I am often asked, "which homeschool philosophy should I follow?" My answer is always the same—whichever fits your family. As you might have been able to tell by now, I'm an eclectic homeschooler. I look at all the philosophies or systems, and I take what I think is best for my family. The most critical components for me are to adapt, improvise, and thrive. Whatever helps my children advance and excel, that's what you go with. That's what this is all about.

People always ask me if I feel that I wasted the last six years homeschooling my kids. I love spending time with my kids, and I wanted them to enjoy their childhood. We got to do both with homeschooling! At the same time, they learned to get their work done before having fun. They're learning to be analytical and critical thinkers. They test in the 99th percentile every year. So no, I don't regret homeschooling. It's been a pleasant learning experience for us, and we're grateful for it.

I used to think I was a terrible homeschool mom because I'm not like those moms who always seem happy and perky. So I tried faking it. It doesn't work! It's exhausting and just makes me a grumpy mom! And after spending time with perky moms, they can get just as frustrated with their kiddos as I do! Don't feel that you're required to be perky to be a successful homeschool! The only thing required is love.

During our New Year's party, this woman reprimanded me when she learned I was homeschooling my children. She said I was an irresponsible, neglectful, and all-around terrible mother. The thing is, we don't need to justify our choice to anyone else! It's none of their business! It becomes more convoluted if you try to explain it. It is best to remember that while everyone has an opinion, the only opinion should matter is yours and your family's.

The question you will most often be asked most is, "Why did you start homeschooling?" For most of us, something happened that caused us to make that decision. Our children's medical issues and an uncooperative teacher prompted us to start homeschooling. Despite all of the challenges we've faced, we still consider our homeschooling journey a success for our family.

While my husband doesn't consider his homeschooling experience to be positive, he has gone on to be a very successful entrepreneur. My experience, on the other hand, had a tremendously positive impact on my life. So whether homeschooling is a good experience or a bad experience is entirely up to you. Your commitment. Your dedication. Your goals. There are all kinds of different homeschooling approaches and homeschoolers.

Homeschooling is about individualizing the educational process for your family. Yet because it is so individualized, it can also be daunting to start and sometimes keep it going. I was lucky to find many homeschool moms who have been willing to help me with this exciting but sometimes challenging journey. So I'm doing this podcast to pay it forward. Here, you'll find tips, useful information, but most of all, encouragement and support to find your own way in your family's homeschool journey.