I never set out to homeschool, but after signing my son up for kindergarten, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was checking boxes off a list that didn’t fit our family. I was a stay-at-home mom to 3 and 5-year-old boys, and we had fun every single day. I felt selfish about wanting to keep my kids with me, but inside, something kept telling me this wasn’t what I was supposed to do. I kept checking the boxes, but also started researching alternatives. Private school crossed my mind, but the ones I found were too expensive or faith-based. Homeschooling wasn’t even on my radar because I had distanced myself from my Catholic upbringing, and my memories of homeschooled friends were all heavily influenced by the church. This research led me to the term “secular homeschool.” Secular homeschooling is just homeschooling- it’s not anti-religious, it’s using evidence-based and inclusive resources to teach your kids. I thought, “I can try this for a semester.”
My oldest is now 7 and in second grade, and I haven’t looked back. This year I am homeschooling my kindergartener too and- while there are difficulties- I have met an amazing group of homeschooling friends, my kids get to eat lunch with their dad any day they want, we take incredible field trips almost every week, I have found science and teacher backed resources for all our school subjects, and I will never, ever regret this time with my boys.
Homeschooling looks different for everyone, but we have found many resources that work for us. So far, our school is interest-led; we do science projects and creative projects. We play games, we listen to playlists and podcasts. We watch cartoons and documentaries. We read graphic novels and take homeschool classes across Indianapolis to get out in the real world and build community. I know firsthand how secular homeschooling has made me feel like an outsider to traditional schools AND religious homeschooling groups, but I have gained confidence in myself and found my rhythm.
After easing into our homeschool year, we transitioned to a busy, fun, learning-filled fall. In the last few months, we toured the Booth Tarkington Civic Theater, where the boys got a backstage look at lighting, costumes, props, and what goes into putting on a play. They went to pumpkin patches with two separate groups of homeschooled friends- we were able to bring home apples and pumpkins and spend beautiful fall days outdoors while learning how apple cider is made from tree to carton! They were signed up for two STEM programs through Girl Scouts. We met up with friends for multiple days of nature-play: geo-caching, knife safety, and went to the Ornithology Center at Eagle Creek Park. These things are the boxes I’m checking off with my family now- growing and learning through play and getting to spend the boys’ childhoods with them.
