When Homeschooling Fails...and What Comes Next

This week I'm reconnecting with longtime friend Stephanie to unpack her full-circle journey through homeschooling, early marriage, motherhood, and now parenting kids in public school. Stephanie shares candid reflections on growing up in an unstructured homeschool environment, her surprising enrollment into El Camino, and the decision to homeschool her own children—before realizing public school was the right fit. We explore the tension between faith, education, and identity in the homeschool world, revealing how breaking away led to personal growth, renewed curiosity, and healthier family dynamics.

🔑 Key Points 

• Stephanie’s experience growing up in a large, loosely structured homeschool family

• Transitioning from homeschool to El Camino and earning her GED

• Early marriage, motherhood, and the challenges of homeschooling her own kids

• Letting go of the “public school is evil” mindset

• Rediscovering a love for learning as an adult through podcasts and books

🔗 References & Mentions 

• Adventures in Odyssey

• Group Solutions Homeschool Co-op

• El Camino Independent Study Program

• Ken Ham / Answers in Genesis (mentioned critically)

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