It’s Not That Hard to Homeschool. Really.

Breathe, girl. You're in the right place.

Chemistry. Teen angst. Overwhelmed mom.

Sounds like a pretty scary combination, doesn’t it?

Yet this is what you’re imagining as you contemplate homeschooling high school, isn't it? And you are terrified. Your ability to teach chemistry (or lack thereof, hello) could affect your teen’s entire future for good, bad, or ugly — and you feel alone, uncertain, worried, and inadequate. Definitely inadequate. Am I right?

Well, you know what?

I believe EVERY mom can CONFIDENTLY, COMPETENTLY — and even CONTENTEDLY provide the COMPLETE high school education her teen needs.

Even ordinary moms like you and me.

You just delivered me a big helping of relief, encouragement, and HOPE! Thank you! I can do this! I am going to do this. Thank you!  –Lauren

Reading your articles really helped me feel so much better… I honestly thought I was the only one who lay in bed at night, crying, while being a homeschool mom, because I was worried that I was failing, not doing enough, or that my kids were behind. Thank you sooooooo much for being so genuine and honest in your writing. –Sylvia

Thank you for this blog post and video. I was questioning myself and struggling with the entire homeschooling process. This was a much needed “reset” for me. Thank you! –Kelley

Imagine yourself making carefully-researched, confident decisions about what your teen should do — and doesn’t need to do — for a solid high school education that will pave the way for college acceptances or job offers.

Think about how great it would feel to no longer lie awake at night, worried that you aren’t doing enough for your teen to be ready for college (or whatever their next step is).

Consider what it would be like to have HOPE, rather than feeling defeated before you even start, and to know that you’re not alone — that there is a community of moms just like you who will laugh and cry with you as you navigate this “crazy” path.

And finally, envision yourself adjusting your teen’s tassle and cap, right before you hand over a totally legit, honest-to-goodness diploma — and most likely shed a few tears as you remember the journey that BOTH of you have now completed.

I've been there.

As my own always-homeschooled first child neared high school age, I may or may not have started to panic. Now her entire future was completely dependent on ME. Would she be able to get into college, or even be ready for it? What if I was leaving something out? I thought we had to follow our local school district’s graduation requirements — but as I looked at them, I felt worried SICK.

My husband said some magic words: “We are homeschoolers. We don’t have to meet those. WE can decide what we want our children to do for high school.” I was dumbfounded — partly because who knew he had it in him? lol — but his words gave me hope. This high school thing suddenly seemed actually maybe kinda doable for even me, an ordinary mom.

Fast forward several years later, and we have graduated five children from our homeschool — and they were all accepted into colleges and have become reasonably responsible members of society. Was it always easy? Of course not. But I learned that it doesn’t have to be that hard, either.

Now I consider the high school years to have been the best of our homeschool career — and so can you.

Here at It's Not That Hard to Homeschool, I’m all about providing information and resources to help you get there.

Here are some of my most popular articles:

Take a look Cure the Fear of Homeschooling High School if you’re ready to dig into the nitty gritty of research and planning. It will start you at square one and take you step-by-step through the process of preparing to homeschool your teen, so that when you finish filling out all the pretty forms inside, you are one totally confident mom who knows what to do next and where you’re going from there. It’s available both as an ebook and paperback. You can see more about it here: Cure the Fear of Homeschooling High School: A Step-by-Step Handbook for Research & Planning.

OMG, you truly are an emotional life preserver in an ocean of chaos. I have a gifted up coming high-schooler and an opposite middle-schooler. Worry is my daily suit of armor. After reading and viewing your YouTube, etc., I feel as though I just went to a therapist for free, and it reduced my stress level. Thank you a million times over and God bless! –Catherine

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or something you'd like to share. I love hearing from readers!

You can send me an email at info@itsnotthathardtohomeschool.com

HUGS!!

26 thoughts on “It’s Not That Hard to Homeschool. Really.”

  1. Thanks for sharing your insights, I just started homeschooling this year my 4th & 7th graders. It’s been very overwhelming! My older 2 are in public school…..but they struggle with the load of homework they get….we’ve been thinking about keeping them at home starting this coming school year but they don’t want to. I don’t want to mess up their education but I want them at home. What should I do?

