78% of New Homeschool Moms Say Starting is the Hardest Part

There’s a moment that happens right before you decide to bring your kids home.

It’s usually quiet. A late-night kind of moment. Maybe your house is finally still, and your thoughts are loud in a way you can’t ignore anymore.

You’ve been watching your child change.Or wilt.Or come home anxious and overstimulated.Or maybe it’s not even that dramatic—maybe you just know there has to be a different way.

You want to say “yes” to homeschooling… but the truth is, starting feels like a free fall.

You’re in good company.

A recent survey showed that 78% of new homeschool moms said the hardest part was just starting. Not lesson planning. Not socialization. Not teaching algebra. Just… starting.

And yeah, that checks out.

Because it’s not really about figuring out math curriculum or state reporting laws (though those come later). It’s about the emotional weight of pulling your kids from what you always thought would be their path—and then having to create something totally new, without a map.

It’s about trusting yourself in a system that taught you not to.

It’s okay to feel unsure.

You’re not doing it wrong if this feels scary. You’re not underprepared just because you cried after printing your withdrawal form. You’re not a bad mom because you looked at your kitchen table and thought, “...This is school now?”

You’re just human. You’re just a mom who loves her kids. And you’re standing on the edge of something big.

And it’s okay if it feels weird at first.

Those first few days (or weeks) can feel disorienting.Your child might act like they’re on summer break. You might panic that you’re not doing “enough.”You might wonder if you’ve made a huge mistake.

Let me say this as clearly as I can:

It’s normal to second-guess yourself in the beginning. It’s normal to mourn the version of school you thought your child would have. It’s normal to not feel totally sure—and still know this is the right move.

You don’t have to start with a master plan.

Start with presence.Start with noticing your kid again.Start with lunch together, or a long walk, or a slow morning on the couch.

Start with trust—the kind you build one real day at a time.

Because while starting might be the hardest part, it’s also the beginning of something beautiful. And it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s version of school to be exactly what your child needs.

You're not alone. And you’re already doing more right than you know.