When You Are Afraid People Will Judge You for Homeschooling

The decision to homeschool your children is a big one. You take on not only the parenting duties you already have but also the responsibility of their education. I’ve never known anyone who has decided to homeschool on a whim. Most people weigh the benefits, the concerns, and all the factors they can think of to make the best decision for their family.

But even after you’ve made the choice to homeschool, fears can creep in. One big fear that many new (and even seasoned) homeschoolers face is the fear of judgment from others.

• Maybe your family isn’t supportive of your homeschool journey.
• Maybe your friends think you’re crazy.
• Maybe you excitedly shared your decision to homeschool on social media and felt a negative backlash.
• Possibly none of that has happened yet, but you are paralyzed with the worry that it might occur.

Whatever the reason, your fear is real. The good news is that it can be dealt with so you can still feel confident in your decision to homeschool!

1. Be Confident in Your Why

There is a reason you’ve chosen to homeschool. Maybe it's the quality of education your child is receiving, or maybe they have special needs. You might be homeschooling because of your family situation or to avoid bullying. There are tons of reasons people choose to homeschool.

Because homeschooling is such a tremendous commitment, your why is surely something of great importance to you, your child, and your family. Take time to think deeply about your reasons, even writing them down, putting into words all the reasons why you are homeschooling.

When we have a clear handle on that drive, that desire, that why, it is easier to shrug off judgment and feel confident in our decision. When you know and can clearly articulate that you are doing what is best for your child, you can focus on that assurance when fear of judgment rises. 

2. Realize People May Be Projecting Their Fears Onto You

When people say things to you like

• “Oh, I could never do that!”
• "How will you teach chemistry?!"
• "Don’t you worry about socialization?!”

or any other number of objections, realize these statements are usually not about you at all. Often these questions and exclamations say more about themselves than about your choices.

They realize their own shortcomings and what they would likely struggle with as a homeschooler and are putting their own fears onto you. When confronted with this kind of situation, take a minute to realize this tendency to project fears, and then let them roll off your back.

Think of your why, be confident in your decision, and don’t other people put their fears onto you! It is likely that their hearts are in the right place—concern for you and your child—but often their own fears color their opinion. They can be concerned, but it doesn’t have to affect you!

3. Surround Yourself with Like-minded People

A great way to get over feeling judged about your decision to homeschool is to find a tribe that will make you feel great about it! Find a friend you can talk to who will give you a pep talk when you need it. Join a Facebook group of homeschool moms where you can vent if needed. Knowing you’re not alone in your homeschool challenges helps you feel confident and not worry so much about those who would judge your decision.

Anytime we take a bold leap in life or make a big change there are bound to be fears and people who question what we are doing. There are people who will judge our decisions, but we can rise above that by knowing that we are doing our best for our families, letting those judgments roll off our backs, and pressing forward on our new adventure!

About the Author

Krista is the homeschooling mom of 3 boys. After 13 years she has learned the value of chilling out, going with the flow and keeping homeschooling fun! She is the blogger behind Far From Normal where she hopes to encourage parents and homeschoolers, and inspire a life lived happily outside the box!