A teacher-mom’s honest look at prepping our first homeschool year
Hi, I’m Tracy—former kindergarten teacher of 13 years, now homeschool mom to two boys: one wide-eyed soon-to-be kindergartener and one toddler who thinks any basket of manipulatives is for dumping only.
This summer, I’ve been knee-deep in Amazon boxes, sticky notes, and approximately 47 browser tabs open with “best homeschool phonics curriculum” in the title. I’ve spent the last few weeks doing what many of you might also be doing—prepping all the things and quietly wondering…
Am I doing the right thing?
From Teaching Other Kids to Teaching My Own
For over a decade, I poured my heart (and let’s be honest—most of my paycheck) into other people’s kids. It was fulfilling, meaningful, and beautiful. But after a long road through infertility, my own boys came along, and suddenly the energy I used to reserve for the classroom shifted toward building a family rhythm filled with connection, wonder, and values.
And now here I am. Still teaching. Just trading the classroom rug for a living room one, the anchor chart stand for a nature trail.
Except now… I’m the teacher, the principal, the lunch lady, and occasionally the substitute who lets us watch Magic School Bus and call it science.
The Curriculum Rabbit Hole
Let me just say this: if you’re a former teacher turned homeschool mom, you may be particularly vulnerable to what I call “curriculum fever.”
There’s something magical about shopping for learning. I started with math, phonics, handwriting, and science/social studies units… and somehow ended up adding Spanish, music, art, and my own Character Building Units because no existing resource truly gave me what I wanted: long-term focus on traits that actually stick.
Also, I may or may not already have two phonics programs. (Oops.)
But here’s what I remind myself: this is part of the learning too. I’ll find what works and what doesn’t. Right now, it’s okay to dream, to imagine, to flip through fresh teacher’s guides while sipping my third cup of lukewarm coffee.
“He cried when I told him he wasn’t going back. Then I cried too.”
The Pendulum of Feelings
My emotions are swinging like a preschooler on monkey bars.
One moment:
“I get to teach my son to read. I get to watch him light up when he understands something. We can take actual nature adventures every week!”
The next:
“Will he miss school friends? Will he feel lonely? Will he beg to go back to school?”
When I told him we weren’t returning to his sweet little half-day preschool, he cried. And then, I did too.
But I keep coming back to this: he loved the nature walks and the science center. And you know what traditional kindergarten doesn’t offer? That.
Homeschool does.
And I’m building it for him.
“Homeschool doesn’t have to look like school—it can look like what your child loves most.”
What Our First Day Will Look Like
Will there be glitter? Streamers? Probably. Balloons? Yes.
We’ll take first day of homeschool pictures. I’ll read A Letter to My Homeschool, trace his little hand, laminate it, and start a ring of keepsakes that will grow with him year after year. (And I’ll probably cry again… but this time, the good kind.)
We’ll start light in August, ease into a rhythm, and officially kick things off in September—making room for flexibility, field trips, and forgotten glue sticks.
What You’ll Find Here on the Blog
At Anchor and Sail Collective, I’ll be sharing:
- Character-building units with hands-on activities, literature connections, and affirmations you can use throughout the week
- Honest thoughts from a teacher-turned-homeschooler who still second-guesses sometimes
- Curriculum reviews, field trip ideas, and rhythm-building tips
- Encouragement for moms who don’t want to homeschool like a public school—because we left that model for a reason
I want this space to feel like a warm cup of coffee and a hug for your homeschool heart. Whether you’re just beginning or just burnt out, I hope you’ll find something here that lifts your day a little.
So here’s to the mamas in Target buying 3 planners because they’re “all slightly different,” to the ones who cried after buying a laminator, and to the teachers who are brave enough to unlearn some of what they once taught.
We’re making something beautiful here. Messy, but beautiful.
And if you’re wondering whether your child will see all of this one day and say “thank you,” I truly believe the answer is yes. (Even if they can’t find their socks on day one.)
Let’s raise our mugs, open our hearts, and set sail.
⚓️ Tracy
Anchor and Sail Collective
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And if you’re ready to get started with a meaningful part of your homeschool—
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(Perfect for ages 4–8. Literature-based, hands-on, and designed for real life.)
Or…
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(Includes affirmations, hands-on activities, weekly lessons, daily practices, and a rainbow goal tracker!)
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