Stepping Into My Daughter’s Education Journey

Ever since I was pregnant with Aubrey, I knew I wanted to be hands-on with her education. But the early years were tough. As a single mom, I couldn’t dive in the way I had dreamed when I was expecting her.

Things started to shift when Aubrey turned six. Life aligned in a way that finally allowed me to be fully involved in her education. I landed a fully remote job, and with support from other mothers in my area, we discovered a virtual school that fit our lifestyle perfectly.

Finding the Right Virtual School

Aubrey is now enrolled in an online charter school that provides the same level of support as an in-person classroom. She meets daily with teachers for her core subjects—math, English, science, and social studies.

Her program also keeps school life fun and engaging. There’s picture day, and hundreds of field trip opportunities throughout the year. For electives, we do independent studies. Aubrey fulfills her physical education requirements through her sports practices and meets, and for music, she’s taking piano lessons—something she chose herself.

Freedom to Learn Anywhere

One of the biggest perks of remote schooling is flexibility. We travel a few times a year, and since her school is fully online, Aubrey can bring her studies wherever we go.

This setup also gives us visibility into what she’s learning. We can see her assignments and progress in real time, which helps us support her more effectively. It’s empowering for both of us—Aubrey stays motivated by seeing her own growth, and I feel confident knowing exactly where she stands academically.

Homeschooling isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. But for us, it’s been the right choice. It’s helped us create a solid foundation tailored to Aubrey’s needs—one that builds confidence, structure, and independence.

Adjusting to a New Normal

I’ll be honest—transitioning into homeschooling was not all sunshine and smooth sailing. Suddenly having eight quiet hours to myself during the day? That was a huge change.

It took us a few months to find our rhythm. We had to figure out what balance worked for both of us—keeping her engaged, myself productive, and our home life sane. I’ve gained a lot of patience along the way.

There were moments when I caught myself slipping into that “If Johnny has three apples…” type of teaching mom, expecting perfection right away. But I learned to let that go. Aubrey needed a safe, supportive environment, not pressure.

Growth, Grace, and Gratitude

Aubrey and I have had some tough conversations about expectations—both hers and mine. I’ve had to grow as a mom, as a teacher, and as a person. Between work, homeschooling, managing the house, and everything in between, I had to lean on faith, therapy, and community support.

And through it all, we’ve built something beautiful: a stronger bond, a deeper trust, and a healthier rhythm for our family.

More Good Days Than Bad

We still have challenging days, but the good ones far outnumber them. I get to learn alongside Aubrey and watch her develop into a bold, compassionate young woman. She’s learning the most important lesson of all—how to be (and stay) a good person.

Watching her confidence bloom, seeing her courage grow, and knowing she’s keeping her kind heart intact—that’s all I could ever ask for as her mom.

Her light will take her anywhere she wants to go.