Building Your Village: Finding and Creating Support in the Walla Walla Homeschool Community
It was a rainy Tuesday morning in early October when I received a text that made me smile: "Emergency! My kindergartner just spilled paint all over our science experiment, my toddler is having a meltdown, and I can't find our math curriculum anywhere. Please tell me you've had days like this too!" The message came from a mom I'd met just a few weeks earlier at our Book Swap event, and yes—I'd definitely had days like that.
What struck me wasn't the chaos (we've all been there), but the fact that she felt comfortable reaching out. She'd found her people. In just a few weeks of connecting with our community, she'd gone from feeling isolated in her homeschool journey to having someone to text on the hard days.
This is the power of building your village—and it's something every homeschool family deserves.
Why Isolation is Common for Homeschool Parents
Homeschooling can be surprisingly lonely, even in a supportive community like ours. While our friends' kids are at school, we're home with ours. While other parents are navigating PTA meetings and classroom volunteering, we're figuring out math curricula and field trip planning on our own.
The daily reality of homeschooling—being both parent and teacher, handling behavioral challenges and academic struggles, celebrating victories that others might not understand—can feel isolating. Add in the well-meaning but sometimes hurtful comments from family and friends ("Are you sure you're qualified to teach?" "What about socialization?"), and it's easy to feel like you're on an island.
Many homeschool parents also struggle with imposter syndrome. We wonder if we're doing enough, teaching the right things, or providing adequate social opportunities. When you're questioning your choices, it's natural to withdraw rather than seek connection.
But here's what I've learned after years in this community: isolation is not inevitable, and you don't have to figure this out alone.
The Unique Gifts of Walla Walla's Homeschool Community
Our valley offers something special for homeschooling families. We're large enough to have diverse options and opportunities, yet small enough that you can really get to know people. From the families working vineyards who homeschool around harvest seasons to the military families at the VA hospital who bring unique perspectives to our community, there's a richness here that enhances every family's journey.
I love that our kids can learn about agriculture by visiting actual working farms, study history at Fort Walla Walla, and explore science at our beautiful parks. But even more than the educational opportunities, I love watching families connect across different backgrounds and approaches to homeschooling.
The mom who unschools her children becomes friends with the family using a classical approach. The single parent finds support from families with two homeschooling parents. The family new to the area discovers that the veteran homeschoolers are eager to share resources and encouragement.
Starting Small: First Steps to Connection
If you're feeling isolated or new to our community, start small. Connection doesn't have to mean jumping into leadership roles or hosting large gatherings. It can begin with:
Showing up consistently to one thing: Whether it's library story time, a park playdate, or our monthly community events, regular attendance helps you move from stranger to familiar face to friend.
Bringing a snack to share: There's something magical about sharing food. Bring cookies to the co-op meeting or fruit to the park playdate. It's a simple way to contribute and start conversations.
Asking for advice: People love to help, and asking for recommendations about curricula, local resources, or activities gives others a chance to share their knowledge while creating connection.
Offering your own expertise: You have skills and knowledge that could help other families. Maybe you're great at organizing, love planning field trips, or have professional experience that could benefit others.
Finding Your Specific People
Not every homeschool family will become your close friends, and that's okay. The goal is finding a few families or individuals who "get" you—people you can be real with about struggles and celebrations.
Sometimes this happens naturally through shared interests: your kids both love art, so you connect with families at pottery classes. Your teenager is interested in engineering, so you meet like-minded families at science co-ops.
Other times, it's about shared values or approaches. Maybe you find your people among other families who prioritize outdoor education, or among parents who are navigating learning differences, or within a group that shares your faith background.
Pay attention to which conversations energize you and which people make you feel understood rather than judged. These are clues about where to invest your relationship-building energy.
Creating Reciprocal Support Relationships
The strongest homeschool friendships are built on mutual support rather than one-sided advice-giving. Look for ways to create reciprocal relationships:
Skill swapping: Maybe you're great at planning field trips while your friend excels at finding curriculum deals. Perhaps you love teaching art while another parent is gifted with science experiments.
Childcare trading: Take turns watching each other's kids for appointments, errands, or just a break. This is especially valuable for single parents or families where both parents work.
Resource sharing: Share books, curricula, supplies, and recommendations. Create informal lending libraries within your friend group.
Emotional support: Be the person who celebrates victories and listens during challenges. Check in during difficult seasons and share in the joys of breakthrough moments.
Local Opportunities for Connection
Our Walla Walla community offers numerous ways to connect with other homeschool families:
Co-ops and Classes: From academic co-ops to art classes to sports groups, structured activities provide natural opportunities for both kids and parents to connect.
Library Programs: The Walla Walla Public Library regularly hosts events that draw homeschool families. These low-pressure environments are perfect for casual conversations.
Community Events: Farmers markets, festivals, and local attractions often become informal gathering places for homeschool families.
Park Meetups: Organized or spontaneous gatherings at our beautiful local parks provide space for kids to play while parents connect.
Faith Communities: Many local churches offer support and activities for homeschool families, regardless of your specific denomination.
Special Interest Groups: Photography clubs, hiking groups, book clubs, and hobby groups can connect you with like-minded families.
Balancing Online and In-Person Community
Online communities can provide valuable support, especially for specific questions or when you need encouragement at 10 PM on a difficult day. Facebook groups, forums, and social media can connect you with families across the country who share your approach or challenges.
However, nothing replaces the support of local, in-person relationships. These are the people who can bring you soup when your family is sick, watch your kids in an emergency, or meet you for coffee when you need to talk through a decision.
Aim for a balance: use online communities for information and encouragement, but invest primarily in building local relationships that can provide practical, ongoing support.
When You Feel Ready to Give Back
As you build connections and find your footing in the community, consider ways to give back:
Organize a meetup: Start a regular gathering for families with similar interests or needs.
Share your expertise: Offer to teach a class, lead a field trip, or present on a topic you're passionate about.
Welcome newcomers: Remember how it felt to be new, and actively include families who are just joining the community.
Support struggling families: Whether it's bringing meals during illness or offering encouragement during difficult seasons, your support can make a huge difference.
Our member community naturally creates these opportunities for deeper connection and service. In our monthly meetups, experienced families mentor newcomers, we organize small group studies and playdates, and members often find their closest friendships within this more intimate setting. It's beautiful to watch relationships develop and support systems strengthen.
Building Community Takes Time
Remember that building genuine community relationships takes time. Don't expect to find your people immediately or feel completely connected after one event. Give yourself grace as you navigate new relationships and figure out where you fit.
Some connections will be brief but meaningful—the family you chat with at one co-op meeting might not become close friends, but that conversation might be exactly what you needed that day. Other relationships will develop slowly into deep, lasting friendships.
Be patient with the process and with yourself. Community building is a skill that develops over time, and every interaction is practice.
Your Community Action Plan
This week, I challenge you to take one small step toward building or strengthening your homeschool community connections:
Attend one local event where you might meet other homeschool families
Reach out to someone you've met before but haven't stayed in touch with
Offer to help with something in your existing community
Ask another parent for advice about something you're working on
Invite another family to join you for something you're already doing
Remember, you have something valuable to offer this community, even if you don't feel like an expert yet. Your questions, your struggles, your victories, and your unique perspective all contribute to the richness of our homeschool village.
What's one way you've found community in your homeschool journey? What advice would you give to a family new to our area? Share in the comments—your experience might be exactly what another family needs to hear.
Ready to take your community connection to the next level? Whether you're just getting started with our free events or looking for deeper relationships through our member community, we're here to support you in building the village every homeschool family deserves.