    1. No worries about messing up their education! You can do this!! Read these: It’s Not That Hard to Homeschool High School and The Easy First Step for High School Curriculum Planning. They will ease some fears and show what you need to do to get started. And maybe join my Facebook group, too: It’s Not that Hard to Homeschool High School on Facebook. Once you jump in, it’s really not so difficult, and your family will benefit SO much from doing high school at home. :-)

  2. Love your words! You are way more ambitious than me, but otherwise a lot in common. Look forward to reading more of your thoughts! Thank you for being you. God Bless! Julie

  3. Finding your site has been a HUGE blessing. I know in my heart that the Lord sent me here today because He knew I needed your encouragement and wisdom in my homeschooling journey. Thank you so much and I look forward to following your blog!!!!

  4. Annie,

    Could I please email you (or you me)? I am a homeschooling mom of 5 children ages 13-2. After the most difficult homeschooling year yet, I fell into despair and began to search for help. I found you – an answer to prayer. My heart was burning with anxiety until I watched a couple of your videos and read a few of your posts (high school worries and being behind…) Now that I feel much better, I am ready to take another step toward getting out of this pit. I saw a place where you talked of mentoring or something like that (it’s late) and I would like to find out more about that service you offer if you still are. Thank you for putting what you have out there to help mom’s in the trenches.

    Very sincerely,
    Rebecca

    1. I sent you an email, Rebecca! Which I think you’ve already seen, but I want to comment on here so people don’t think I left you hanging, lol. :-)

  5. Hi Ann,

    I am a momma of 3, 2 boys and 1 girl! My daughter’s name is Anna so I love your name! Her great-grandmother calls her little Annie. I started the homeschool journey when my oldest was 3 1/2 and I was close to due with my second son. I had major homeschool burn out in our first year of kinder. We moved twice and to the mountains to try for a more simple and exciting life. That only lasted 2 years! I couldn’t do it.
    In 2 years we experienced death, I had shingles, my oldest had scarlet fever and my youngest son stresses me out so badly I pondered my ability to ever accept him. Since our crazy mountain experience we moved back to our home town 1 year ago and discovered our 3rd pregnancy. I was so sick with my daughter that I was on bed rest for the 15 weeks. Fortunately it was summer and my husband is a teacher and was home to help me. When the school year got closer and my son was entering 1st grade I decided I just can’t give him what he needs and we put him in a charter school. I cried everyday after he left with Dad for school. I missed him terribly and grieved the time I didn’t have with him. There were many benefits for our family with this new schedule. The pressure of his education was released from me a bit and I was able to get to know my second son and cultivate a loving and strong relationship. However, right before our daughter was born in January my husband and I decided to pull him out of school and go back to homeschool. I was getting back on my feet and I didn’t want him to miss out on his sisters life because of being gone all day. We made plenty of mental changes and realized this homeschooling thing needed to be a lifestyle oppose to a job or set amount of hours. I’m a bit ashamed of how much we didn’t do school as having a new fussy babe and having 3 kids was a super hard adjustment for me. But at least we were all home together.
    Unfortunately my anxiety and fear peaked to the tip top while pregnant with my daughter and I have been working my way down ever since. The journey of fighting fear and letting go while trusting in Gods sovereignty has been the hardest to date. I am one fearful lady. I have come to accept myself more and realize I am a human who struggles with anxiety and that it will probably be a battle most of my life. I don’t like to go many places due to possible germs or fear of my kids getting hurt.
    I’m working on this but it’s a struggle when the battle is in the mind first. I wish so much for my children to experience freedom in Christ but with me as their teacher I’m concerned it is already running off on them. My husband and I have been married for 11 years and he is just amazing. He is our families rock and I’m so blessed by him.
    So all this to say we have recently started our new school year. My oldest is in 2nd grade, my second will be turning 4 in a few weeks and my baby is 7 months. I thought I had it all figured out from the lessons I learned along the way already but in the 4th day of our first week I hit burn out hard. I rebel against schedules because they feel suffocating but I realized I needed to schedule our lives a bit more than they were so I went to town and a meal and snack schedule to help with the budgets and leaks and then developed a school schedule so I could have individual time with each child. Needless to say my daughter decided napping was not a thing this week and my oldest decided he didn’t want to school at all.
    My the 4th day my husband came home took the boys out to eat and said you need to rest. Apparently I looked that bad!
    All in the same week I had to deal with some major dental work of replacing my front teeth from 11 years from a childhood accident. It’s something i have not wanted to deal with but had to. None the less it’s been a rough week. So I was researching homeschool a bit this early morning as my son wet his bed and my daughter woke early to nurse for the 10 the time this night. And I came across your blog. I’m so thankful for the encouragement you have offered and I pray my brain will process and learn from others who have gone before me. I struggle so much with thinking I’m not equipped enough to school my babies. I struggle with my brokenness of not trusting in God and realizing even this tooth issue will be resolved eventually. However, it’s in these desperate times that I’m on my knees looking to him. To Him be the glory, honor and power for ever more. I’m praying this school year I can trust God, relax our schedule and be intentional in our time together. Thank you for sharing your experiences with homeschool. I look forward to reading more of your blogs.
    Blessings Annie!

