.
  • 25% of 8th graders have tried alcohol.
  • Almost half of 12th graders have used drugs.
  • 19% of students in grades 6–12 report being bullied.
  • 20% of teens have a diagnosed mental or behavioral condition.

These aren’t stats from ‘struggling’ schools either. This is the reality across America’s public schools. They may look easy to skim past, but for me, they hit hard because they’re part of my story.

My Public School Experience

I was a latchkey kid with parents who worked hard running their own business. By third grade, I was walking to and from the bus stop on my own and taking care of myself until they got home in the evening. They were overworked, overstressed, and stretched thin. I grew up thinking that lifestyle was normal and just the way things were.

In 6th grade, an 8th grade boy in my typing class offered me his “water.” Confused, I took the bottle to realize it wasn’t water, but vodka. By the time I left highschool school, I had seen or tried nearly everything and I was considered a “good” kid at what everyone thought was a “great” school. No need to worry though, that was “just how things were”.

If I was struggling socially, then I was failing academically.

If you looked at me the first week of school, you’d think I loved school: New backpack? Check. Notebooks decorated with stickers? Check. Colorful pens and pencils neatly organized? Double check.

I started every school year with excitement, but it never lasted long. The way I learned just didn’t work inside the four walls of a classroom.

I was the shy kid in the back row, still processing the first part of the lesson as the teacher quickly moved on to the next topic. I always seemed one step behind and couldn’t figure out what was wrong with how my brain worked.

And the classroom was suffocating. We had limited time outside, uncomfortable desks and chairs, and every part of the day was controlled by a rigid bell schedule and stranger telling us what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.

When my grades inevitably slipped, despite my efforts to do better, so did my freedom. I was always grounded.

Then came the labels. I was labeled lazy, unmotivated, and distracted. After years of hearing it, I started to believe it too. By graduation, I felt defeated and convinced I wasn’t smart.

But in my 20s, something shifted. I started exploring interests in a way that made sense, and suddenly all I wanted to do was learn new things. Turns out, I wasn’t lazy or unmotivated at all, I had just been shoved into a one-size-fits-all system that didn’t make sense and ultimately crushed my curiosity and my spirit.

Why Do We Keep Sending Kids Back

“Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results.” ~ Albert Einstein

If public school didn’t work for us, or it’s not working for our kids, why do we keep sending them back year after year?

When I look at my own public school experience, I can’t believe I thought things would be different for my boys. The truth is, the system hasn’t improved. In many ways, it’s only gotten worse with safety concerns, endless testing, the impact of social media, and rising mental health struggles.

Yet I still sent all three of my boys into the same system expecting different results. Why do we do this? We see our kids struggling, they tell us it’s not working, but we push it aside and trick ourselves into believing public school is the only way.

Here’s what I believe today: Families who see their families are more disconnected than every, their kids are burned out from public school and struggling should really take a deeper look into homeschooling.

Homeschooling will give you back the gift of time, the opportunity for your kids to cultivate a love for learning at their own pace, and bring your family closer together as you align your values and purpose with everyday life.

The Question That Changed Everything for Me

When we first thought about pulling our kids from public school, I was lucky enough to know a homeschool mom I could call for advice. She offered to meet with me in person and share all the things about homeschooling.  I was so excited. But in the days leading up to meeting with her, I started second-guessing this wild idea of mine. By the time we sat down over coffee, I was already listing all the reasons I couldn’t homeschool and why my kids should stay in public school. After all, said, “I turned out fine.“

She stopped me with one simple question that changed everything: “Are you really fine?”

I’ll never forget the tears hitting the back of my eyes as I considered her words. The truth was no, I wasn’t fine. And maybe you aren’t either.

On the surface, everything looked right. I had what I always dreamed of: an incredible husband, beautiful kids, and a safe home. We worked hard to provide a good life. But deep down, I felt disconnected and restless. I had the family and the house I once prayed for, yet we barely saw each other. 

Without even realizing it, I had shipped my kids into the same system because “that’s just what you do.” But it wasn’t fine. It wasn’t fine because we could see that all three of our boys were struggling (or had struggled, one of our sons had already graduated), for very different reasons, in the public school system. It wasn’t fine because learning is meant to be fun. Life is meant to be an adventure filled with curiosity, purpose, and connection. It wasn’t fine because families are meant to be together and we barely spent more than 2 real good hours together a day.

Are You Really Fine?

Does this sound familiar? You love your family, your home, your life but somehow you’re still running on empty. You work hard for your kids, yet most days it feels like someone else gets their best hours.

