Curious about how to start homeschooling but not sure where to begin? In this episode, I walk you through the 7 essential steps to start homeschooling — and spoiler: choosing curriculum doesn’t even crack the top 4!

Whether you're making the shift due to school system concerns, want a more relaxed lifestyle, or just need a fresh start, this episode will walk you through:

• Checking your state’s legal requirements

• Discovering your “why” for homeschooling

• Aligning your homeschool with your real life

• Exploring different homeschool styles (Charlotte Mason, unschooling, eclectic + more)

• Choosing the right curriculum (only after steps 1–4!)

• Finding local community

• Deschooling: what it really means and why it’s essential

Whether you're exploring homeschool for working moms or just want beginner homeschooling tips that actually make sense, you’re in the right place.

I’m a single mom who homeschools while working from home — and if I can do it, I promise you can too.

🎧 Resources mentioned:

• HSLDA – State Laws

📢 Know someone who's just starting their homeschool journey? Share this episode with them!

Homeschooling doesn’t have to fit a mold! In this episode, I’m spilling the tea on 10 (possibly controversial) things I don’t do in my homeschool—and why ditching these “rules” has brought more joy, freedom, and success to our learning journey.

From not limiting screen time to skipping grade levels and avoiding strict schedules, I’m sharing how I prioritize flexibility, interest-led learning, and real-life experiences. Whether you’re a new homeschooler or looking for ways to simplify your approach, this episode is packed with practical insights and encouragement for creating a homeschool that works for your unique family.

So grab your coffee, hit play, and let’s embrace the chaos together!

🎧 Highlights in this episode:

• Why I don’t follow a set curriculum.

• How we approach progress without grades or testing.

• The beauty of saying “no” to a rigid schedule.

• Tips for homeschooling on a budget—and thriving!

Don’t forget to subscribe for more real-talk episodes on homeschooling, work, and life balance.

About the Episode

Today I'm doing another AMA episode on The Strike a Balance Podcast for Working Homeschool Moms.

Be sure to reach out if you have questions you'd like me to answer.

Useful Links

https://mylittlehomeschool.com/a-simple-time-audit-for-working-homeschool-moms/

Find an in-depth deschooling workshop over on Patreon. Become an insider to access this and other exclusive content.

https://patreon.com/WHMCollectiveSupportforWorkingHomeschoolMoms

Claim Your Free Workbook: How to Manage It All as a New Working Homeschool Mom

New working homeschool mom, are you wondering how to manage it all?

I've put together a workbook with 5 powerful steps to help you gain confidence to take those first steps and to find the balance you crave.

https://mylittlehomeschool.myflodesk.com/manageitall

Sponsor for the Episode

Working homeschool mom, I know how overwhelming it can be to choose a math curriculum for your homeschool. That's why I'd like to tell you about the online math curriculum we've been using for years – CTCMath.com.

As far as math curriculums go, it has loads of great features that solve lots of the math issues we've had and I know a lot of homeschooling families have. Here are a few of the features (from the many) that we really like:

And then for us parents, CTCMath has:

But I think the most important things is a whole lot LESS stress when it's math time for both parents AND kids. You get to outsource math with confidence and your kids get a fantastic tailor-made programme that makes learning and mastering math enjoyable and positive.

Visit ctcmath.com today to start your free trial. CTCMath is offering you listener, an amazing special! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ctcmath.com/MLH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to get a half-price discount plus a bonus 6-months for free!

About the Podcast

On the Strike a Balance Podcast for Working Homeschool Moms this week, I have the great pleasure of welcoming Karen Stone, BA, Special Ed, MA, Learning Disabilities, onto the podcast. Karen has worked in the education field for more than 45 years.

Karen’s education background and her own experiences of being bullied from childhood to early adulthood, at home and school led her to authoring an anti-bullying blog, www.howwestopbullying.com.

Karen’s work is also influenced by her experiences raising a son with significant disabilities.

Karen’s professional experiences as an educator showed her that for children to be successful, whether they had disabilities or not, they needed to value themselves, each other and their abilities.

As CEO of SoftStone Products, Inc., Karen has written and piloted research-based children’s Emotional Intelligence (EQ) programs implemented with students from Preschool to High School. Karen’s new book, Is Your Child’s World Emotionally Safe?, reveals her personal story but also makes a compelling case for the inclusion of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in every home and classroom.

