A Different Kind of Back-to-School Season
This year looks different for our family.
While stores filled their shelves with lunchboxes, backpacks, and fresh boxes of crayons — I didn’t feel the familiar pull of back-to-school shopping lists or new routines.
Instead, I felt a quiet joy as we stayed home — leaning into slow mornings, connection, and a rhythm that fits our family.
We didn’t just opt out of school.
We opted in to life together.
Why We Left Traditional School
We didn’t leave because school was “bad.”
We left because the life we wanted for our children didn’t fit inside the school day.
We wanted:
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Childhoods filled with wonder, nature, and creativity
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Time for slow mornings and family meals
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Freedom to follow interests and passions
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Space for unstructured play and exploration
The traditional school system wasn’t designed for that.
Finding Our Way to Homeschooling
At first, I researched every homeschool method:
Charlotte Mason, Classical, Montessori, Waldorf…
But what really resonated with me was the idea of unschooling.
Unschooling isn’t about doing “school at home.”
It’s about trusting children as natural learners.
It’s about creating an environment rich with resources, experiences, and love — then stepping back and watching them bloom.
What Our Days Look Like Now
There is no typical day — and that’s the beauty of it.
Some days we:
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Read stacks of books together
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Go for nature walks
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Bake bread from scratch
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Write stories or poems
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Create art
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Build Lego cities
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Ask big questions and look for answers
Learning happens all the time — because life is learning.
What We’ve Gained from Homeschooling
Since leaving traditional school, we’ve found:
Connection
We are more in tune with each other. Slower days mean deeper conversations and stronger relationships.
Freedom
We follow our natural rhythms. Early risers read books while I sip coffee. Late sleepers rest without rush.
Joy in Learning
Without tests or grades, learning has become joyful again. Curiosity leads the way.
Presence
We are no longer living for weekends or school breaks. This is our life — and it’s beautiful in its simplicity.
Final Thoughts: Redefining Success
Leaving school wasn’t about rejecting education. It was about redefining it.
Success, for us, looks like:
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Kids who know themselves
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A home filled with laughter and love
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A family connected by shared experiences
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Lifelong learners with curious hearts
We didn’t lose anything by leaving school.
We found everything that matters most.
