Do you wonder what the future looks like for your homeschoolers?
What will happen when they graduate from your homeschool? What will YOUR life look like as a “retired” homeschool parent? Will they be equipped for the “real world”? Will they get into college?
When we abandoned the ideal of public school in 2008, some of those questions were on my mind. Now that we’ve completed our journey, I have the answers (and I wish I hadn’t worried so much about the questions back then!).
This blog has been relatively quiet for the past year - oh, I’ve posted here and there, but it’s been hard to put into words what the completion of homeschooling has truly been like. My adult children also value their privacy. I’m trying to keep what I share about them to a minimum - because it’s THEIR life.
Mostly, I’ve struggled with just telling you it will BE OK. And, of course, when I write that it’s over, it’s really OVER - so coming to this blog to write has been hard, too.
Where My Homeschool Graduates Are Now
Advice: It’s all going to be ok. I promise.
I wrote a lot about my daughter's application to college, etc… Homeschool to College has been a popular series on the blog, so check it out if you missed it. Too many homeschooling parents make it too difficult when applying to college. We took a straightforward route, and it worked well.
Anna graduated from college in 2023 and is now working at a school for children with special needs children. We always knew she had a heart for anyone on the margins and nurtured this in her. In my mind, I pictured her working with the elderly or those with special needs.
Grant graduated from our homeschool in 2023 (yep, I had a high school and college graduation simultaneously!). After taking different electives in high school to match his interests and after doing an evaluation with YouScience, he applied to the only university in our state that offered a Sports Communication degree. He is finishing his freshman year now and has received hands-on experience in sports communication (announcing games, working the scoring tables, etc.…).
Both kids are doing what interests them and what they love. This is a direct result of homeschooling!
(Y’all - I look tired in this picture because I WAS!)
The Life of a Retired Homeschool Mom
Advice: Don’t lose yourself in homeschooling so much so that you don’t have anything left for just YOU.
(I hope this makes sense.) I am abundantly thankful that I had been building the SQUILT Music Appreciation curriculum for several years and could transition into full-time when the kids were gone. Having something to do for ME was quite helpful.
There were still days, however, when I found myself a bit weepy - especially after my son left for college. I recall going on a walk one day and texting him - “Are you having any trouble with being homesick?” to which he replied, “Nah.”
What? After everything I did for him and all I sacrificed to homeschool him, he wasn’t homesick?!? How ungrateful could he be? It just took my husband and a good friend to talk me off the ledge and remind me it was BECAUSE of homeschooling that he was well-adjusted, doing well in classes, making friends easily, and not pining away for home.
Now, I fill my days with the following:
Serving homeschool families in SQUILT Music Appreciation
You’ll always find me reading (come see me at Homegrown Book Picks!)
I am cleaning out all the places in my home that I neglected while homeschooling - ha!
I joined Bible Study Fellowship; I should have done this sooner because it’s been wonderful!
I am making my health a huge priority (at 52, a lot has crept up on me, so I’m working on this!)
More Homeschool Thoughts to Follow
It’s been tough to gather all of the thoughts I’m having about this time of life. There is so much goodness to share, but at the same time I want to be honest about some of the harder aspects, too. There are curricula I am so glad we used - and others not so much. There are big subject areas I am thankful we emphasized.
I have a lot to share with you!
I would do it all over again, but I wish I could give my younger self some advice—it would ease the road a bit.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below, and I will address them in the next post - I want to help this next generation of parents homeschool their children confidently and well.
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