It was wonderful chatting to Karen and hearing about the importance of teaching our little ones EQ from a young age. She shares some really interesting ways to include this in your homeschool, even as a busy working homeschool mom.

Connect with Karen

https://eqforchildren.com

www.facebook.com/karenstonecj

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH6WtKhdBbhTVtcqbr1jE0g

And be sure to grab your own EQ kit for your homeschool

Claim Your Free Workbook: How to Manage It All as a New Working Homeschool Mom

New working homeschool mom, are you wondering how to manage it all?

I've put together a workbook with 5 powerful steps to help you gain confidence to take those first steps and to find the balance you crave.

https://mylittlehomeschool.myflodesk.com/manageitall

Sponsor for the Episode

Working homeschool mom, I know how overwhelming it can be to choose a math curriculum for your homeschool. That's why I'd like to tell you about the online math curriculum we've been using for years – CTCMath.com.

As far as math curriculums go, it has loads of great features that solve lots of the math issues we've had and I know a lot of homeschooling families have. Here are a few of the features (from the many) that we really like:

And then for us parents, CTCMath has:

But I think the most important things is a whole lot LESS stress when it's math time for both parents AND kids. You get to outsource math with confidence and your kids get a fantastic tailor-made programme that makes learning and mastering math enjoyable and positive.

Visit ctcmath.com today to start your free trial. CTCMath is offering you listener, an amazing special! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ctcmath.com/MLH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to get a half-price discount plus a bonus 6-months for free!

About the Episode

On The Strike a Balance Podcast for Working Homeschool Moms this week, I chat to Whitney Whitten from Sensational Moms.

Whitney is a nervous system specialist and homeschool mom to four kids who helps touched-out, talked-out homeschool moms trade sensory overwhelm for connection and freedom.

It was great to hear about what overwhelm can look like for a working homeschool mom. And then to hear some simple and practical things you can do to manage it better.

Connect with Whitney

www.sensationalmoms.com

www.instagram.com/sensationalmoms

Claim Your Free Workbook: How to Manage It All as a New Working Homeschool Mom

New working homeschool mom, are you wondering how to manage it all?

I've put together a workbook with 5 powerful steps to help you gain confidence to take those first steps and to find the balance you crave.

https://mylittlehomeschool.myflodesk.com/manageitall

Sponsor for the Episode

Working homeschool mom, I know how overwhelming it can be to choose a math curriculum for your homeschool. That's why I'd like to tell you about the online math curriculum we've been using for years – CTCMath.com.

As far as math curriculums go, it has loads of great features that solve lots of the math issues we've had and I know a lot of homeschooling families have. Here are a few of the features (from the many) that we really like:

And then for us parents, CTCMath has:

But I think the most important things is a whole lot LESS stress when it's math time for both parents AND kids. You get to outsource math with confidence and your kids get a fantastic tailor-made programme that makes learning and mastering math enjoyable and positive.

Visit ctcmath.com today to start your free trial. CTCMath is offering you listener, an amazing special! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ctcmath.com/MLH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to get a half-price discount plus a bonus 6-months for free!

About the Episode

Today I'm doing another AMA episode. And I'm covering some great questions!

Bekah, who's been working and homeschooling for two years has this doubt:

Looking different from other homeschooling families and not being able to provide the same outings and opportunities outside our home.

Cherise, who's been a working homeschool mom for four years want to know how to keep a tight schedule

Lastly, Ashley, who is new to working and homeschooling, want to know how to prioritize school with limited

Be sure to reach out if you have a question you'd like answered.

Links Mentioned:

www.patreon.com/WHMCollectiveSupportforWorkingHomeschoolMoms

https://mylittlehomeschool.com/a-simple-time-audit-for-working-homeschool-moms/

Claim Your Free Workbook: How to Manage It All as a New Working Homeschool Mom

New working homeschool mom, are you wondering how to manage it all?

I've put together a workbook with 5 powerful steps to help you gain confidence to take those first steps and to find the balance you crave.

Claim Your Free Workbook

Sponsor for the Episode

Working homeschool mom, I know how overwhelming it can be to choose a math curriculum for your homeschool. That's why I'd like to tell you about the online math curriculum we've been using for years – CTCMath.com.

