Courtesy of Tiffany Tuttle
- I wanted my kindergarten-aged daughter to be safe and have a more holistic education.
- I decided to homeschool her, but everyone in my family said I shouldn't, making me doubt myself.
- I decided to go through with homeschooling anyway, and my daughter loves it so far.
As a child, the Columbine school shooting impacted my elementary school experience and beyond. My naivete about safety was instantly shattered. It was the first time I realized that danger could come into a classroom at any moment.
Years passed, and I became a mom. As my daughter approached school age, school rules changed, active shooter drills became the norm, and every parent dreaded the emergency call that their child's school was on lockdown. I didn't want to live in that daily state of worry.
Along with that fear, I worried my daughter would not learn about physical safety, emotional intelligence, self-care, and spiritual growth in a traditional school.
The natural choice for my kindergarten-aged daughter was for me to homeschool.
Everyone — including myself — doubted my decision to homeschool
"Are you excited to start school soon?"
My five-year-old daughter heard this question all summer from eager family, friends, and strangers. Their smiles slowly faded as they heard that instead of walking into a school to attend classes, she would be walking into our dining room with me as her teacher.
The questions turned my way: "Why would you do that?" "Don't you want a break?" "You're not even a real teacher."
I began internalizing those opinions and felt compelled to prove myself as a good teacher. I quickly felt overwhelmed from being under my self-imposed microscope.
Every choice left me feeling stuck: What curriculum should I choose? What learning style is best? Who was Charlotte Mason, and why did people swear by her teaching style?
Instead of seeing these challenges as beginner's dues, I saw them as signs that I had made the wrong choice. I thought that a rigid learning plan would be the antidote, and it made the experience miserable for my class of one and me.
Courtesy of Tiffany Tuttle
I was tempted to reconsider my decision. Suddenly, the option of having a silent home and seven hours of free time to myself was appealing. I felt like a fool for adding a job to my already overloaded plate by not following the traditional route.
I stuck with my plan, and it has worked out so far
Still, I decided to see my decision through and not quit at the starting line.
After researching, I settled on one formal curriculum to supplement the daily routines and life skills I was already teaching my kid. My daughter grasped the academic subjects quickly as I mixed the things she thrived in with new concepts.
I stopped trying to be a good teacher and started being the kind of mom I always wanted to be: one who teaches her daughter holistically.
Seeing her excitement and natural adaptation to learning inspired me to stick to the rhythm that works for us — whether others understand it or not.
I'm glad I stood firm on my vision for my daughter's education. It has been the vehicle for giving her learning experiences that include intention, curiosity, and freedom.
Even though I had to confront both my doubts and my family's, we are now living out what I always wanted success and safety to look like in our home.