How to Deal with Homeschool Mama Guilt (In No Easy Steps)

If you’ve ever wondered how to deal with homeschool mama guilt, here’s the truth: I have a hard time laughing off parenting fails…

So laughing off homeschool mama guilt: can it be done?

I have a hard time laughing off parenting fails — said every homeschool mom, but definitely me.

But when I shared a genuine parenting failure with a friend, she laughed. She laughed.

If you’d rather listen than read, hit play above — I talk through exactly how to deal with homeschool mama guilt in this episode, mistakes and all. Prefer to keep reading? Let’s get into it.

I knew my heart was safe with her because she didn’t see my parenting fail the way I did. I also knew her well enough to know she’d agree that I hadn’t approached my child the right way — which made her laugh feel all the more surprising.

Her laugh wasn’t a laugh of mockery. What I heard in it, and what I learned from her afterward, was that I’d surprised her — it didn’t strike her that I’d approach my child like that.

(Even I surprised myself in that moment. Welcome to parenting: you don’t do as you thought you would, before you were a parent.)

Her laugh spoke to me: “Relax, you made a mistake. Oh well. Your ineffective parenting strategy wasn’t a sign that you should self-condemn, heaping mama guilt onto yourself. Accept your reality — you’re human, and also a parent. You’ll make mistakes.”

And if you want to know how to deal with THOSE homeschool days?

Instead of focusing on your past mistakes, focus on what you’re becoming, homeschool mama.

Before we get into the steps