Do you ever find yourself wishing for more time with your kids, not just the tired leftovers at the end of the day? Do you dream of seeing them light up when they learn something new, instead of watching them just check the boxes to get the grades?

Even more importantly, are your kids more than fine? Because looking at it now, fine is like the lowest of standards we can set for ourselves.

That little voice inside your head whispering, “Something about this doesn’t feel right,” isn’t wrong. I had the same gut feeling and wished I slowed down many years ago and took a closer look at what was going on.

Why Homeschooling Works For People Like Us

Spoiler alert: our kids are not fine. At least ours weren’t. I wish I could tell you I homeschooled all three of my boys from the very beginning, but it wasn’t until our youngest was in third grade that I finally took the leap. And here’s the truth: that one decision, leaving public school to homeschool, didn’t just change his education. It changed our family.

The first shift wasn’t even academic…it was a life change. Homeschool gave us the best hours of our day back together. Full stop. No more racing from one thing to the next. We slowed down. We had real conversations. Not just at the dinner table, but in the car, while playing outside, during science lessons, even running errands. We weren’t just cramming life in around school; we were actually living it side by side. And because we had control of our schedule, we finally had time for rest. The more we said yes to what truly mattered, the happier we became. Our home grew calmer, our relationships deeper, and we were healthier…mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Then came the change I’d been longing for: school itself. For my son, it was like a light switch flipped on. He fell in love with learning again, even in subjects that weren’t naturally easy. We could slow down where he struggled and give him the space to catch on, while challenging him in the areas where he thrived. With just a little ownership in how he learned, he grew in confidence and independence faster than I ever imagined.

And here’s the part I didn’t see coming: homeschool changed us too! Eddie and I had to pause and really examine our own lives. We realized we’d been living in survival mode, doing everything for everyone and yet feeling worn out and purposeless. Homeschool forced us to ask the deeper questions: What are we here for? How do we want to spend these few years we have with our kids? How can our lives align with our values?

Our entire life became about aligning our days with faith, family, and purpose. Homeschooling gave us that gift. We stopped settling for “fine” and started building a life that actually felt alive.

It’s pretty incredible how homeschool will change families. Obviously, the ultimate goal of homeschool is to provide a better education. And my entire website is dedicated to how homeschooling is the solution to a personalized education experience that will help kids thrive.

However, the benefits of homeschooling are not limited to education. Homeschooling will also have you examine your own beliefs about what it means to live a happy life. If you slow down long enough you may start to notice a ton of little things that bring more happiness than you ever imagined. Here is a small sample of the things I’ve noticed shift in our own lives and other families we know who homeschool:

  • Stop dreading Mondays
  • Kids that actually want to be around you
  • An optimistic outlook on life (kids and adults!)
  • Less comparison to “keeping up” with everyone else
  • Kids smile more…like real, unforced smiles
  • Stronger marriages as you work together as a team
  • Energy at the end of the day
  • Slow, peaceful mornings instead of frantic ones
  • More hugs- even in public!
  • Stronger family connection throughout the day
  • More time outside
  • Room for passions, hobbies, and creativity
  • Everyday feels a little lighter
  • Much less peer pressure and drama
  • Values woven into everyday life
  • A calmer, more peaceful home
  • Confidence boost for everyone (parents and kids alike)
  • More peace in the evenings
  • Less tension in the air
  • Healthier sleep patterns
  • Deeper, unhurried conversations about random things
  • Siblings growing closer and becoming true friends
  • You look forward to the weeks ahead
  • More family adventures and shared experiences
  • Healing from past hurts and family stress
  • Freedom to set your own pace as a family
  • Flexibility to travel or take a break when you need it
  • Kids get to be kids again! Play is part of life!
  • Family meals with laughter instead of arguments
  • Fewer evenings lost to homework and busywork
  • More space in your days (and your mind)
  • Chores are sprinkled throughout the day instead of piled on us at night after a long day
  • A healthier rhythm of work, rest, and play
  • Opportunities to serve others as a family
  • More laughter in your home
  • A safer environment for your kids to grow up in
  • A chance to create a family culture that feels right for you
  • A genuine sense of joy and peace in everyday life
  • Parents rediscovering their own purpose and passions
  • Less eye-rolling and more inside jokes

Do I Hate Public Schools?