As far as math curriculums go, it has loads of great features that solve lots of the math issues we've had and I know a lot of homeschooling families have. Here are a few of the features (from the many) that we really like:

And then for us parents, CTCMath has:

But I think the most important things is a whole lot LESS stress when it's math time for both parents AND kids. You get to outsource math with confidence and your kids get a fantastic tailor-made programme that makes learning and mastering math enjoyable and positive.

Visit ctcmath.com today to start your free trial. CTCMath is offering you listener, an amazing special! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ctcmath.com/MLH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to get a half-price discount plus a bonus 6-months for free!

About the Episode

On The Strike a Balance Podcast for Working Homeschool Moms this week, I chat to Kathy Sullivan from Talent Principles, an executive coaching and organizational development consultancy.

She helps organizations improve performance leadership development programs, coaching, and leading transformation. She is a certified change management practitioner and has coached working moms for many years.

Her focus has been on helping moms navigate the challenges of integrating work and life, and advancing their careers. Kathy resides in Ohio and is a single parent to two children.

Kathy and I chat about many topics related to being a working mom. And once again, the topic of balance comes up. Kathy has some great advice for striking a balance and for finding ways to prioritize yourself as a busy working mom.

Connect with Kathy

www.talentprinciples.com

www.linkedin.com/in/kathysullivancoachconsultant

Claim Your Free eBook: 100 Tips for New Working Homeschool Moms

I know that being a new working homeschool mom can feel so messy and overwhelming at the beginning. That’s why I’ve created a checklist with 100 tips I’ve gathered since I started out in 2017.

The checklist is divided into 5 sections with 20 tips each. It will help you to take your first steps on this new adventure, feeling confident and supported. The tips are divided into:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mylittlehomeschool.com/100-tips-for-new-working-homeschool-moms/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sponsor for the Episode

Working homeschool mom, I know how overwhelming it can be to choose a math curriculum for your homeschool. That's why I'd like to tell you about the online math curriculum we've been using for years – CTCMath.com.

As far as math curriculums go, it has loads of great features that solve lots of the math issues we've had and I know a lot of homeschooling families have. Here are a few of the features (from the many) that we really like:

And then for us parents, CTCMath has:

But I think the most important things is a whole lot LESS stress when it's math time for both parents AND kids. You get to outsource math with confidence and your kids get a fantastic tailor-made programme that makes learning and mastering math enjoyable and positive.

Visit ctcmath.com today to start your free trial. CTCMath is offering you listener, an amazing special! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ctcmath.com/MLH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to get a half-price discount plus a bonus 6-months for free!

About the Episode

How to balance homeschool and work is something that I get asked time and time again as a working homeschool mom coach.

It’s come up so often that I even named my podcast after it! So I know that it’s something that new and newish moms who work and homeschool, worry and fret about. 

So in today’s episode I want to set your mind at ease. I want to show you that if you want to, you CAN work and homeschool. It might not always be perfectly balanced. But it is definitely manageable!  

Links Mentioned

https://youtu.be/n3kNlFMXslo

https://patreon.com/WHMCollectiveSupportforWorkingHomeschoolMoms

Claim Your Free eBook: 100 Tips for New Working Homeschool Moms

I know that being a new working homeschool mom can feel so messy and overwhelming at the beginning. That’s why I’ve created a checklist with 100 tips I’ve gathered since I started out in 2017.

The checklist is divided into 5 sections with 20 tips each. It will help you to take your first steps on this new adventure, feeling confident and supported. The tips are divided into:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mylittlehomeschool.com/100-tips-for-new-working-homeschool-moms/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sponsor for the Episode

Working homeschool mom, I know how overwhelming it can be to choose a math curriculum for your homeschool. That's why I'd like to tell you about the online math curriculum we've been using for years – CTCMath.com.

As far as math curriculums go, it has loads of great features that solve lots of the math issues we've had and I know a lot of homeschooling families have. Here are a few of the features (from the many) that we really like:

And then for us parents, CTCMath has:

But I think the most important things is a whole lot LESS stress when it's math time for both parents AND kids. You get to outsource math with confidence and your kids get a fantastic tailor-made programme that makes learning and mastering math enjoyable and positive.

