Episode 140: Overwhelmed No More:
Where to Start Homeschooling with Confidence

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If you're wondering where to start homeschooling, the answer may surprise you—look in the mirror. In this episode, we talk about why your own education as a mom is the first and most important step in your homeschool journey.

Education and leadership don’t begin with lesson plans—

They begin with YOU.

You'll hear why your kids will follow your lead more than your curriculum, and how a simple growth routine can shape your homeschool for the better. Whether you're a new homeschool mom or simply looking to refresh your perspective, this episode will help you take a powerful first step.

Here’s what we cover:

✅Why Charlotte Mason said, “There is no education but self-education”
✅The simple 3-step plan Kerry used for personal growth
✅How to model a love of reading and lifelong learning for your kids
✅How reading, journaling, and sharing weekly simplifies your homeschool and gives YOU freedom to study what is important to your family
✅Why summer is the perfect time to start your growth habit

🎁 Grab my free masterclass replay, 4 Steps to Raising Christian Leaders in Your Homeschool!

Resources Mentioned:
From Overwhelmed Mom to Confident Mentor

(use code: CONFIDENT10 to come free)

4 Steps to Raising Christian Leaders in Your Homeschool!

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Show Notes:

Hey, everyone, Kerry Beck here with Homeschool Coffee Break, where we help you stop the overwhelm so you can take a coffee break. We’re in a series on raising our kids to lead well. And today we’re hitting something close to my heart: the #1 thing you can do to raise independent leaders.

If your kids just follow instructions but don’t take ownership… that’s a problem. They need to know how to own their life, their learning, and eventually, how to lead others.

Why Independence Matters
If we want to raise Christian leaders, we have to raise independent, self-motivated learners. I talk about this in my free class, 4 Steps to Raising Christian Leaders in Your Homeschool. I’ll link to that in the show notes.

Why does independence matter? Because it builds leadership and responsibility. If we’re always micromanaging, our kids never learn to think for themselves. They don’t become wise decision-makers or confident leaders.

From Charlotte Mason to Benjamin Franklin
Charlotte Mason said children aren’t buckets to be filled. She believed in short lessons, real ideas, and expecting children to think—not just repeat facts. She trusted them to rise to the challenge.

Benjamin Franklin? He left school at age 10 and became a lifelong learner through apprenticeships and independent study. That’s real leadership training.

We don’t need to recreate the traditional classroom—we need to give our kids tools to learn for life.

Practical Steps to Foster Ownership
Start with goal-setting. Let your kids write out their weekly goals and track their progress. I started letting my kids write their own lesson plans in 9th grade—and by January, they were doing it on their own.

Teach your kids how to think—not just what to think. Research skills, asking good questions, finding mentors… these are tools they’ll use for life.

Shift your role from teacher to mentor. I talk more about that in the masterclass. But just know this—your kids are capable of so much more than we often give them credit for.

Real Work = Real Growth
You don’t have to do this perfectly. Just start. Colonial apprenticeships were real-life training grounds. Can you give your child real work opportunities?

My granddaughter wants to be a vet. She’s constantly studying animals, raising pets, and learning on her own. That’s the power of independent learning—it turns a passion into purpose.
Mentorship matters too. Just like George Wythe mentored Thomas Jefferson, someone may come alongside your child to help them grow.

Raise Leaders Who Own Their Calling
We don’t want to raise followers—we want to raise leaders who seek God’s wisdom and own their calling. Let your kids take responsibility for their learning. Walk alongside them. Cheer them on. Trust that God is growing something lasting in their hearts.

🎁 Join my free masterclass—4 Steps to Raising Christian Leaders in Your Homeschool—linked in the show notes!