The Joys, Chaos, and Occasional Hunger of Homeschooling

Homeschooling isn’t for the faint of heart—or for anyone who likes predictable schedules. Speaking from the trenches as a mom of seven (yes, seven!) children ranging from a college student to a spirited two-year-old, I can tell you it’s as rewarding as it is… chaotic.

Let’s start with the reality: motivation isn’t always intrinsic. Some days, my high schooler is reading Shakespeare with the enthusiasm of a cat at bath time, while my 8th grader would rather debate the philosophy of snacks than algebra. And don’t get me started on the 4th grader, whose attitude sometimes screams, “Why do I need to learn this now when I could be building a Lego empire?”

Then there’s supervision. Imagine trying to help with fractions while refereeing an argument about whose turn it is to feed the chickens, or making sure the toddler isn’t attempting to “help” by painting the dog with washable markers. Multitasking is a full-time sport!

And somewhere in all of this, meals happen… sort of. One particularly memorable day, I was so engrossed in helping my dual-enrolled high schooler finish a college essay while keeping the younger kids from turning the living room into a ball pit that I didn’t even realize I hadn’t eaten breakfast—or lunch—until almost 2 PM. Let me tell you, nothing motivates you quite like realizing you’re dangerously close to hanger while trying to explain the Pythagorean theorem for the fourth time.

Here’s the thing: homeschooling demands flexibility. Schedules are guidelines, not laws. You know, kind of like parley -- from Pirates of the Caribbean. Sometimes math gets pushed aside for a spontaneous science experiment; sometimes the toddler insists on “reading time” in the middle of a history lesson. But—and this is the secret sauce—flexibility only works if paired with consistency. Kids need to know there are expectations, even if the timeline wiggles like a garden hose in summer.

At the end of the day, homeschooling is a balancing act of patience, creativity, and humor. You’ll deal with eye rolls, procrastination, and “I’m done!” moments. You’ll need to adapt lessons to fit moods, energy levels, and yes, the occasional forgotten lunch. But you’ll also witness small victories—a lightbulb moment during a science experiment, a perfect paragraph, a math problem solved without tears—and these are worth every chaotic minute.

So, to my fellow homeschool warriors: give yourself grace, laugh often, and maybe keep a secret snack stash of Snickers. You’ll need it.