[275] 3 Surprising Lessons Homeschooling Taught Me (That Every Mom Needs)

When I first started homeschooling, I said I could never do it—I wasn’t a teacher, I didn’t have the patience, and I definitely didn’t have the time. But three weeks in, I’ve learned lessons that surprised me—and the best part? They apply to every mom, whether you homeschool or not. In this episode, I’m sharing the three biggest lessons homeschooling has taught me about routines, motivation, and letting go. If you’re craving a little more clarity and calm in your day, these lessons are exactly what you need.

Mentioned in this episode:
👉🏽 Christmas Planning Party : https://go.realhappymom.com/christmas-planning-party/

3 Takeaways from this episode:

1. Start simple—don’t try to do everything at once, focus on the essentials.
2. Structure creates freedom—a little planning actually gives you more flexibility and peace.
3. Let go to move forward—you can’t keep adding without releasing what no longer works.

Links and resources:

• Christmas Planning Party : https://go.realhappymom.com/christmas-planning-party/

Transcript

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I always say that I could never homeschool. I'm not a teacher. I don't have the patience, and honestly, I didn't think I had the time, and yet here I am at the time of this recording, three weeks in, and what I've learned has completely surprised me. In fact, these lessons apply to every mom, whether you homeschool or not. So here's how it started. Before our first day I went into the prep. I listened to podcasts, read blog posts, watch a ton of YouTube videos, hours and hours of researching curriculum, organizing systems, and how to keep kids engaged. You name it. By the time Labor Day rolled around, I had thought I had a plan. We started simple, just two subjects, math and language arts, and you know what? It actually went really well. The kids had adjusted to me being their teacher instead of just mom. And once I gave the daily checklist, it added structure and it clicked, and then there was my secret weapon. The punch cards, every time they aced an assignment, helped each other out or did their chores without me asking. They got a punch. And my youngest especially, he is living for those punches. He'd finished something and immediately say to me, mommy, you forgot to gimme my punch, but here's where it got messy. By week three, I made a mistake of trying to blend an old curriculum with a new curriculum and added another subject. By the end of the day, everyone including me was wiped out. And that's when I realized sometimes more isn't better. Sometimes you have to let go of what isn't working in order to move forward, and that's literally the heart of what I want to share with you today because these first three weeks of homeschooling taught me some powerful lessons about routines, motivation, and letting go. Hey there, my name is Tony Ann. The host of The Real Happy Mom podcast. The podcast for busy working moms who need more time and help with achieving their big goals without pulling their hair out. And on this episode, I'm sharing with you three surprising lessons homeschool has taught me about routines, motivation, and letting go. So let's start with lesson number one. Start simple. The very first lesson homeschool taught me was this start simple. On our first day, I didn't try to cover every subject under the sun. We focused on just two math and language arts, and that was it. And that made the whole transition so much smoother. The kids knew what to expect. I felt less pressure, and we actually ended the day with energy left in the tank. But when I tried to add in more mixing old curriculum with new curriculum and introducing another subject, that's when everything fell apart. Everyone was cranky, exhausted, and burnt out by 3:00 PM That was my wake up call. Just because you can add more doesn't mean you should. And this isn't just about homeschooling, it's about motherhood. We all had that urge to overhaul everything at once, start the perfect cleaning schedule meal plan 30 dinners, organize the whole house in one weekend. But more often than not, piling it all on just sets us up to fizzle out. Clarity comes when we give ourself permission to start with less. One routine, one system, one habit. Do that one thing. Well let it stick and then add the next layer. So here's my challenge for you. Think of the one area that feels overwhelming for you right now, and ask yourself, what's the simplest version that I can start with? Not the Pinterest version, not the Instagram perfect version, the simplest version. Because simple is what will get you started, and simple is what sticks. The second lesson homeschool taught me is that structure creates freedom. In the beginning, I gave my boys a daily checklist. Nothing fancy, just a simple agenda of what needed to be done, and the difference was night and day. Instead of the kids constantly asking me what's next or arguing about whether they are finished or not, they could see for themselves they had ownership. For me, it meant I wasn't the cruise director for every little thing I could step back, let them work and actually get things done myself. That little bit of structure gave us all breathing room. And the surprising part is I used to think structure would box us in. Like if I mapped out every little thing, we'd lose flexibility. But the truth is it was the opposite. The checklist gave us freedom. Freedom to move at our own pace, to take breaks without losing track and to actually finish the day without meltdowns. And that's not just a homeschooling thing. The same thing is true in everyday life. A meal plan, just three dinners written down, can free you from that 5:00 PM panic of what's for dinner. A simple bedtime routine can turn a nightly chaos into a smooth flow. Structure isn't prison. It's a pathway and it doesn't lock you in. It clears the road so you can move forward without tripping over obstacles. The third lesson that homeschool taught me is that sometimes you have to let go to move forward. Now here's what happened. By week three, I decided to add in social studies, but instead of keeping things simple, I also introduced a brand new language arts curriculum on top of the two language arts assignments we were already doing, plus a full math lesson with practice problems. It was just too much. By the end of the day, everyone was drained, the kids were frustrated and complaining, and I was completely worn out. That was my light bulb moment, that when you pile on more without letting go of something else, you end up drowning in busy work. In moms, we do this in our own lives all the time. We add in new routines, new commitments, new responsibilities. Without clearing out the old ones. We say yes to the new without saying no to anything else. But the truth is more isn't always better. In fact, more usually just means heavier. Clarity comes when you release what's no longer serving you. Maybe that's a routine that worked last year, but isn't right for this season. Maybe it's cutting out an activity that eats up your evenings, but doesn't bring your family joy. Maybe it's letting go of the unrealistic standard that your home has to look like a model house ready to be sold tomorrow. When you let go of what's weighing you down, you can make space for what really matters right now, and that's when things start to feel lighter and easier to move forward with. So let's bring this all together. My first three weeks of homeschooling taught me three lessons. I think every mom could use one. Start simple. You don't have to do everything at once. Begin with essentials and build from there. Number two, structure creates freedom. A little structure, like a checklist or a routine actually gives you more breathing room, not less. Number three, let go to move forward. You can't keep piling on new things without releasing the old ones. More isn't always better. More usually just means heavier. Whether you're homeschooling, juggling work, or just trying to hold the family life together. These lessons remind us that simple steps and clarity go a long way. And speaking of clarity, the holidays are right around the corner, and if we're not careful, they'll just start feeling overwhelming as a stacked homeschool schedule. That's why I'd love for you to join me at the Christmas Planning party on October 23rd. It's a free live workshop where we'll clear the clutter, make a symbol, plan, and set you up for a holiday season that feels calm and not chaotic. Think of it like your reset button before Christmas whirlwind hits. So grab your spot@realhappymom.com slash christmas party. That's real Happy mom.com/christmas party. The link is also in the show notes. I can't wait to plan alongside you and help you actually enjoy the season. That's it for this episode. Take care, and with lots of love.