If someone brings up homeschooling around me… buckle up. I’ve been known to send ten-minute voice messages on the topic without even realising it. It’s not just something I do – it’s something I believe in.

But if I’m honest? I still get nervous talking about how and why we homeschool. What we do sounds weird to a lot of people. And there’s often a little voice in my head wondering if I’m about to be judged – for doing things differently, for not following the “normal” path, for trusting that our version of learning is enough.

My kids have never been to school. They’ve been to daycare and early learning centres (because hey – FIFO life and parenting burnout are real). And they go because they don’t want to be dragged around to do errands all the time, and it gives them their own space. It gives me a day to catch up on all the extra boring work without feeling guilty for ignoring them.

Homeschooling has always felt natural. Normal. The idea of having my kids home, learning alongside me, learning with me – it’s just how we do life.

I believe that part of my role as a mum is to be their first teacher, their safe place, their example. That won’t be every parent’s path – and I respect that deeply. I know mums who love their kids and love sending them to school. That doesn’t make their love any less. We’re all wired differently. That’s the beauty of it.

But me? I love homeschool because…

I get to be there. Really be there.

For the proud moments. For the tears. For the “I finally got it!” click that happens after weeks of frustration. I get to see the growth. The curiosity. The spark. I get to witness them becoming – not just academically, but as whole humans.

I get to teach in the moment.

When we’re doing laundry and someone asks, “How does a condenser dryer work?” – we don’t just shrug and move on. We talk about it. We link it back to things we’ve learned. And sometimes, we don’t know. So we look it up together. Because I love learning too. Their questions open doors in my brain I didn’t even know were locked.

It keeps me curious. It keeps me grounded.

Kids have this way of bringing wonder back into your world – the kind adults tend to lose. Homeschooling helps me stay in that space. Connected. Awake. Asking questions. Noticing the world.

I get to be their guide and their safe space.

There’s this quote – something about how when you learn something wrong, it takes 2,000 tries to relearn it (not scientific). Homeschooling gives me the gift of helping them get it right the first time… or gently redirecting them when they don’t. I’m there in the small moments, the teachable ones, and the messy ones. And I hope that builds trust. I hope they’ll keep coming to me, even as they grow.

I love them. And I love being with them.

That’s it, really. I love them more than anyone else ever could (except maybe their dad – he gets a pass). I’m their cheerleader, their corrector, their advocate, their teacher, their safe place, and hopefully, the voice they still hear even when they’re grown.
And yes – I also want them to know when they’re being eggs. And still feel safe telling them so.

Can it be hard? Absolutely.
FIFO life + homeschool + small children = chaos on toast.
But is it worth it?

Every single time.

With warmth and wonder,
Britt x