Building A Homeschool Life With No Community
If you’re in a new season of homeschool life with no community, I know how you feel! We recently moved from the Midwest to Hawaii and left behind our friends, church, and beloved homeschool community. I want to walk with you through this season and encourage you that you can indeed build a homeschool life with no community.
Living in the Midwest, we had an amazing church, a great neighborhood, a beautiful home (there are many posts about it here), and a thriving homeschool community. We left cherished families we loved and did life with every week. But seasons of life come and go, and with my husband’s new job brought new everything for us.
We packed up our 4-bedroom house and downsized our stuff to fit into a 2-bedroom apartment. We placed the rest of our stuff in storage and moved, with 3 young kids, to a remote part of Hawaii! I know, I know, it’s Hawaii, what could be the downside? Honestly, there’s not much. But having no community is a big one.
When you seek homeschool advice, one of the main tips given is community. Find your community. Join a co-op, find a local homeschool Facebook page, meet with other homeschool families from your church, and so on.
Well, this move took us to a place with no church, and no true and thriving homeschool community or even opportunities for a co-op. We are talking a 2+ hour drive to any of those things for us.
We are remote.
Honestly, that was the main reason I was hesitant about this move. But when God calls you to something, and seemingly makes it obvious, you just can’t say no.
So here we are, living in paradise!
I wanted to share my experience of building a homeschool life without a community, because I know I’m not alone. Many of you aren’t in a co-op, maybe you don’t have support from family and friends, or even a local friend.
You may not be 2 hours from civilization, but you understand the sentiment of homeschool life on your own.
1. Shift Your Mindset: Focus on Opportunities, Not Loss
First and foremost, let’s talk mindset. In order to build a homeschool life with no community, you need to get your mind right. If you are in the headspace of pity or self-doubt, this time alone will inevitably feel worse for you and your kids.
Switch gears to the positives and focus on the opportunities you do have. Maybe that’s meeting new people, creating a new routine, or switching up your curriculum to match this new season.
During this move, I had to switch gears from all I was leaving to what I could gain. The what-ifs can eat you alive, so don’t live there.
The biggest blessing for me was to surrender. Not to dwell on what was, but be open to what could be. What could God have in store for us through this season? That is exciting!
2. Confidence – Root Your Confidence in Your Why
Thankfully, this has been my experience from the beginning. Once we decided that homeschooling was the right fit for our family, I was all in. I haven’t looked back or second-guessed myself, yet. Are there still hard days? Yes! Do I still have wild toddlers interrupting us during lessons? Also, yes!
You can see my homeschool day in the life with toddlers here.
However, my confidence in our homeschool life has stayed the same, even now in this new space, new area, and with no community to be found.
If you want to thrive as a homeschool family, confidence is key!
Having a why or a conviction for homeschooling will truly build your confidence for all scenarios.
Once that confidence is strong, the negative things that your friends, family, or even strangers have to say about your decision won’t matter.
Having this unwavering confidence will help you through the hard days and the lonely seasons, because no matter what life brings, you know you are choosing the right thing for your family.
If you need a confidence boost when it comes to homeschooling, here are a few books that have helped me gain more resilience in my homeschooling:
4 Hour School Day by Durenda Wilson
Homeschool Bravely by Jamie Erickson
The Read Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie
3. Keep Perspective – Remember: Seasons Change
Life is full of change. Seasons come and go. Nothing lasts forever.
These may not feel like comforting words, but they really are. If your season is lonely and not at all what you pictured, take heart, it will likely change.
I often get stuck in an all-or-nothing mindset and am prone to spiraling, but there is comfort in knowing that life changes.
If you find yourself feeling down and saddened by your lack of community, pray about your heart posture. Pray for friends even in unlikely places. Pray for a sense of community, even if that means virtual Facebook groups.
Read over Proverbs, which references the plans the Lord has for us.
Also, this scripture from James 4: 13-15 – “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Sometimes the homeschool journey feels solitary for a time, but that doesn’t mean it will always be that way. Trust that God can open doors for friendships in unexpected ways.
4. Creativity – Simple experiences go a long way
Building a homeschool life with no community looks like a lot of creativity. If you have a desire for field trips and nature walks, then that’s all on you.
In reality, this is easier to accomplish than it sounds. A simple nature scavenger hunt is a great learning experience for kids. A field trip can easily be a trip to the library, the vet, or even the mechanic!
Life is full of learning opportunities, so don’t get caught up in the fancy group outings. Fun and learning for your kids are at your fingertips.
If you live somewhere with plenty of nature, like we currently do, even a simple walk down the street or a trip to the beach offers much to explore.
Don’t underestimate the power of digging for worms, bird scouting, or learning how to fish.
If you want some extras to make your days fun and engaging, check out some of our favorites below:
5. Surrender – God’s in control
I mentioned this earlier, but surrender is crucial to the homeschooling experience, especially when trying to build a life with no available community.
This simply means letting go. Allow God to guide your family, stop obsessing over socialization or field trips. Don’t get caught up in the comparison game.
Stop worrying if you are doing enough for your kids. Do your best every day and know that seasons change. We take homeschooling one day at a time, often one lesson at a time. I know my heart is in the right spot and that God will take care of the rest.
This is sometimes easier said than done, but it is a life-changing experience to rely on God and simply focus on your day-to-day tasks. Even when life doesn’t look like you imagined.
I am currently working through this Bible Study on Elijah, and it is very fitting for a season of isolation and surrender.
When we face seasons of loneliness or hardships, we often question why. But we can’t see what we don’t know. Maybe we are in this season now to be refined for what is to come.
6. Routine & Rhythm – Establish Routines to Bring Stability
Without the established sense of community, homeschool days can blur together. By setting up routines and rhythms for your home, you have structure and something to look forward to.
This doesn’t have to be complicated or over the top. I am an advocate for slow and at-home living after all!
But a few weekly rhythms can help keep you excited and sane!
Here are a few examples:
- Friday field trip – library, nature walk, something extra fun once a month
- Monday bake day -try a new recipe each week – involve the kids for some baking math 😉
- Wednesday Family dinner – make this “fancy” with candlelight, special drink to cheers with, dedicated prayer, or family conversation like “highs and lows”
- School day morning time – set a routine with read-alouds at breakfast, start your school day with prayer, scripture reading, or a faith-filled game (this bible character memory game is perfect and FREE)
How to realistically navigate homeschooling life with no community
Even with the tips I provided, you might still find this season of loneliness challenging. I understand how you feel. You are not alone; thousands of homeschool families are going through the daily grind without a community, just like you and me.
If you find yourself struggling, I encourage you to pray. God hears us, sees us, and weeps with us. Cast your worries on Him. Pray for guidance, direction, and peace. You may not get your answer tomorrow, but in time, you will see the fruits of this season of refining.
Let’s Rejoice About the goodness of God and His provision in our lives.
Homeschooling without community is hard, but it can also be a season of growth, creativity, and deeper trust in God. With the right mindset and rhythms, your homeschool can still thrive
If you’re walking this road of homeschooling without community, I want you to know you are not alone. God has placed you here for a purpose. I’m praying over you as you step into this season with courage and trust in His plan.
