You're Not a Real Homeschooler

You're Not a REAL Homeschooler? Let's Talk About That.

I've had it said to my face—actually, twice within 60 seconds (I’ll share below). I've seen the debates rage online. I've heard the arguments from both sides. A certain percentage of the homeschool community feels the need to call out anyone who uses public resources (except for libraries and high school concurrent programs) to educate their children at home, claiming they aren’t real homeschoolers.

The Fear Behind the Statement

Here’s the thing—I get it. No one wants to lose fought-for rights and go back to a time where people don’t have the freedoms they do now.

Some homeschool advocates argue that using government-funded resources creates a slippery slope. That allowing even a tiny bit of government involvement will eventually lead to regulations that strip away homeschool freedoms.

And so, in their minds, publicly-funded options are an enemy to homeschooling rights.

(At least, that’s how it’s been explained each time I’ve come across this argument.)

The Unexpected Reality

In my experience—having lived in three different states, participating in multiple co-ops and homeschool groups—many families who start with public-school-at-home programs eventually transition to full-fledged homeschooling. It’s almost like these programs act as a gateway to traditional homeschooling.

Not only that, but many of these families support homeschooling rights, even if they personally choose to continue with public options. Instead of being adversaries, they become allies.

The Unnecessary Divide

Now, let’s imagine a scenario (okay…the first one is not imaginary, it really happened, but we’ll get to imagining after that):

A mom is passionate about educating her kids at home. She wants to foster curiosity, a love of learning, and to raise her children in the classroom that is the world around them. But she doesn’t feel confident going at it alone, so she chooses a public-school-at-home program that allows her to use the very curriculum she was planning to purchase anyway. This program provides a bit of structure and accountability, giving her peace of mind.

She finds a local homeschool group, hoping for community. She introduces herself, explaining her situation—just looking for friendship and support. Then, another mom looks her straight in the eye and says, “So… you’re not a REAL homeschooler?”

The new mom tries to explain, “Well, we’re using the same curriculum, my children are getting the same experience—I just work with a teacher for accountability.”

And the response? “Okay, but you’re not a REAL homeschooler.”

Did That Conversation Help Anyone?

The reality is, the public-school-at-home families already know their classification. They sign documents acknowledging that they are technically part of a public school and are not a "homeschooler" by definition. The “education” this veteran homeschool mom was trying to provide? Unnecessary and, honestly, a little alienating.

Now, imagine a different approach.

What if that same veteran homeschool mom had welcomed the new mom and her kids with open arms? What if she invited her into the community to share, firsthand, all the freedoms and benefits of traditional homeschooling?

What traditional homeschool families do is amazing, so wouldn’t it be more impactful to show rather than shame?

At-Home-Schooling is Not One-Size-Fits-All

Some families need the structure of turning in assignments to a teacher. Others rely on funding to access the curriculum their kids are passionate about. Some prefer hybrid models where their children attend in-person classes a few days a week.

We are in a unique era where education can be customized to each child’s specific needs. Some families might have one child in a traditional homeschool setup, another in a hybrid program, and a third in an online school. The sheer number of available options is an incredible blessing.

Why not embrace the diversity of choices? Rather than tearing each other down, we should be supporting one another in our shared mission: providing the best possible education for our kids.

Welcome to the Journey

If you're a parent exploring alternatives to traditional public school…

If you have a passion for educating your child in a way that aligns with their strengths and future goals…

If you want to instill curiosity, a love of learning, and strong family values while being present for their milestones and struggles…

If you want the freedom to discuss your faith with your children while they learn and explore…

If you want the option to shamelessly shift between schooling options to find what works best for each of your children while supporting the availability of those choices…

You’re in the right place.

And here’s the thing—you’ll likely change your approach over time. And that’s okay! Because, like everything else in life, homeschooling (and at-home learning) is a learning process.

So, welcome. We’re glad you’re here!

Empowering Learning Journeys