One thing many people don’t talk about, or are too embarrassed to talk about, is how deeply life changes (aka Layoffs) affect everyday living.
Losing income.
Moving cities.
Uprooting lives.
And most importantly…
Uprooting your kids’ lives.
My kids have missed out on friends, dance classes, swim classes, and the stability many families take for granted.
When the last two layoffs happened, my daughter was already online or homeschooled.
I was lucky I didn’t have to physically pull her out of school.
That alone softened the blow.
It gave us breathing room.
And that space forced me to ask a hard question.
What kind of schooling actually works for our lives right now?
Why I Ultimately Chose Homeschooling and Found Peace
I didn’t decide to homeschool because I had it all figured out.
I wasn’t organized.
I wasn’t confident.
I wasn’t sure this was the “right” or final decision.
Our family has tried everything: public school, online school, and homeschool.
Each one had positives.
Each one also came with stress I didn’t fully recognize until I was living it.
The expectations.
The schedules.
The constant feeling of being behind.
Eventually, it started creating a rift between my daughter and me.
I felt like her performance reflected my worth as a parent.
If she struggled, I failed.
So we went back to homeschooling again.
Not a Picture-Perfect Homeschooling
This isn’t a Pinterest-decorated schoolroom with motivational posters and color-coded bins.
This is taking everything we’ve learned over the last three years and building something flexible, portable, and realistic.
School that can move with us.
School that doesn’t fall apart when life does.
After just two weeks back to homeschooling, something shifted.
More breathing room.
Fewer tears.
More calm.
Those peaceful days showed me this wasn’t indecision.
It was alignment.
At least for this season.
Acknowledging the Fear
Three years ago, I was scared.
I read countless blogs, watched hours of YouTube videos, and talked to other moms who had already made the leap.
I worried about socialization.
I worried about doing damage.
I worried about getting it wrong.
What I didn’t realize then was how much my daughter looked to me for confidence.
So I learned to quiet my doubts, even when I still carried them inside.
Other School Options
Public school taught me structure, but it also put my daughter in a box.
She started believing she could never succeed.
Online public and private schools promised flexibility.
But in reality, they brought many of the same pressures as in-person school.
There was little room to lean into her strengths.
Not enough attention when she struggled.
It wasn’t the right fit.
In the End, Peace Was the Final Choice
Peace, for us, looks like less rushing, deeper connection, and growing confidence in my child.
Homeschooling isn’t the answer for every family.
But it quieted the noise for us.
The stress.
The constant uncertainty.
Trying all three options gave us clarity.
And clarity led us here.
What I didn’t expect was how homeschooling would force me to completely rethink education, productivity, and what success even looks like for kids.
In the next post, I’m sharing the real turning point.
The moment homeschooling stopped feeling overwhelming and started feeling peaceful.
And the simple shift that changed everything.
If you’re standing at the crossroads, unsure, overwhelmed, and just wanting things to feel peaceful, this series is for you.
Comment and tell me where you are right now. Public school? Online school? Homeschool? Or just feeling unsure?
From One Mama to Another
It’s okay if your path doesn’t look perfect; peace is still a valid goal.
Winging It Dishes
Who doesn’t love baked potatoes?! How about baked potatoes with BBQ chicken, sour cream, shredded cheese, and green onions? A meal for under $15. And the best part, you can make it all week. Have you seen the bag size for potatoes?!!! This is one of my favorite weekly meals, and here is how I make it.
🥔 6 Russet or Baked Potatoes – Bake for 45-60 mins. on 400F
🍗BBQ Chicken or Pork (I buy the precooked chicken from Aldi’s or Target)
🧀 Shredded Cheese
🧅Green Onions
🧂Salt and Pepper
🥛Sour Cream
