Why I Chose to Homeschool (Even Though I Never Thought I Would)

If you had told 18-year-old me that I’d grow up to be a homeschooling dad, I probably would’ve laughed you off the football field.

Back then, I was big man on campus — sports, friends, honors classes, student council, the whole deal. I had a great experience in school and always assumed I’d want the same for my future kids. Traditional school felt like a rite of passage. Homeschooling? That was something… weird. Honestly, I thought homeschool kids were either overly sheltered, painfully awkward, or both.

Fast forward to my son reaching preschool age — and suddenly, everything I thought I knew got flipped on its head.

Our Life Doesn’t Fit the “Traditional” Mold

I work from home full-time as a virtual teacher with a cyber charter school. My son and I travel often between Pittsburgh and Lewes, Delaware — and I wasn’t about to give that up just so he could sit in a preschool classroom for six hours a day. But I also didn’t want to skip out on his education.

That’s when my sister stumbled upon a Catholic homeschool curriculum and sent me the link. Out of curiosity, I checked it out… and ended up deep diving through every grade level — all the way up to senior year. And you know what? I was blown away.

The content these students were learning wasn’t just solid — it was better than what I got in my top-ranked high school. It was rich, classical, thoughtful, and values-based. That was the first time I realized: maybe homeschool isn’t about isolation. Maybe it’s about intention.

My Son Is Not the “Sit Still” Type

My son? He’s a firecracker. Class clown at age three. A master of chaos and charm. He’s loving, hilarious, and constantly moving — the kind of kid that teachers either love… or quietly dread.

And as a teacher myself, I’ve seen how kids like him get treated in traditional classrooms. I’ve watched students who couldn’t sit still get isolated — pushed off to the side so they wouldn’t disrupt others. I didn’t want that for my boy. I didn’t want his personality treated like a problem.

Homeschooling gives us the space to meet him where he’s at, not where a classroom needs him to be.

It’s Cheaper Than You Think

That Catholic preschool curriculum? It cost a fraction of what tuition at an actual Catholic preschool would’ve been. I’m talking one-tenth the cost. For real.

And I get to be there, guiding his education, building in faith, and still living life on our terms. It just made sense.

Why This Blog Exists

I started The Backyard Classroom because I want to share what I’ve learned and what I’m still figuring out.

I want to advocate for homeschooling — especially when it’s done well. I want to give practical ideas to other parents. I want to talk about history (because I’m a historian at heart), about education, about cyber schooling, and about parenting as a single dad trying to do right by his kid.

One more thing: When you look online, it’s mostly moms driving the homeschool content world. And hey, they’re amazing. But you don’t see a lot of dads doing this — and even fewer talking about it. So here I am.

Let’s change that.
Let’s learn together.
Let’s show the world what a homeschool dad can do.

If you’re thinking about homeschooling — or just trying to figure out how to parent a wild, wonderful little human — stick around. I’ve got plenty to share.

Thanks for reading. Welcome to the backyard. Grab a drink and stay awhile.