Only my close friends knew what I am going to tell you today. In Confessions of a Homeschool Mom, I share the truth that most homeschoolers won’t tell others—often out of fear of judgment. But there is no judgment here!

Welcome to Vintage Homeschool Moms! Today, our topic is Confessions of a Homeschool Mom. I’m Felice Gerwitz, and if you’re listening, chances are you’re a homeschool mom—or maybe you’re thinking about becoming one. Either way, you’re in the right place.

This is a space where we’re real about the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Today, I want to share some confessions from my own homeschool journey—because, let’s be honest, we’ve all got them—and sprinkle in some encouragement to keep you going.

So grab your coffee, your tea, or that cold cup you’ve been meaning to reheat for the last hour, and let’s dive in!

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I was a teacher and decided to stay home with my children once I had them. Little did I know that my child would fit the category of a “gray area” learner, meaning the school wasn’t equipped to teach him as well as I could. And let’s be clear—I didn’t sign up to be a superhero.

Seriously, when I started homeschooling, I had this vision of calm mornings, kids eagerly gathered around the table, and me dispensing wisdom like some kind of pioneer woman crossed with Mary Poppins. Spoiler alert: That’s not what happened. Some days went smoothly, but often, everything was a mess.

In fact, I tried to model a private school at home, and that was a disaster. Who knew that giving kids recess meant they wouldn’t want to come back inside and do more school?

The laundry piled up, the science experiment didn’t work, and when I looked up, I noticed one of those sticky gummy toys stuck to the ceiling fan. I’m pretty sure my kids learned more about Legos than actual science.

But then I’d catch my son reading a book he picked up on his own or my daughter explaining “greater than” and “less than” to her younger brother because she gets it now—and I realized: those little wins? They’re huge.

You’re not failing. You’re planting seeds, and they’re growing, even when you can’t see it yet.

Social media can trick us into thinking that every other homeschool mom has a color-coded schedule, a spotless house, and kids who recite Shakespeare while baking sourdough bread. Meanwhile, I’m over here Googling, “How to get gum out of hair.”

Here’s the truth: You don’t need a perfect system or a Pinterest-worthy schoolroom. If you’ve got determination, love, and a heart for your kids, that’s more than enough.

You’re building something beautiful—mess and all. Sure, organization is important, but what most moms don’t understand is that you are teaching more than you realize.

Maybe you started homeschooling because you saw what was being taught in schools and were rightly appalled. Maybe you wanted flexibility, noticed your child wasn’t thriving in a traditional setting, or felt a tug in your soul that said, “I need to try this, even if just for a season.”

Whatever the reason, it still matters.

You’re not just teaching math and reading—you’re teaching your kids how to think and actually giving them time to think. You’re giving them the opportunity to chase their dreams. That’s powerful. That’s priceless.

I’ve seen it firsthand. My children are all thinkers. They don’t often make rash decisions, and homeschooling gave them the time to explore their interests.

I constantly questioned whether I was doing enough. Were we on grade level? Were my kids learning what they should be learning?

After the first few years, I took a radical approach (for me) and began teaching through unit studies. I even wrote and published some of my own. Suddenly, my kids were excited about learning!

We went full force into studying topics instead of sticking to grade levels, and learning opened up in a whole new way.

For six weeks, we studied oceanography, then astronomy. Then it was Creation Science and Anatomy. Before I knew it, we had covered history, science, writing, reading, spelling, language arts, and so much more. The kids thrived.

At the end of the year, I was nervous about their evaluations. But the results confirmed what I already knew in my heart: my younger and middle school-aged children thrived with hands-on learning.

I wish I had continued this approach in high school, but for my college-bound kids, we switched to books that helped them with entrance exams. I still handpicked the books and didn’t use a set curriculum, opting for the best resources instead. (Check out CathyDuffyReviews.com for great recommendations!)

After homeschooling five children over thirty-two years, I never imagined I would make it past one year—let alone three decades!

Sure, it was hard. Sure, there were days I dreamed of going out to lunch with friends or using the bathroom without someone knocking on the door.

But the relationships I built with my children are everlasting.

I was the one who saw the awe on their faces during field trips. I was the one who got to watch them grow, learn, and become who they were meant to be. That’s a privilege I will never take for granted.

We did incredible things in our homeschool journey:

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• Studied ancient civilizations and ate Greek food
  
• Traveled to Georgia to find rocks not found in Florida while studying geology
  
• Went on an archeological dig and fossil float
  
• Took private tours at a nature center on Sanibel Island
  
• Attended homeschool-only planetarium nights
  
• Had group ice-skating lessons with an Olympic judge
  

It turns out that Southwest Florida, where I live, attracts some of the most interesting people in the world. And many of them played a role in shaping my children’s education.

You’re juggling a million things—teacher, mom, chef, referee—and doing it with love.

Take a minute to look at your kids and recognize what you’ve already done. That book they read? That’s you. The way they’re kind to each other? That’s you. Their curiosity and creativity? That’s you, too.

You’re not just keeping the ship afloat—you’re steering it somewhere amazing.

Wherever you are right now—whether you’re in the middle of a lesson, scrubbing glitter off the table, or sneaking a quiet moment for yourself—know this:

You are enough.
You are doing something incredible.
And your kids are lucky to have you.

Keep going. You’ve got this.

That’s all for today from Vintage Homeschool Moms. Thanks for hanging out with me! I’d love to hear your confessions too. Drop me a message, share your story, and let’s keep lifting each other up.

Until next time, keep the coffee strong and the grace stronger.

See you soon!