Sandy Esprit

When I first made the decision to homeschool, I was filled with a mixture of excitement and fear. Being in Ontario, I knew there were specific curriculum expectations, and I wanted to make sure I was giving my children the best education possible. But the path to homeschooling was not without its hurdles, especially when I had no prior experience navigating the world of curriculum planning, daily schedules, or even balancing my roles as a teacher and a mom.

The Fear of Failing as a Teacher

One of the biggest fears I had was whether or not I could actually teach my children. I’m not a professional educator, and the idea of taking on that responsibility felt overwhelming. I worried about whether I’d be able to explain concepts in a way they would understand or if I would fall short and they’d miss out on crucial learning opportunities.

The Fear of Not Following the Curriculum

The next hurdle was the fear of not aligning with the Ontario curriculum. As a homeschooler, you do have some flexibility, but it’s important to ensure that your child is on par with other students academically. I researched extensively to find materials that followed Ontario’s guidelines and structured our lessons around those topics.

Money Was Tight

As if the pressure of teaching wasn’t enough, another fear I had was about money. Homeschooling can be expensive, especially when you factor in books, materials, and resources. At that time, money was tight for us, so I needed to find affordable options that still met educational standards. Luckily, there were cost-effective resources that fit within our budget and gave me the peace of mind that I was doing the right thing for my kids.

Some of the workbooks I found incredibly helpful and affordable included:

• Modern Kid Press Workbooks: These engaging workbooks cover foundational subjects like math and reading. They make learning fun for young children and are affordable, which was essential for me when managing our budget.
• Popular Book Company (Canada): Specifically designed for the Canadian curriculum, these books cover core subjects like math, science, and social studies. They are thorough and affordable, ensuring we followed the Ontario guidelines without breaking the bank.
• Canadian Curriculum Press: Another reliable resource that follows the Ontario curriculum, these books provide great supplementary material for various subjects, ensuring that key concepts are covered comprehensively.

Best of all, these workbooks are available on Amazon, making them easy to access and budget-friendly. You can purchase the books I’ve used for my kids here. It lists the books I’ve used from Preschool to Grade 3. These are affiliate links.

The Fear of Social Isolation

One of the most common concerns people have when they hear “homeschool” is the fear that children will lack socialization. I shared that fear, too. I didn’t want my children to feel isolated or miss out on forming friendships. To counter this, I joined homeschool groups and participated in co-op classes where the kids could engage with peers, share ideas, and learn in group settings. These interactions became an essential part of our homeschooling routine.

The Fear of Not Finding Balance

Being both mom and teacher can be a challenging balance. There were days when I questioned whether I was doing enough or doing too much. Was I providing the right kind of education? Was I meeting their emotional needs? How could I juggle everything else—housework, extracurricular activities, and my personal life—without burning out?

To make it manageable, I relied on structured lesson plans and weekly schedules while giving myself grace. Some days we had longer lessons; other days, we focused more on life skills or creative learning. It helped to remember that homeschooling doesn’t have to look exactly like traditional schooling, and that flexibility is one of its strengths.

Moving Past the Fears

Looking back, I’m grateful for those early fears because they pushed me to be prepared and stay committed. Homeschooling isn’t easy, but neither is traditional schooling or parenting in general. Each of those fears helped me grow and find solutions that worked best for our family.

By using curriculum-aligned workbooks, building a network for social interaction, and allowing flexibility in our routine, we’ve managed to create an enriching learning environment that works for us—even on a budget.

Final Thoughts

Homeschooling isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being present. With the right resources and a bit of patience, you’ll find your groove. The workbooks and materials I mentioned are great starting points if you’re based in Ontario and want to ensure you’re covering the essential areas while staying within your financial means. And since all of these resources are available on Amazon, it’s easy to gather the materials you need to support your children’s learning journey.