Do What’s Comfortable — or Do What It Takes?

Let me ask you a big question — one that applies no matter where you are in your homeschool journey:

Do you do what you want to do, or do you do what’s required?

It’s a question we all face, whether we’re 10 years old or 50. Every day, we have choices. When you wake up in the morning, you have the freedom to roll over and go back to sleep — or get up and face the day. When it’s time for school, you have the freedom to buckle down and focus — or let your mind wander and take a few extra “bathroom breaks.”

But here’s the deeper question: What do you want to create?

What do you want out of your homeschool experience? What do you want your child to experience and achieve? Once you decide that, the next step is to figure out whether you’re going to do what’s comfortable or do what it takes.

Life Is Choice-Driven

A mentor of mine used to say, “Life is choice-driven.”

You make decisions every day — and you have to live with the results of those decisions, good or bad.

Let’s say you’ve decided that you want to get an A in your math class. You take your first test and get a C. You prepared, but it wasn’t enough.

Now you have a choice:

• Do you keep doing what feels comfortable, knowing that it will probably lead to the same outcome?

• Or do you change your strategy, put in more effort, and figure out how to prepare better next time?

If your goal is an A, then a C isn’t acceptable. That means you may need to study differently. Maybe it’s finding a tutor, changing how you take notes, or spending more time practicing. The point is — doing the same thing and expecting a different result won’t work.

Are You Doing What It Takes?

This isn’t just about academics. This applies to homeschooling, parenting, and life.

If you want a stronger relationship with your child, are you doing what it takes — or just doing what’s comfortable?

• Are you spending intentional time with them, listening, and building trust?

• Are you teaching them how to manage challenges, not just protecting them from them?

• Are you modeling the behavior and character you want to see in them?

It’s easy to settle for what feels good or easy in the moment. But true growth and success come from doing what’s hard — doing what’s required, not just what’s comfortable.

Change Requires Sacrifice

Doing what it takes may mean sacrificing time, comfort, or even pride. You may need to admit that your current approach isn’t working and be willing to try something new. That could mean:

• Asking for help.

• Changing how you structure your homeschool day.

• Pushing your child to take on more responsibility — even if they resist at first.

This is how growth happens — not by doing what’s easy, but by doing what’s necessary.

Make the Decision

So here’s my challenge for you:

1. Decide what you want to create — in homeschooling, parenting, and life.

2. Ask yourself if your current actions are leading you there.

3. If not, be willing to change. Do what it takes — not what’s easy.

You’re not in this alone. You have the power to shift the outcome. Stop settling for “good enough” and start aiming for excellence.

Now It’s Your Turn:

1. Commit to a Goal: Choose one goal in your homeschool or life and decide to do what it takes to achieve it.

2. Change Your Approach: If your current strategy isn’t working, adjust it this week.

3. Subscribe & Share: If this inspired you, subscribe to Homeschool Aficionado and share this article with another homeschooling parent. Let’s raise the standard together!

SPONSORED BY PIEDMONT HOMESCHOOL TENNIS TEAM