You planned the perfect first week — and by day three it was already falling apart. What actually torches the start of a homeschool year has nothing to do with school supplies, curriculum, or the color-coded spreadsheet you built in July. It's your expectations. Homeschool expert Christy-Faith, an education and parenting expert with over 20 years of experience, walks through the seven mindset shifts that make setting up your homeschool year sustainable instead of soul-crushing.

🎁 Free Resource: My Curriculum Recommendations
I spill the tea! No paid sponsorship placements! Grab the list, by subject, of the most reputable homeschool programs on the market (in my opinion).
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In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why everything is hard at the beginning — even in year 15 — and the three-things rule that keeps week one from burying you
• Why the first weeks of school are the worst possible time to teach brand-new content
• How to prep before day one so your kids aren't learning new systems and new material at the same time
• Why your July and August plan is supposed to fall apart — and the documented brain glitch behind it
• How much margin to build into every single slot in your homeschool schedule
• Why there's no "teacher hat" to put on, and what changes when you teach as yourself
• Why you were always the variable, not the curriculum box
• Why that bone-deep week-one exhaustion is proof your brain is doing hard, honest work

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Resources mentioned:

• Free Sample Homeschool Schedules — Christy-Faith's real schedules for every age and stage, PK through 12th: Get the Schedules
• Free Curriculum Recommendations — The vetted list, by subject, with zero paid placements: Free Download
• New to Homeschooling? Start with Episode 101 — the New Homeschooler Series is the best place to begin
• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.com
• Thrive Homeschool Community: Learn More

Connect with Christy-Faith:

• Instagram: @christy_faith_homeschool
• TikTok: @christy_faith
• Website: christy-faith.com
• Book: Homeschool Rising

🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us!

• (00:00) - The Day That Fell Apart
• (02:07) - Why I Threw the First Draft in the Trash
• (03:41) - Expectations vs. Systems — What Part 1 Covers
• (05:20) - Mindset 1: Everything Is Hard at the Beginning
• (06:11) - The Three-Things Rule
• (07:36) - Mindset 2: The Worst Possible Time to Teach New Content
• (09:20) - Start Prepping Before Day One
• (12:51) - Mindset 3: Your July Plan Is Supposed to Fall Apart
• (13:35) - The Planning Fallacy
• (14:55) - Why Every Schedule Needs Margin
• (15:46) - Mindset 4: There Are No Hats
• (17:00) - Mindset 5: You Were Always the Variable, Not the Box
• (19:40) - Mindset 6: Go Easy on Your Kids Too
• (24:04) - Mindset 7: Why Week One Levels You
• (25:47) - Your Expectations Weigh More Than Your Curriculum
• (27:01) - The Recap — and What’s Coming in Part 2