Why We Chose Homeschool After Public School
The decision wasn’t about leaving public school. It was about choosing a different childhood.
When people find out we homeschool, one of the first questions they ask is,
“Why?”
The truth is, we didn’t start homeschooling because we hated public school.
In fact, we loved Devin’s school.
His teachers cared deeply about their students. He made great friends, and we had wonderful experiences there.
If you had asked us a year earlier, homeschooling wasn’t even on our radar.
Then everything changed.
The Moment That Changed Everything
At the beginning of Devin’s first-grade year, I started volunteering in his classroom.
Watching from inside the classroom gave me a completely different perspective than I had as a parent dropping him off each morning.
I quickly realized how far ahead Devin was in both math and English.
It wasn’t that the teachers weren’t doing a good job.
It was the opposite.
I saw firsthand just how difficult their job really is.
One teacher was trying to meet the needs of twenty-plus students, all learning at completely different levels.
There’s only so much time in a day.
I noticed Devin spending quite a bit of time working independently on the computer while his teacher helped other students who needed more one-on-one instruction.
That wasn’t anyone’s fault.
It was simply the reality of a traditional classroom.
Then Devin Started Asking for More
Around the same time, Devin started coming home asking for harder math.
Not because homework was assigned.
Because he genuinely wanted to learn more.
As parents, we had a choice.
We could fill every afternoon with extra tutoring, enrichment programs, and additional classes…
…or we could rethink what education looked like altogether.
We realized we didn’t want our evenings filled with more school.
We wanted family time.
We Wanted Education to Fit Our Family
Academic pace wasn’t the only reason.
We also wanted flexibility.
We wanted to travel during quieter seasons.
We wanted to spend weekdays hiking instead of sitting in traffic.
We wanted field trips to happen because we were curious—not because they fit into a school calendar.
Most importantly, we wanted to build an education around our kids instead of asking our kids to fit into one educational system.
It Wasn’t Only Our Decision
Because Devin also spends time with his biological father, homeschooling wasn’t a decision Bryce and I could make alone.
The three of us needed to agree.
Bryce was immediately on board.
We had always imagined homeschooling Jayceon and Brielle, but with Devin, we knew everyone needed to feel comfortable moving forward.
Once we were all on the same page, we took the leap.
The Two Things That Scared Me
I’ll be honest.
I had two major fears.
The first was time.
At that point, I was considering taking on a second job while homeschooling.
Could we realistically make it work?
The second was the question every homeschool family hears.
“But what about socialization?”
At first, I worried too.
Then I realized something.
Instead of wondering if my kids would be socialized…
I now had the opportunity to choose the environments—and the people—that would help shape them.
That completely changed my perspective.
Today, our kids spend time with homeschool friends, sports teams, church groups, climbing gyms, and families who share many of our values.
We’ve found that homeschooling didn’t mean less socialization.
It meant more intentional socialization.
Everyone Thought We Were Crazy…
At first.
Our families were hesitant.
Homeschool wasn’t what they expected.
But, to be fair, by now they know we rarely choose the “normal” path.
As they’ve watched us over the last few years, they’ve also watched our kids grow.
Now they’re some of our biggest supporters.
What Surprised Us Most
The biggest surprise wasn’t academic.
It was how much time we got back.
In public school, Devin spent roughly six hours each day at school.
Now, we often finish our focused curriculum in 30 to 45 minutes.
That doesn’t mean we’re doing less.
It means we’re learning differently.
The rest of the day becomes available for books, projects, engineering, outdoor adventures, museums, cooking, sports, travel, and simply letting kids be kids.
Ironically, our children have also finished much of their curriculum ahead of schedule.
It Has Already Changed All Three Kids
One unexpected benefit has been watching the younger kids learn naturally.
Jayceon absorbed so much simply by sitting next to Devin.
He completed his kindergarten curriculum a year early and is already moving into first-grade work.
Brielle is still little, but before turning three she was already counting to twenty.
None of this happened because we pushed them.
They were simply surrounded by learning every day.
Devin Still Has Friends
One of Devin’s biggest worries was leaving his friends.
Honestly, it was one of ours too.
But we’ve made a real effort to stay connected.
He still sees many of his public school friends.
He’s also built friendships within the homeschool community—kids who share similar interests and schedules.
Instead of losing friendships, his circle simply grew.
More Than an Education
We don’t know exactly what our kids will remember twenty years from now.
They probably won’t remember every worksheet.
Or every spelling test.
But we hope they’ll remember the campfires.
The mountain trails.
The museums.
The conversations around the dinner table.
The engineering projects that turned ideas into reality.
The confidence that came from trying hard things.
We believe children learn best through experience.
The curriculum matters.
We take academics seriously.
But we’ve also learned that the lessons which last the longest are often the ones lived, not just taught.
For our family, homeschooling wasn’t about leaving school behind.
It was about opening the world and letting it become part of our classroom.
Keep Exploring With Us
If you’re looking for ways to make learning feel more like an adventure and raise confident, curious kids through real-world experiences, you’re in the right place.
Here at Raising Trail Blazers, we share the hikes, homeschool adventures, family trips, hands-on projects, and everyday moments that have helped shape our family. Our hope is that they inspire you to create meaningful experiences with yours—whether you homeschool, attend public school, or fall somewhere in between.
Because at the end of the day, we believe adventure isn’t about climbing the biggest mountain.
It’s about raising kids who believe they’re capable of climbing whatever mountain life puts in front of them.
Ready for your next family adventure? Check out the free adventure cards below