Make sure you work through all parts of this series to get the full benefit, friend. Here is part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and you've found Part 5!

In part 5, we wind up this series ask the big question that brought you here:

SHOULD I quit homeschooling?

I’m going to be brave. I’m going to say the thing that feels almost forbidden in the homeschool community. There’s one option we’ve yet to address in this series, so I want to say it here:

You can stop homeschooling.

There! I said it! You can put your children into public or private school—or whatever suits your family’s needs best during this season (however long that may be). The Homeschool Police will not come and arrest you. (I’m pretty confident they don’t actually exist!)

When We Took a Step Back

I have personally been in a season where an unexpected pregnancy left me completely overwhelmed and incapable of educating my two oldest children. I did not want to make my decision out of fear or worry, so my husband and I went to the Lord.

I had a variety of women who love the Lord praying for us and our decision, and we prayed hard for weeks. We went to God’s Word over and over again until we had absolutely no doubt in our minds that putting our girls into school for that season was what He wanted us to do.

It was not a quick or careless decision. I wrestled. I cried. I questioned whether I was failing them, failing my calling, and failing God. But in the end, we had incredible peace, confidence, and optimism for what God had in store, even though we couldn’t fully wrap our minds around it.

That season lasted only a month. Yet in that single month, God took me on a journey that transformed my heart from being an unenthusiastic, burned-out homeschooler into being a passionate, enthusiastic advocate for homeschooling.

What God Showed Me

At first, I thought putting my girls in school was about their growth—and it absolutely was! They made new friends and had experiences they would never have had otherwise. They learned what it felt like to be part of a classroom, to work under someone else’s authority, to navigate friendships in a new setting, and to find courage in unfamiliar places.

But what God really wanted was for me to gain perspective:

He showed me what a “bad day” in public school looks like compared to a “bad day” at home. Both may be hard, but the environment and outcomes are very different.
He reminded me that I am the one He has called and equipped to teach my child with learning disabilities—better than anyone else could.
He affirmed that I have been handpicked to be her teacher, and even when I feel like I constantly fail, He upholds me every step of the way.
He taught me how much freedom we truly have in our days and schedules. At home, I can pause to comfort, to pray, or to redirect. At school, the clock and curriculum rarely bend.
He gave me a fresh perspective and a rejuvenated focus on who He had called me to be and what He was consistently equipping me to do.

That short time in school prepared my heart for the busyness of a new baby and strengthened my girls’ conviction, too—as they ultimately chose to return to homeschooling themselves.

God’s Faithfulness in Our Decisions

There’s so much more to the story, but ultimately, I don’t regret that time at all. I rejoice in all that God did in my heart and in my girls. I learned lessons I could not have learned any other way.

God is so faithful to answer our prayers—even when we can’t imagine any answer besides the one we’ve already chosen for ourselves.

Sometimes His answer looks nothing like what we expect. Sometimes it looks like pressing pause on something we love, only to discover we return to it with more energy, more passion, and more gratitude than before.

So if you and your husband are seeking the Lord, reading His Word, opening your hearts and minds to the Holy Spirit, and surrounding your family with prayer—and you are STILL being led to put your children in school (or maybe just one child)—then follow HIM with freedom.

God knows your child, your heart, and your family. He has a plan for you.

Grace in Our Educational Choices

There is so much grace in our educational choices. We cannot “mess up” beyond what He can redeem and restore. When we are fearful about these choices, we discount His amazing grace!

Homeschooling is not about perfection. It is about faithfulness. Public school is not the enemy, and private school is not a betrayal of your values. Each of these can be a tool God uses in a specific season to accomplish His purposes in your family.

When we compare ourselves constantly to what “good homeschool moms” are doing, we lose sight of the fact that God has already equipped us for our own family’s needs. He may call us to continue, He may call us to stop, or He may call us to pause for a short time. No matter what, He is faithful to lead and to redeem.

A Final Word of Encouragement

I hope you have an answer now. I hope you can say with confidence if you should stop homeschooling—or continue.

If you’ve worked your way through all 5 parts of this series and the lengthy workbook, congratulations! You’ve made it through a whole bunch of self-reflection and real talk. I’m proud of your diligence. And I’m confident God will honor your faithfulness as you’ve sought Him and His desires for your family.

My prayer is that, through this process, you’ve been able to make a decision you feel fully optimistic and peaceful about—whatever it looks like. I pray you felt freedom to be honest with yourself so that you and your family can take the next steps that are right for each child and your household as a whole.

May God bless you, keep you, and shine His favor on your home and your children.

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