What did you begin noticing in yourself after years of being needed constantly?
When I asked this question inside our Day in the Life community, parents answered with remarkable honesty:
- Resentment.
- Mental exhaustion.
- Overriding their own needs.
- Anger.
- Dreading the start of another day.
- Feeling overstimulated.
- Feeling lost.
- Wanting just one minute to themselves.
For many homeschooling parents, especially those raising neurodivergent children, there comes a point where the focus on supporting everyone else leaves us disconnected from ourselves.
In this episode, we sit down with educator, unschooling mother, and writer Missy Willis to explore what it means to mother ourselves in the homeschooling years.
This conversation goes far beyond traditional self-care advice. Together, we examine why parents often disappear inside caregiving roles, how nervous system overwhelm influences our need for control, the grief that accompanies homeschooling and parenting, and how we begin reconnecting with ourselves after years of putting our own needs aside.
Missy shares insights from decades of working with children and families, along with practical ways parents can identify, honor, and meet their own needs without guilt.
This episode is Part 2 of a 3-part podcast series on capacity.
In Part 1, we explored the concept of capacity in the behaviors we see in our children and ourselves.
In this episode, we focus on mothering ourselves inside the homeschooling journey.
In Part 3, we’ll explore microdosing our regulation when we feel trapped, overwhelmed, or unable to step away from the demands of caregiving.
In This Episode
- Why homeschooling parents often lose touch with themselves
- The hidden cost of constant caregiving
- What “mothering ourselves” really means
- How grief shows up in homeschooling and parenting
- Why many parents struggle to identify their own needs
- The relationship between control, safety, and overwhelm
- What Missy means by “pre-planning your breakdown”
- Reconnecting with joy, creativity, and personal identity
- Building a family culture that considers everyone’s needs
- Modeling a fully alive adulthood for our children
Missy willis, M.Ed.
Missy is a master’s level teacher turned homeschooling mom of two, education content creator, interest-led learning cheerleader, and writer. She is the founder of Let ‘Em Go Barefoot, where she writes and speaks about unschooling, conscious parenting, and raising children in deep relationship. She is passionate about protecting childhood, prioritizing attachment, and questioning cultural norms around education and socialization. Missy’s work is rooted in the belief that children thrive when they are trusted, when play is protected, and when family connection comes first.
Resources and Support
CONNECT WITH MISSY:
CONNECT WITH KELLY:
Learn more about 90-Minute School Day Training
Learn more about Day in the Life (DITL) Community
At the end of the day, trust your instincts and explore alternatives to what isn’t working!
I’d love to connect personally, find me on Instagram.
You’re doing a great job, let’s make it easier!
Kelly
Be Featured on the Podcast!
The 90-Minute School Day™ podcast aims to support all homeschooling families with a focus on neurodiverse families, with learning differences and unique learning styles. Be featured on the podcast by sharing your story, struggle or asking your question here. Or leave your recording by clicking the mic below.
