Minimalist Homeschool: I homeschool because I want a simplified life.

June celebrates her minimalist homeschool. Homeschooling allows her to live a slow-paced, simplified life with her family. Read her story.

Part of our series: 10 Great Reasons to Homeschool

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I homeschool because I want a simplified life.

When I first thought about homeschooling, I had three kids 5 and under with a baby on the way. When I thought about sending my oldest to school, all I could picture was waking everyone up at the crack of dawn to get her butt to school in the morning because I certainly wasn’t going to put my 6-year-old on the school bus.

Then I thought about waking up my younger two from their naps to put everyone back in the car in order to do school pick up in the afternoon.

Next, I pictured spending my precious time filling out a dozen forms and needing to volunteer for events I could care less about (but would feel guilty about if I skipped it.) I thought about pulling my child out of school for a vacation I would need permission to go on in the first place.

And I thought about my daughter spending all day at school, only to come home to spend her evenings doing homework – in FIRST GRADE. She might have an hour to play before dinner and bedtime routine. Then she would go to bed and wake up to do it all over again.

I said heck no to all of that. I chose homeschooling instead because it supports a slow, simple life in so many ways that traditional school does not.

Unless you count doctor’s appointments, we don’t need to be anywhere at any set time, and even with appointments, I can choose from several times that work for our family.

I don’t stress about bedtime anymore (because bedtime with four kids is crazytown) because my kids can sleep in as late as they want.

We participate in exactly zero extracurricular activities because they don’t fit into my picture of a slow and simple childhood. We can put that off for a few more years.

I love being able to vacation when it suits us, and when rates are cheaper during the off-season. I love not needing to ask a school’s permission if the number of days off are within the school’s permitted number of days for absence to remain excused.

Our days are filled with lots and lots of play. They’re filled with some things that look like “real school” and a lot of things that don’t (i.e. play and living life), but it’s all learning, just the same.

I’m so thankful to live in a country where homeschooling is an option. I’m thankful that I can give my kids the kind of childhood they deserve: a slow and simple one.

They have an entire adulthood for busy and complicated.

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June loves deep discussions about homeschooling, parenting, and minimalism. When she’s not homeschooling, decluttering, or blogging at This Simple Balance, she loves to enjoy perfect silence while sipping a hot cup of coffee and thinking uninterrupted thoughts—which, of course, with four kids ages eight and under doesn’t happen very often!

Read more about minimalist homeschooling on This Simple Balance.

Read more from the Series: I homeschool because…

• 10 Reasons to Homeschool; What’s Yours?
• Pros and Cons of Homeschool – Finding What’s Best for Your Family by Ashley
• My Children have Dyslexia and Learning Differences by Kim
• I Don’t Agree with Common Core or Standardized Testing by Katrina
• We Wanted More Time as a Family by Kirstee
• My Children are Twice Exceptional by Ginny
• Unrealistic Expectations Caused Stress and Anxiety in my child by Heather
• I Want a Simplified Life – Minimalist Homeschool by June
• My Public School Experience Sucked by Erin
• I Want an Individualized Education for my Kids by Amber