Transitioning from Classroom Teaching to Homeschooling: My Journey as an Educator, Mom, and Blogger
Hey there! I’m Jennie – teacher turned homeschooling mom, stepmom, wife, book nerd, and now blogger. Life’s a bit of a beautiful mess over here, but every role I play has shaped me in some way. I’m excited to share pieces of that journey with you – ups, downs, and everything in between.
Homeschooling in a Blended Family: The Realities and Rewards
I’m 39 and living life with my wonderfully blended crew. My 9-year-old daughter (from a previous marriage) is full of curiosity and creativity. My 5-year-old son – our little firecracker – is all energy and wide-eyed wonder. And my 15-year-old stepdaughter is navigating the teen years with a mix of strength and grace that blows me away.
Right now, I’m homeschooling my two youngest through our local virtual school program. It’s a journey that comes with its fair share of chaos (hello, juggling lessons for a Kindergarten and Third Grader while also trying to work!) but also so many unexpected rewards. I get a front-row seat to their learning – watching lightbulb moments happen in real time – and we’ve found a rhythm that words for us. Some days are smooth, some are … not. But overall, it’s been one of the most meaningful and stretching experiences of my life.
Blending our lives – school, personalities, and schedules – hasn’t always been simple, but with patience, humor, and a whole lot of love, we’re making it work. One day, one laugh, and one schedule shuffle at a time.
Challenges I Didn’t See Coming (And What Helped)
I’ve been surrounded by education my whole life – it’s always felt like home. From finding comfort in quiet reading time during elementary school to jumping ahead with college night classes in high school, learning has been my anchor. I’ve earned five degrees in education, leadership, and psychology, and in 2023, I completed my doctorate in educational leadership and innovative change. I’ve spent over two decades teaching in both public and private schools and now mentor future teachers at two local universities.
But nothing prepared me for how different – and demanding – teaching would feel when it was happening at my kitchen table …. not even my dissertation (which was about homeschooling).
Homeschooling wasn’t an easy decision, especially in a blended family with differing opinions about education (one of the reasons my step-daughter still goes to brick-and-mortar). I homeschooled my daughter during pre-K because of the pandemic and tried both public and private schools for her afterward, but nothing truly fit. I always felt the pull to homeschool even before having kids. Eventually, we made the leap (even though we were thrown into it unplanned) – this time with my two youngest enrolled in our local virtual school this past January. Prior to enrolling, I did the lesson plans this past fall, and I am so thankful I am not doing that portion any longer.
The reality? It’s hard. Even with all my training and experience, teaching your own children is a whole new ball game. There are meltdowns (mine included), unexpected gaps in learning (thanks to previous schools), and constant juggling of roles: mom, teacher, referee, snack distributor. And all of this happened while I was stepping into a brand new position as a teacher candidate supervisor at my alma mater while teaching four classes at another institution, and launching an online business.
What’s helped? Slowing down. Letting go of the pressure to make everyday perfect. Leaning into what my kids are curious about. Relying on my experience but also being willing to unlearn some of the rigid structures I picked up in the classroom. And honestly – books, coffee, Lego builds, and the occasion true crime show has saved my sanity more than once.
The season is chaotic and exhausting – but it’s also deeply fulfilling. Watching my kids learn and grow in real time makes the tough days worth it. Even when my to-be-read pile grows faster (and … dustier) that I can keep up with, I wouldn’t trade this messy, magical chapter for anything.
Why I Started Blogging My Journey
Starting this blog felt like the next right thing. For years, I’ve juggled life as a mom, stepmom, educator, now homeschooler, and all-around chaos wrangler – and I know I’m not the only one. So many families are navigating blended dynamics, tricky school decisions, and the daily unpredictability of raising kids. I wanted a space where I could share the real stuff – not just the polished wins, but the messy, in-between moments, too.
Funny enough, I came up with the name Unexpectedly Blended back in 2018. But I didn’t hit publish. I let fear hold me back – fear of judgment, of not getting it right, of putting myself out ther. But honestly? I’m over it. I’m done shrinking myself because of what someone might think. Our story has value, and if it can help even one other person feel less alone, then it’s worth telling.
Here, you’ll find everything from homeschooling wins (and fails), to how we navigate sibling dynamics, to the reality of balancing work and family in a blended household. I’m not here to pretend I have it all figured out (and thank God, my husband works remotely too). This won’t be a curated highlight reel – it’ll be honest, messy, sometimes funny, sometimes heavy, and always real. My hope is that this space becomes a community – one where we can share, learn, and lift each other up along the way.
Looking Ahead: My Hopes for This Space
Life feels like a constant balancing act – some days I’m thriving, and other days I’m wondering if I’m doing any of it right. But then I catch a glimpse of something beautiful: my kids learn something new, making a new friend at our music co-op or other activities around town, or just laughing together at home. That’s when I remember – this path, as messy and unpredictable as it is, is worth it.
I started this blog because I know I’m not alone. Whether you’re a homeschooling parent, an educator, or someone figuring out life in a blended family, or even just an avid book lover, I hope you’ll see a bit of your own story here. My goal isn’t to give perfect advice – it’s to share what’s real: the wins, the failures, the awkward middle parts.
So thank you for being here. Truly. I”m excited (and a little nervous!) to open up this corner of my world. Here’s to finding joy in the chaos, strength in the hard days, and community in the stories we share.
,