Embracing the Homeschool Journey: From Corporate America to Freedom-Based Education
When Taylor Duggs found herself questioning the traditional path of public education for her children, she couldn’t have anticipated how COVID would solidify her decision to homeschool. As she explains in her candid conversation on the Homeschool How-To podcast, what began as hesitation about the public school system transformed into a complete lifestyle change – leaving behind her corporate job, embracing entrepreneurship, and creating a holistic, travel-based education for her three children.
The journey from corporate security to entrepreneurial uncertainty wasn’t easy. “It was a very difficult step to take,” Taylor shares, reflecting on leaving her stable job while being a single mother of two at the time. “Everyone around me was telling me you’re crazy.” Yet something deeper was calling her to make this change. She realized she was “giving all my time to a corporation who really showed during COVID that I was very replaceable and they didn’t give two cares in the world about me unless I was clocked in.” This awakening allowed her to prioritize family and create a life centered around their needs and interests rather than institutional demands.
Perhaps the most significant transformation in Taylor’s homeschool journey came when she released herself from the pressure of traditional education structures. Initially, like many new homeschooling parents, she felt overwhelmed by curriculum choices and the perceived need for rigid lesson plans. “It became so overwhelming where it almost scared me away from the process,” she admits. The breakthrough came when she embraced what some call “unschooling” – allowing learning to happen naturally through daily activities and following the children’s interests. Making breakfast becomes a lesson in measurements and responsibility; building off-road trucks with her husband teaches her son mechanical skills; traveling offers geography lessons more meaningful than any textbook could provide.
This freedom-based approach to education has allowed Taylor’s children to develop their natural strengths and curiosities. Her son, who struggles with traditional reading but excels at building and creating, can now spend hours in the garage with her husband working on off-road trucks. Her daughter can explore her artistic talents. The newest addition to their family, a nine-month-old, will grow up in this environment where learning happens organically and family connections remain the priority. Now married to a partner who shares her vision, Taylor has created a support system that enhances their homeschooling journey.
The family has evolved their educational approach to support their travel lifestyle, using curriculum that works on the road and embraces their adventures – from surfing to off-road exploring. “We’re focusing this year on a lot of geography, learning about the different places in the world as we’re traveling,” Taylor explains. Their education has become seamlessly integrated with their entrepreneurial work and passion for exploration, creating a life where learning never stops and family bonds grow stronger through shared experiences.
Taylor’s message to hesitant parents considering homeschooling is powerful: “I’m not making a killing as an entrepreneur by any means… our motto is still, we’re flying by the seat of our pants… but we know that this is God’s work.” Her story demonstrates that homeschooling doesn’t require teaching credentials, wealth, or even a traditional family structure – it simply requires commitment to putting your children’s education and well-being first, trusting that the rest will follow. As she puts it, “It can be very scary at first but, man, once you dive in, I would hope that you feel like I do and you’ll never want to go back.”
