It’s OK to be “Average”

Have you ever asked a question about homeschooling and felt overwhelmed by the responses? Sometimes, instead of a simple answer, you receive a long list of impressive homeschool achievements and highlight reels of excellence.

I’ve seen many posts and conversations where a mom, curious about homeschooling, asks others to share their experiences. Often, the responses highlight early graduations, earning college credits in high school, teens starting businesses, and stories of full scholarships. Others mention favorite curriculums that you must use, co-ops, kids excelling above grade level, impressive SAT scores, talented athletes with busy schedules, and very full days!

The homeschool resumes can be overwhelming and leave you feeling like you won’t be able to measure up. You may have been looking forward to slower days and more time with your kiddos, and then all of a sudden, you are scared you’re going to cause your child to fall behind and miss out on excelling.

Don’t get me wrong – All of those homeschool accomplishments are wonderful! I love that families are meeting their kiddos where they are and seeing how they can help them thrive. BUT, I just want to remind you that it’s also totally OK to just be “average.”

There is nothing wrong with homeschooling simply to have more time with your kiddos. Your kids might be on grade level, working to catch up, or even a little behind—and that’s perfectly fine. You can sleep in and start school when it works for your family, whether that’s mid-morning or after lunch. Your children can curl up with a good book and the family dog, skip co-ops or sports entirely, graduate high school at 18, and go straight into the workforce. They can enjoy simple days and the joys of just being a kid.

In my homeschool, I made sure we had plenty of downtime so my girls could pursue their own interests. We left space to go down rabbit holes and dig into topics when inspiration struck. We focused on depth rather than glossing over topics and checking boxes. I wanted to instill a love of learning in them and help them see learning as part of their lives, not just something tied to school.

We chose not to participate in a co-op, and I let my girls help create many of their own courses. My girls chose not to take dual credits, honors, or AP courses. Yet, both graduated from college with A’s and are right where they want to be in life.

You can choose a simple route for your homeschool and still give your kiddos a rich education and prepare them for life. Don’t let someone else’s homeschool resume make you think you are not doing enough. There is nothing wrong with being “average.”