Tears, Tantrums, and First-Day Jitters: Why Even Veteran Homeschoolers Cry

Every year, I tell myself I’ll be ready for the first day of school. After all, I’ve been homeschooling for years. Surely I’ve learned how to make the transition smooth... right?

Wrong.

Yesterday morning there were tears (and not just from the kids). And if you’re a new homeschool family, here’s the truth... it might not just be the first day. It might be the whole first week. Maybe even the whole first year as you and your kids learn how to do things differently and figure out how to get along in this new rhythm. And that’s perfectly normal.

Why Do I Always Do This to Myself?

Every year, without fail, I schedule our first day of homeschooling right after a holiday weekend. You’d think I’d learn, but nope. I forget. And let me tell you, no one is mentally prepared to go full speed ahead the day after a long weekend. Not me. Not my kids. It’s like expecting marathon energy when we’re still in pajama-brunch mode.

This year’s chaos started when I didn’t know which version of the Bible matched the answer sheets. Then I couldn’t find the teacher guides. Then there were meltdowns over new curriculum quirks. Thank goodness for Google (and yes, even AI assist) because they helped me troubleshoot and de-escalate before things really went downhill.

Don’t React... Just Breathe

Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way: the most important thing on days like this isn’t getting every assignment perfect, it’s staying calm. If you stay calm, your kids will eventually calm down, too.

This morning, I closed my laptop, walked over, and sat down with each of my kids. I asked a simple question:
“How can I help you learn better?”

And the answers surprised me.

• My son just needed to slow down and figure out how to navigate the online school hub without rushing.

• My daughter knew right away what she wanted: no giant all-in-one binder. She wants separate binders, each one color-coded to her classes. Amazon to the rescue - binders arriving Thursday. So we agreed she’ll make do until then.

You Don’t Have to Know It All

Sometimes our kids think we know everything. And while we do know a lot, the truth is... homeschooling isn’t about being a walking encyclopedia. The real goal of education is to raise kids who can think critically, solve problems, and become positive, contributing members of society.

That doesn’t mean smooth sailing every day. It means showing them what to do when things get hard, when the answers don’t come easy, and when emotions spill over. It means letting them see us pause, breathe, and figure it out together.

Remember, You’re a Team

If you’re starting homeschool for the very first time, here’s what I want you to know: the tears are normal. The mess-ups are normal. The moments of “I have no idea what I’m doing” are normal.

What matters most isn’t perfection. It’s building the trust that you and your kids are in this together. You’re a unit. You’re figuring it out side by side. Some days will feel messy, but those are the days that teach resilience, creativity, and grace.

So if your first day (or week... or month) looks more like chaos than calm, just know you’re not alone. Even seasoned homeschoolers have their meltdowns. Take a breath, grab some coffee, and remind yourself:
tomorrow is a new day, and you’ve got this.