Why We Built Homeschool.fit

When we tell people we homeschool four children—ages six, seven, eight, and nine—with a fifth on the way, the reactions are predictable. Some offer admiration. Some offer skepticism. Most offer the same question: How do you do it?

The honest answer is: we're still figuring it out. But we've learned enough along the way to know that the biggest barrier to homeschooling isn't a lack of curriculum options or teaching experience. It's the overwhelming sense that you're being thrown into the deep end of a pool without knowing how to swim.

That's why we built Homeschool.fit.

Two Worlds, One Mission

Our family brings an unusual combination of perspectives to this work.

One of us holds a Master's degree in Education and spent years teaching in public school classrooms—second grade, fourth grade, seventh grade. She's seen what works and what doesn't when you have twenty-five students, state standards, and administrators looking over your shoulder. She's also experienced the profound difference between teaching other people's children and teaching your own.

The other is a software engineering manager at an enterprise technology company. He leads teams that build tools for complex problems—tools that need to be intuitive, reliable, and actually helpful. He's watched too many educational apps prioritize engagement metrics over genuine learning.

When we started homeschooling, we brought both worlds together. The educator's instinct for what children actually need. The engineer's insistence on building something that actually works.

And somewhere along the way, we discovered Charlotte Mason.

A Philosophy That Changed Everything

We didn't set out to become Charlotte Mason devotees. Like many homeschooling parents, we started by piecing together whatever resources we could find—workbooks, online programs, the curriculum our friends recommended.

But something was missing.

Our children were completing assignments, but they weren't alive to learning. They could answer questions, but they couldn't wonder. They were accumulating information, but not wisdom.

Then we encountered Charlotte Mason's radical idea: Children are born persons.

Not blank slates to be programmed. Not empty vessels to be filled. Whole human beings, from the very beginning, deserving of the same respect we'd give any person.

This single principle transformed how we approached education. Suddenly, it wasn't about getting through the curriculum. It was about spreading a feast of ideas and trusting our children to take what they needed.

"The question is not—how much does the youth know when he has finished his education?—but how much does he care?" — Charlotte Mason

Mason's methods—narration, living books, nature study, short lessons, habit training—weren't just techniques. They were the natural outworking of a profound respect for the child.

The Problem We Kept Seeing

As our homeschool journey continued, we started a co-op in our California community. We began talking to other homeschooling families—parents just starting out, parents who'd been at it for years, parents considering it but unsure where to begin.

We kept hearing the same story.

The overwhelmed beginner: "There are so many options. I don't know where to start. I'm afraid I'll mess up my kids."

The exhausted veteran: "I love the idea of Charlotte Mason, but I can't keep track of everything. I feel like I'm always behind."

The curious explorer: "I know something is wrong with the school system, but homeschooling seems impossible. Is there a middle ground?"

These weren't failures of intelligence or dedication. These were failures of tools. The resources that existed were either too rigid (curriculum-in-a-box that treated education like an assembly line) or too vague (inspiring philosophy with no practical guidance).

We realized that what families needed wasn't another curriculum. They needed a method—a principled approach that could flex to their unique situation while still providing enough structure to prevent overwhelm.

And we realized we might be uniquely positioned to build it.

What We're Building

Homeschool.fit is our attempt to bridge the gap between beautiful philosophy and daily practice.

For the overwhelmed beginner, we provide intelligent defaults. When you tell us about your children—their ages, their interests, their learning styles—we generate a sensible starting point. Not a rigid prescription, but a thoughtful suggestion you can customize.

For the exhausted veteran, we provide organization without bureaucracy. Track your subjects, schedule your weeks, log your progress—all in a tool designed around how Charlotte Mason education actually works.

For the curious explorer, we provide a gentle on-ramp. Our blog, our resources, and our community help you understand what this approach is about before you commit to anything.

Throughout, we hold to a core principle: the tool should serve the parent, not replace them. We offer recommendations, not requirements. Suggestions, not mandates. You remain the educator. We're just here to help.

Why Now?

As America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, something remarkable is happening. Families across the country are waking up to a realization that Charlotte Mason articulated over a century ago:

Education is not the transfer of information. It is the formation of persons.

The pandemic accelerated this awakening. Parents saw what was actually happening (or not happening) in their children's online classrooms. They realized that much of what passed for education was busywork dressed in academic language.

But awakening isn't enough. Families need alternatives. Real, practical, sustainable alternatives that don't require them to become curriculum designers or give up their careers.

We believe homeschooling—especially classical, Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschooling—can be that alternative. Not for everyone, but for far more families than currently realize it's possible.

Our goal isn't to build the biggest homeschool app. It's to build a movement. A community of families who believe that education is too important to outsource and too beautiful to dread.

An Invitation

If you've read this far, you're probably one of us.

Maybe you're already homeschooling and looking for better tools. Maybe you're considering it and wondering if it's really possible. Maybe you're just curious about this Charlotte Mason person and what makes her approach different.

Wherever you are on the journey, we'd love to have you.

We're building this in public, learning as we go, and trying to stay true to the principles that drew us to Charlotte Mason in the first place. We believe that education should be an atmosphere of peace, not anxiety. A discipline of good habits, not rigid rules. A life of ideas, not a checklist of content.

Join us. Let's reclaim education together.

A Note on Who We Are

We've intentionally kept our names out of this post—not because we're hiding, but because this isn't really about us. It's about the families we're trying to serve and the philosophy we're trying to honor.

But in case you're wondering about our qualifications:

Her background:

Master's degree in Education
Public school teaching experience (2nd, 4th, and 7th grade)
Active homeschool mom of four (soon to be five)
Local homeschool co-op founder and leader

His background:

Software engineering manager
Enterprise technology experience
Product design and development
The engineer who actually builds this thing

We live in California. We have four kids ages 6-9. We're expecting our fifth in 2026. We're not experts in everything, but we're deeply committed to this work.

If you want to learn more about our approach, check out the About page. If you want to dive into the philosophy, start with our blog posts on Charlotte Mason's principles. And if you're ready to get started, we'd love to have you join us.

This is the beginning of something. We're glad you're here.