Visit ctcmath.com today to start your free trial. CTCMath is offering you listener, an amazing special! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ctcmath.com/MLH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to get a half-price discount plus a bonus 6-months for free!

About the Episode

On the Strike a Balance Podcast for Working Homeschool Moms this week, I chat to Danii Oliver about how and why unschooling works.

Danii is a passionate storyteller, children’s picture book illustrator and an unschooling facilitator, following and supporting their children through their natural learning journeys.

With a diverse background that spans anthropology, fine arts, and software engineering, Danii has harnessed their eclectic expertise to create the immersive "Unschool Discoveries" series.

When not dedicating two years to authoring & illustrating their first book, Danii offers Product Officer services empowering CEOs to develop innovative consumer goods and tech products.

This is an incredible episode full to the brim with insights about unschooling, socialization and more! If you want to offer your kiddo an authentic learning experience and teach them what's really important, then be sure to listen!

And be sure to grab their books on their website.

Connect with Danii

www.unschooldiscoveries.com

www.facebook.com/unshooldiscoveries

www.instagram.com/unschooldiscoveries

www.youtube.com/@kidofamilyranch

www.tiktok.com/@unschoolpagesofourlives

www.twitter.com/UnschoolPages

Claim Your Free eBook: 100 Tips for New Working Homeschool Moms

I know that being a new working homeschool mom can feel so messy and overwhelming at the beginning. That’s why I’ve created a checklist with 100 tips I’ve gathered since I started out in 2017.

The checklist is divided into 5 sections with 20 tips each. It will help you to take your first steps on this new adventure, feeling confident and supported. The tips are divided into:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mylittlehomeschool.com/100-tips-for-new-working-homeschool-moms/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sponsor for the Episode

Working homeschool mom, I know how overwhelming it can be to choose a math curriculum for your homeschool. That's why I'd like to tell you about the online math curriculum we've been using for years – CTCMath.com.

As far as math curriculums go, it has loads of great features that solve lots of the math issues we've had and I know a lot of homeschooling families have. Here are a few of the features (from the many) that we really like:

And then for us parents, CTCMath has:

But I think the most important things is a whole lot LESS stress when it's math time for both parents AND kids. You get to outsource math with confidence and your kids get a fantastic tailor-made programme that makes learning and mastering math enjoyable and positive.

Visit ctcmath.com today to start your free trial. CTCMath is offering you listener, an amazing special! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ctcmath.com/MLH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to get a half-price discount plus a bonus 6-months for free!

About the Episode

When I think back to when I started homeschooling as a working mom, I wasted so much time! My idea of where to start with homeschooling was quite misguided to be honest! 

I concentrated on all the wrong things and it caused resistance from my kids, me to be totally frustrated and general bad vibes in our house. Not fun! 

On today's episode of The Strike a Balance Podcast for Working Homeschool Moms, I want to share with you what I found to be really important. It might come as a surprise to you. Or you might think that it doesn’t even make sense. But hear me out first please! 

Because if I can save you even a few days or weeks of stress and frustration, it will be totally worth it! I will have done my job! 

Claim Your Free eBook: 100 Tips for New Working Homeschool Moms

I know that being a new working homeschool mom can feel so messy and overwhelming at the beginning. That’s why I’ve created a checklist with 100 tips I’ve gathered since I started out in 2017.

The checklist is divided into 5 sections with 20 tips each. It will help you to take your first steps on this new adventure, feeling confident and supported. The tips are divided into:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mylittlehomeschool.com/100-tips-for-new-working-homeschool-moms/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sponsor for the Episode

Working homeschool mom, I know how overwhelming it can be to choose a math curriculum for your homeschool. That's why I'd like to tell you about the online math curriculum we've been using for years – CTCMath.com.

As far as math curriculums go, it has loads of great features that solve lots of the math issues we've had and I know a lot of homeschooling families have. Here are a few of the features (from the many) that we really like:

And then for us parents, CTCMath has:

But I think the most important things is a whole lot LESS stress when it's math time for both parents AND kids. You get to outsource math with confidence and your kids get a fantastic tailor-made programme that makes learning and mastering math enjoyable and positive.

Visit ctcmath.com today to start your free trial. CTCMath is offering you listener, an amazing special! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ctcmath.com/MLH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to get a half-price discount plus a bonus 6-months for free!