When my husband first said he wanted to homeschool our future kids, I thought he was crazy. I was a public-school kid. I enjoyed school. Plus, I wanted to work. I couldn’t be home all day teaching our kids.
Then my son was born, and as I stared at my little bundle of joy, I instantly took back everything. I realized now the crazy idea was dropping him off at preschool in just a few years. I was homeschool-pilled without knowing the first thing about it.
I learned quickly that homeschooling can be a touchy subject. It’s a common impression, for instance, that homeschool parents judge public-school parents. Of course, my preference is clear, but it should go without saying that public school is right for many families. A lot of parents have to work, want to work, or both.
But there’s a big difference between a parent who doesn’t want to homeschool and one who thinks they can’t. And that’s a common retort: “I could never homeschool!”
I assure you, you could. It may take some rearranging, maybe even moving or downsizing your home. Perhaps switching careers or figuring out how to work from home. But you could do it.
And the great news is, as a Michigander, you’re already halfway there: Michigan is one of the most homeschool-friendly states in the nation.
In many other states, homeschooling is notoriously difficult, but in Michigan, there’s no need to notify the school or government of your intent, no forms, no reports, no assessments. Parents simply need to “provide an organized program of instruction in…reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar.” The finer details of Michigan homeschooling laws are here.
Michigan families have a tremendous amount of flexibility. That’s the biggest benefit of home education. Many assume homeschooling families just hate public school, but it’s more that we want a bigger influence in how our children are raised.
You don’t realize how much of that job is handed over to schools until you look at the numbers. Your kids are in school for 8+ hours a day, five days a week, for most of the year. Whose impact is going to win out if it’s you vs. school?
The idea isn’t crazy. For most of history, parents educated their kids at home. In America, the majority of states didn’t have compulsory education laws until the late 19th century. Homeschooling allows you to design individualized learning for your kids based on the educational philosophy that aligns with your family values.
Of course, you want to teach the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. But you can also add in whatever sparks your children’s interests: archery, baking, robots, music, diving, cars, sewing—whatever. A lot of homeschoolers prioritize religious studies and character building. Some focus on nature and healthy living. On a farm, part of the day is obviously going to be spent caring for animals and doing farm chores.
And sure, you can recreate the school classroom at home if you really want. But the beauty of it is, you don’t have to.
A homeschooling day in Michigan looks however you want it to look. Like the idea of sleeping in and having lazy mornings reading aloud in the living room? Aiming to be “done” with school by noon each day so you can move on to hobbies and other interests? Want to join up with a few other families to learn together and share the work? It’s all possible.
You can homeschool every day of the year. Or you can do Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only. One week on, one week off. A lot of families take the whole month of December off.
Our family ends up taking a lot of day trips. We may pick berries and go to a museum one Tuesday morning in July. Or we go sledding and out for hot cocoa on a Thursday afternoon in January. We learn along the way and fit formal lessons in between. It’s fun and freeing. (And there are usually no lines on a weekday during the school year.)
Many parents like these ideas, but they worry they won’t be able to adequately teach all that their children need to learn—especially as they get into their teen years.
To this, I’d first say: As the parent, you’re naturally positioned as your kids’ optimal teacher. But also, in all likelihood, you learned everything your kids need to learn back when you were in school.
And also, there’s no rule that says you and your children can’t learn at the same time. This is actually one of the coolest aspects of homeschooling. Don’t know? Look it up together.
There’s also the common quip: “But if you homeschool your kids, they won’t fit in with all the other kids and be socialized.” Looks around at all the other kids. Yeah, that’s fine. Home-educated kids are notoriously intelligent, accomplished, and engaging in conversation. Beyond that, they can have great friend groups. Tons of homeschool co-ops, clubs, and groups exist for making these connections.
I think the thing I love best about homeschooling is that we’re able to create a family culture and focus on more than just the academic basics. We cover those, sure. I want my children to be intelligent and capable, just like any other parent.
But I also have aims for them that go beyond memorization and “getting into the best college.” I want to help them develop their character and find their true interests and talents. I want to teach them tools for tackling serious challenges and dealing with inevitable moments of heartbreak and difficulty. I hope they become lifelong learners and caring, impactful members of society. The simplest way to sculpt an education that includes all of these things is at home.
If you’re seriously considering homeschooling in Michigan, have confidence that you can do it. As a loving parent, you’re the best person for the job. While this lifestyle can often mean big changes in schedules and shifts in thinking, it’s wonderful. I swear by it. And in Michigan, we are fortunate to have the freedom to easily make it happen.
Faye Root is a writer and a homeschooling mother based in Northern Michigan. Follow her on X @littlebayschool.
