Since high school, I knew I wanted to homeschool my future children. It wasn’t just an idea—it felt like a calling on my heart. I imagined a fabulous, dedicated homeschool room, filled with thoughtfully chosen Catholic classical curriculum. When I met my husband, I shared that vision with him. And even though he didn’t have any experience with homeschooling, he was totally on board. For reference, my husband attended private Catholic school and I attended public school. Our views on education aligned beautifully—so much so that we decided, even before we were married, that homeschooling would be the path we’d walk together.
“Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children.”
—Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2223
But our journey didn’t begin exactly as planned.
When we got married, my stepdaughter was already enrolled in a wonderful private Catholic school. We loved the parish community, the people, the values—it was all good. So we thought, why change a good thing?
Still, in my heart, I knew that homeschooling would one day be part of our family’s story. And over time, a few small things here and there confirmed that feeling. Nothing terrible—just small, frequent nudges that homeschooling would be the better fit for our younger children.
What I didn’t expect was that I’d begin my homeschooling journey not with preschoolers, but with a fifth grader. It came about suddenly. First, “crisis schooling” during March of the 2020 pandemic. Going into the new school year, circumstances changed and almost overnight, we found ourselves homeschooling my stepdaughter.
I became an overnight homeschooler!
To my surprise, it wasn’t chaotic or difficult like I had feared. It was beautiful. I saw her come alive in ways I hadn’t seen before. Her drawings became more joyful and full of depth and meaning. Her writing turned extra thoughtful and hope-filled. The curriculum we used emphasized biblical beauty, and she began creating her own versions of sacred art. It felt like her whole personality softened into something more radiant.
It shaped her character and brought our family together in ways I’ll always be grateful for. My step daughter grew in capability and in creativity. She developed strong habitual skillsets in areas that had previously been mere weekend hobbies. Planning and prepping meals became her specialty. Watching a tween prepare an incredible surf-and-turf dinner from scratch (yes, lobster!) was unexpected and witnessing her interests develop into her ideas for a career path was exciting to see!
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
—Proverbs 22:6 (ESV–CE)
The time we spent homeschooling her was also unifying for our family. It gave us shared rhythms and experiences that deepened our bond. In fact, I credit those years with helping prepare her so well that she was accepted into dual enrollment at our local community college as a freshman. While I’ll keep the rest of her story private, I mention these things simply to encourage other parents—yes, even in blended families, homeschooling can bear beautiful fruit.
Of course, like many things in stepmotherhood, the story evolved. Eventually, I stepped back from being her primary homeschool teacher and the responsibility shifted to my husband. The reasons are personal and not related to homeschooling itself. But I do offer one word of advice for other stepmothers who may homeschool: document everything. And when possible, bring in outside accountability—especially for grading or assessments. Blended family dynamics can be complicated and having that extra structure can make a big difference down the road.
Even so, I wouldn’t trade those years for anything. That time of schooling and living and growing together was a grace.
As we prepared to homeschool our younger children, I carried all of those lessons with me. One of the most formative experiences before officially starting with them was attending a local homeschooling info night hosted by moms from our parish. These were women I knew and admired—but some I had not even realized they homeschooled.
All were warm, welcoming and incredibly helpful. They informed us about the necessary legal paperwork and protocols , offered advice and most of all, encouraged us. I will never forget that night—it was the spark of confidence I needed.
“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”
—St. Catherine of Siena
Another key influence in my homeschool journey has been discovering the writings of Charlotte Mason. Her emphasis on beauty, gentle rhythm and living education aligned with the values I already held in my heart. Her books gave language and structure to what I was intuitively feeling—that education isn’t a checklist, it’s a formation of the whole person.
Notably too, I’ve learned that one of the best things you can do when discerning homeschooling is to look at the fruit. If you meet a family whose older children are the kind of young people you hope to raise—ask them what they did. Seek wisdom from women who have walked the path ahead of you. More often than not, they’re more than happy to share!
I’m sure in the future I will post more on the topic of home education but for now, let me leave you with this encouragement:
“The home is the first school of Christian life.”
—CCC 1657
And homeschooling, at its best, isn’t just an academic decision. It’s a fiat—a yes to the sacred work of forming hearts and minds, right in the heart of the domestic church.
May God Bless you!!