Why We Chose Homeschooling

Children picking berries together during a homeschool family day — Homeschooling gives our family more room to learn, grow, and share ordinary life together.

Life has a way of reminding us that childhood doesn’t last forever.

Tomorrow they’ll be a little older than they are today.

The years pass. The seasons change. Childhood moves forward whether we’re ready or not.

The Simple Reason We Homeschool

While all of that is true, it isn’t really the reason we homeschool.

When people ask why we homeschool, they often assume the answer has something to do with academics, curriculum choices, flexibility, or educational philosophy. Those things matter, of course. However, when I think about why we homeschool, my mind goes somewhere much simpler.

I like my children.

I enjoy being around them.

More than that, I enjoy hearing what they’re thinking about.

It matters to me when Peter explains something he’s excited about.

I love watching Claire become completely absorbed in a project, a book, or an idea.

Even the simple parts of the day matter to me, like eating lunch together or having conversations in the car.

Most of all, I enjoy seeing who they are becoming.

That doesn’t mean every day is wonderful.

Some days, I spend too much time on my phone. Other days, work gets more attention than it should. Dinner burns. We run late. The clothes don’t get ironed. The house gets messy. I lose my patience, and sometimes the kids lose theirs too. In addition, there are plenty of days when school takes longer than I planned or doesn’t go the way I hoped.

Still, we are not a perfect homeschool family because there is no such thing.

We’re just a family trying to love each other well while living a full and sometimes messy life.

So when people ask why we homeschool, the answer isn’t that every day is magical.

The answer is that homeschooling allows us to do more life together.

We learn together, travel together, attend camps together, and move through ordinary routines together. We go to golf lessons, piano lessons, Spanish classes, church events, and jiu-jitsu classes. We run errands, work through problems, and figure things out as a family.

In other words, we simply share more of life.

That matters to me.

Child looking at homeschool study pages at the kitchen table — More time together does not make every day perfect, but it does give us more ordinary moments to love each other well.

Homeschooling and Responsibility

Another piece of this, if I’m being completely honest, is responsibility.

Claire and Peter are our children, and raising them is one of the most important things we’ll ever do.

We are grateful for the many wonderful people who pour into their lives. Their grandparents, friends, coaches, church staff, volunteers, teachers, and mentors all contribute something valuable.

At the end of the day, the responsibility rests with us.

As their parents, we are called to teach them and guide them. We also need to help them learn how to treat people, how to work hard, how to handle responsibility, and how to care for others.

I’ve always felt that children are both a gift and a responsibility.

This connects closely with why we have chosen a more contribution-focused childhood in our home. We want Claire and Peter to understand that family life is not something they simply watch from the sidelines. Instead, it is something they participate in, help with, and slowly learn to carry with maturity.

We only get one shot at raising Claire and Peter, and that feels pretty important to me.

Because we have the opportunity to spend so much time with them, we choose to embrace that responsibility as fully as we can. We certainly don’t do it perfectly, and we make plenty of mistakes. Even so, we try to do it intentionally.

Children are both a gift and a responsibility, and homeschooling gives us more time to live that responsibility with intention.

Homeschooling Lets Us Share Real Life

One thing I’ve noticed is that many people talk about childhood as though it’s preparation for real life.

I don’t see it that way.

This is real life.

The books, the camps, the conversations, the piano practice, the golf lessons, the family dinners, the road trips, the church events, the laughter, the tears, and the ordinary Tuesday afternoons all matter.

That is one of the reasons our homeschool rhythm includes more than books alone. Our extracurricular activities are not just extras. They are part of the way our children practice discipline, confidence, communication, responsibility, and real-world participation. I shared more about that in How Extracurriculars Can Support Homeschool Subjects and Learning.

Family life together

Homeschooling Happens in Ordinary Moments Too

These shared experiences help show why homeschooling is not only about lessons at a table. It is also about time, conversation, relationship, and the everyday life we get to share.

Children spending time together during a family learning day — Ordinary family moments become part of the homeschool rhythm when children are learning and growing alongside one another.

Children sharing a meaningful family moment during homeschool life — Homeschooling gives our family more time for connection, conversation, and shared memories beyond formal schoolwork.

This is the life we’ll remember.

Life has a way of moving faster than we expect. Thankfully, knowing that doesn’t make me anxious, and it doesn’t make me want to hold on tighter. Instead, it simply reminds me to appreciate the season we’re in.

Right now, Claire and Peter are home.

Today, we get to learn together, eat lunch together, run errands together, and share life together.

Tomorrow will look different.

That’s all the more reason to appreciate today.

Building Family Relationships Over Time

Another thing I’ve thought about over the years is that relationships are built through time.

If I hope Claire and Peter will enjoy spending time with us when they’re twenty-five, thirty-five, or forty-five, it probably helps if spending time together is a normal part of life when they’re children.

We aren’t trying to cling to them or prevent them from growing up.

Quite the opposite. I hope they become independent, capable adults. I hope they pursue big dreams and build beautiful lives of their own.

At the same time, I hope family remains a place they enjoy returning to.

Maybe that will look like coming over for dinner. Maybe it will look like picking up the phone to call. Hopefully, it will also look like still enjoying time together long after these childhood years are over.

That kind of connection is built slowly. It grows through repeated moments, honest conversations, shared responsibility, and a home culture that values presence. It reminds me of the same kind of steady growth I wrote about in What Healthy Confidence Actually Looks Like. Many of the best things in childhood are not built all at once. They are practiced again and again through ordinary life.

The best way I know to build that kind of relationship is by sharing a lot of ordinary life together now.

Why We Chose Homeschooling

I’m not trying to create a perfect childhood for Claire and Peter.

Nor am I trying to manufacture memories.

I certainly don’t think homeschooling is the only way to raise wonderful children.

For us, it is simply the path that allows our family to spend more of our days learning, growing, and living life together.

Homeschooling also gives us more opportunities to practice real-life problem solving. Some of those lessons happen during schoolwork, but many happen in grocery stores, car rides, travel days, chores, and the unexpected challenges that come with family life. I shared more about that in Homeschooling Problem-Solving: Nurturing Resilient, Confident Kids.

When I picture the end of my life someday, I don’t think I’ll wish I had answered one more email, spent more time staring at my phone, or squeezed one more meeting into the calendar.

I think I’ll be grateful for the years I spent doing life alongside the people I love most.

That’s the heart of why we homeschool.

We certainly aren’t perfect. Every day isn’t easy, and every lesson doesn’t go according to plan.

We homeschool because we enjoy being together.

For our family, homeschooling gives us more opportunities to do exactly that.

FAQ: Why We Homeschool

Is homeschooling only about academics?

For our family, homeschooling includes academics, but it is not only about schoolwork. It also gives us more time for family connection, responsibility, conversation, extracurricular activities, faith, travel, practical life skills, and ordinary days together.

Does homeschooling make every day easier?

No. Some days are messy, tiring, imperfect, and full of interruptions. Homeschooling does not remove the normal challenges of family life. However, it gives our family more opportunities to work through those challenges together.

Why does family time matter so much in homeschooling?

Relationships are built through time. Homeschooling allows us to share more meals, conversations, errands, lessons, activities, and ordinary moments. Over time, those small repeated moments help shape the culture of our home.

Do you think homeschooling is the only good option?

No. Every family has different needs, seasons, children, and circumstances. Homeschooling is simply the path that allows our family to live out our priorities in this season.

With love,
Ashley @ Here They Grow