Grieving What You’re Leaving Behind: Letting Go of Public School Expectations When You Choose to Homeschool

When I decided to homeschool, I thought the hardest part would be curriculum. Or maybe schedules. I was ready for logistics—but I wasn’t prepared for the grief.

Grief? Over school?

It surprised me, too. But there I was, a few weeks after pulling the kids from public school to start homeschooling, feeling this unexpected sadness and fear.

I found myself thinking about all the moments I thought we’d have—school field days, walking my kids to class, hearing them talk about their “favorite teacher.” I grieved the traditions and milestones I had always imagined for them.

And I wondered…
Am I taking something away from them? Am I robbing them of the “normal” childhood they deserve?

If you’ve felt that, I get it. And you’re not alone.

In Episode 7 of Homeschool Hug, I’m talking about this part of the homeschool journey that no one seems to mention: grief.

We often talk about the why of homeschooling—the freedom, the flexibility, the family connection. And those things are beautiful. But choosing this path also means letting go of another path—one that many of us grew up with, one that holds a lot of nostalgia and comfort.

And that’s hard.

In this episode, I’m sharing:

• Why it’s normal to grieve school traditions (even when you know homeschooling is right)
• How I worked through my sadness over what my kids might miss
• What helped me focus on what we were gaining
• How you can create your own family traditions to fill that gap

Letting go is part of this journey.

But here’s what I found: Homeschooling doesn’t take away those special moments—it gives you the freedom to create your own.

So if you’re feeling a little sad, a little guilty, or a little unsure—you’re not alone.

You’re doing something brave. And it’s okay to feel it all.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here.

And remember—you’ve got this.