  6. Hello there ,
    My husband and I have been homeschooling our 3 children since age 8. Our twins are now 16 and we are getting close to finishing highschool.
    Like most parents we are having anxiety about high school diplomas. I want to issue one ourselves but my husband wants them to get a GED instead.
    I really don’t know what would be more accredited when it comes to college.
    I went to college with a diploma from an accredited high school and my husband went to college with a GED. So of course we are having differences on what would be best.
    Any advice in this area would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you ,
    Antoinette

    1. This is a great question and one that I get frequently. It is truly totally enough to issue a diploma yourselves. Actually, a diploma is really nothing more than a certificate of completion. You are certifying that your child has completed sufficient high school coursework to graduate. The transcript is what goes to colleges, and you make that yourself, as well. No accreditation needed.

      A GED is not necessary AT ALL. In fact, in many cases it is looked down upon as a way to skirt a “real” education. I would not suggest having your twins do that.

      I have two articles that may help here: De-mystifying the Homeschool High School Transcript, and How to Get a High School Diploma—for Homeschoolers. Hope this helps!

  7. Hi,
    I love your post of public school vs. homeschooling. I am considering homeschooling and I wanted someone who could relate with me. I taught for 10 years and I don’t want to make mistakes as a homeschool mom since I just will be accountable to myself. Please email me, I would like some advice on how to switch my public teacher mindset OFF. I want my daughter to enjoy learning. I remember wanting that for my students and if it all failed…tomorrow was a new day, I didn’t have to go home with them. How will I deal with a bad attitude if I can’t make a parent phone call. All will be on ME… I’m being so hard on myself because I don’t want to fail.

  8. I read your article about “when my teen hates homeschooling in high school”. What do you do when they are juniors and seniors in high school and tell you that the worst thing that happened to them was being homeschooled in the first place? That it made them awkward, shy and anti-social. (which I know is not true). I was in public school and extremely shy (shyer than all of them) and anti-social (I still am, even as an adult). And, as a side note, my kids always loved being homeschooled as they grew up and were proud of it. I think it comes about because they have friends that go to public school (they were either always in public school or their parents put them in school for the high school years) and they make fun of them for being homeschooled. Thanks!

    1. Hi Melinda, I have kids who have blamed homeschooling for their social awkwardness, too, and I basically told them very much what you have said — that I was super awkward in the public school, and they probably got it genetically from me, rather than it being an effect of homeschooling. They don’t necessarily believe me yet, though. LOL. I think this is one time where we have to be the parent and remind them that we have way more experience in life than they do, and we know better than they do what the public school is like and what homeschooling is or is not “doing to them.” Just encourage them that you do see the big picture, and that someday they will, too. Until then, they don’t have to agree with you, but they do need to learn to be content with where they are at. And if they want opportunities to be with teens, then help them decide on a social activity that they can participate in, like sports or music or a club or craft classes. Here is a list of 100 possibilities! https://www.notthathardtohomeschool.com/homeschool-socialization-high-school/. Hope this helps! HUGS!

    1. I’m so sorry, Julie, I don’t have a recommendation. I don’t actually write grades down anywhere but on the papers that are being graded; then I pile them in a folder until it’s time to compute a class grade. I should probably do a video about my system sometime!

  9. I just discovered your blog this morning and look forward to exploring it more in-depth in the future. I have two children in college, one who lives outside the home and is working, and two at home. So far, it looks like we have had very similar experiences! I got on here needing encouragement and I think I have found my new favorite blog! Thank you for sharing and encouraging others!

  10. It seems you mentioned a humor writing course in one of your podcasts I’ve listened to, but now I can’t seem to find the correct podcast or course, can you help me out? My daughter is a good writer, and doing something like humor writing would help keep it fresh and interesting for her. Thanks!

  11. I have been reading your blog all day. I have a Junior in high school. Been ugly crying hard until I found your blog. Thank you.

  12. Mary Anne Romanchuk

    Hi, I am trying to order the pdf’s of the ebooks, and I can’t get the purchase form to go through. The info email listed on the website also doesn’t seem to be working. If you see this could you email me? Thanks so much.

  13. Christine Barrett

    Hello! I have paid $5.99 for the HS transcript templates and comprehensive record it I am unable to access it. Not able to download or print. Thank you for your help! Appreciate all that you do!!

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