By now you might be thinking I’m just anti–public school. But that’s not true! We need public schools in our country. We need incredible, hardworking teachers who pour their heart (and lives) into serving kids. We need schools that are safe, engaging, and well-supported. And I deeply respect the teachers who show up every single day under hard circumstances. We have family members who teach, some of our very closest friends are teachers. We are not anti-public school or anti-teacher at all.

But let’s be honest: the system itself isn’t perfect. And not every child fits inside it. The most “efficient” way to manage 25–30 kids at once is to keep them in desks, teach by lecture, and hand out worksheets and tests to measure understanding. I get all of that! You can’t have thirty kids walking around, asking non-stop questions, engaging in conversations, and learning at their own pace without things feeling chaotic. Standardized testing is the simplest way to measure schools, and it keeps the system running. It’s not the teacher’s fault and they are doing the best they can with what they have to work with.

But here’s the problem: Just because the system works for the majority doesn’t mean it’s working for your child. And your child should never have to suffer simply because “this is the way it’s always been done.”

Don’t sacrifice your child for the convenience of a system that cannot truly serve them.

The Honest Truth About Starting Homeschool

Now that I’ve cleared up that i’m not anti-public school let’s move into a few more things I just know you’re thinking right now…because I thought them too!

I’m going to mess this up. I’m not smart enough to teach my kids.

If you graduated from public school and still feel unqualified to help your own eighth grader, then the system already failed you.

Isn’t it ironic? The very schools that were supposed to prepare us for life left so many moms believing they aren’t even smart enough to teach their own children. That belief alone should make us stop and question the system!

Here’s the truth: you are not recreating public school at home. You’re not expected to stand at a chalkboard and know everything all at one time. You’re the lead learner. The one who sets the tone and learns right alongside your kids. Then at a certain point, you provide the support and resources as your kids teach themselves or work in a study group with their friends.

And you’ll never be alone. There are more tools, communities, and resources available to homeschool families than you could possibly use in a lifetime.

You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to be willing to walk with your child, ask the right questions, and keep learning together.

Change is Scary

Yes, change is scary. I know, I’ve had the 3am Google sessions: “Am I messing up my kid?” for far too long. I wrestled with that fear until I figured out how to homeschool on my own the first few years. But here’s what I learned: small steps, asking the right questions, and following a simple plan will quiet the fear and builds confidence. My rough, and very lonely, start to homeschooling is honestly why I built Homeroom to Homeschool. I have a deep desire to help anyone I can start homeschooling…to be the friend I needed when we first started.

And let’s be honest: there is one thing that is scarier than taking your kid out of public school. And that is keeping them in the system and looking back years from now wondering what would have been different had you believed in yourself and started homeschooling. Again, I’ve been there. If I knew what I know today then I would have homeschooled all 3 of my boys. Instead, the idea that I sent them off to school for the best years of their childhood sits heavy on my heart. I would do anything to have that time back with my two oldest boys.

I’ll Have to Give Up So Much

Yes…you will give up things when you choose homeschool. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, it might mean saying goodbye to stretches of free time during the day. If you work outside the home, it may mean scaling back and figuring out how to live on less. If you run your own business, it might mean waking up earlier or working later to make it all fit (or having them work alongside of you like we do at times!).

But here’s the truth: for every sacrifice, there’s a tremendous gain. And you’ve already seen the list. More peace. More time. More connection. More joy. For everyone in your family, not just the kids!

At the heart of it all, I don’t think we were designed to have kids to drop them off with someone else for the best years of their life. I also don’t think we’re raising kids just to “get through” life either. We’re raising them to see life as an awesome adventure driven by purpose, generosity, freedom, love, and happiness. And that kind of purpose is worth every single sacrifice we may take for the few short years they are at home with us.

Homeschooling is the chance to give your child what you never had:

  • A family life that feels connected
  • Intentional focus on who they are before what they do
  • An education tailored to how they learn best
  • Time to explore gifts, passions, and purpose

Your Next Step Toward Homeschooling

If you feel called to homeschool, you don’t need all the answers today. Simply start exploring what life could look like outside public school.

In the months leading up to our decision to homeschool, I did so much research and I kept notebooks…pages of research, ideas, and hard decisions. Those pages inspired Homeroom to Homeschool. Not because I did it perfectly (I didn’t!), but because I learned from my mistakes and can the right questions that lead you to the right answers for your family. If you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is it. You don’t have to settle for fine when great is possible.

Download my free mini workbook, born from the very first pages of my very first notebook and start exploring what homeschool would look like for your family —->

Download The Mini Workbook!

Works Cited