Homeschool Curious? Morgan Bergstrom’s Journey & BasecampEd

📚 Part of our guide: How to Start Homeschooling
From corporate burnout to homeschool life—hear Morgan Bergstrom’s inspiring story & how BasecampEd connects homeschool families.Are you homeschool curious or ready to make a big life change? Meet Morgan Bergstrom, a mom of four who left her corporate job to homeschool and created BaseCampEd to connect families. In this episode, she shares her real, no-filter journey from working mom to homeschool life.

Homeschool Curious: Morgan Bergstrom’s Journey from Corporate to Homeschooling

Welcome to Episode 567 of Vintage Homeschool Moms, hosted by Felice Gerwitz. In this episode, Felice interviews Morgan Bergstrom, a mom of four who transitioned from a corporate career to homeschooling her children and founded BasecampEd, a platform connecting homeschooling families. Morgan shares her inspiring journey, offering insights for homeschool curious parents considering this path. Find the full show notes at vintagehomeschoolmoms.com.

Meet Morgan Bergstrom: A Homeschool Curious Mom

Morgan Bergstrom, a Southern California native, is a mother to three young boys (ages 2, 3, and 5) and expecting her fourth. Married to a former Marine now working with the State Department, Morgan’s family moves every two to three years. Previously a corporate recruiter, she worked remotely for a supportive company but experienced burnout juggling work and motherhood. This led her to explore homeschooling and ultimately create Basecamp Ed, a community-building app for homeschool families.

Morgan’s podcast, Homeschool Curious, part of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network, dives into her early homeschooling adventures. As a new homeschooler, she interviews parents, educators, and business owners to provide inspiration for homeschool curious moms balancing work and family life.

From Corporate Burnout to Homeschooling

Morgan’s decision to homeschool stemmed from multiple factors, primarily the frequent relocations her family faced. Moving every few years posed challenges for her children, who would otherwise be the “new kids” in school. She shares, “I don’t want my boys to be the new kids every two years… If we’re going to make them move, at least they’re home with me and their brothers.”

Her corporate job, while flexible, left her exhausted. As a working mom, she rushed to daycare drop-offs and struggled with limited family time. Pregnant with her third child, Morgan realized much of her income went to childcare costs. This prompted a conversation with her husband, who was supportive but hesitant to ask her to leave her career. Together, they researched homeschooling, exploring its benefits and feasibility for their family.

Morgan’s parents also played a pivotal role. Initially unsure of their reaction, she was encouraged when her father shared a story about a family friend who formed a successful homeschool co-op in rural Maui during COVID. This example of community-driven homeschooling inspired Morgan to pursue a similar model, balancing work and education.

Introducing BasecampEd: Building Homeschool Communities

Morgan’s vision for BasecampEd emerged from her desire to connect with like-minded homeschool parents. She describes it as “a Zillow and a dating app put together” for homeschooling families. The free app allows parents to create profiles, enter their zip code, and find nearby homeschool families and resources. Launched in February 2025, Basecamp Ed has attracted 4,000 families, with strong traction in homeschool-friendly states like Florida.

A new feature supports homeschool-friendly businesses, enabling parents who run side ventures to promote their products or services. Businesses offer discounts, such as 20% off for Basecamp Ed users, making the app a hub for both community and educational resources. Morgan envisions it as a tool for homeschool curious parents, especially those relocating to new areas, to find support and connections.

Tips for Homeschool Curious Parents

For parents considering homeschooling, Morgan offers practical advice drawn from her interviews and experiences:

  • Lean on Community: Morgan emphasizes the importance of finding a homeschool community, whether through co-ops or apps like BasecampEd. She suggests sharing responsibilities with other homeschooling parents, such as alternating teaching days to balance work and education.

  • Start Small: To ease into homeschooling, Morgan recommends trying small activities, like a fun math curriculum or weekend learning sessions. This approach builds confidence and helps assess if homeschooling suits your family.

  • Research Together: For spouses hesitant about homeschooling, Morgan advises joint research. Listening to podcasts, reading books, or visiting co-ops can align both partners on the benefits of homeschooling.

  • Explore Resources: Today’s homeschoolers have access to abundant resources, from drop-off co-ops to online tools. Morgan encourages parents to explore these to make homeschooling manageable, even for working families.

  • Consult Experts: For additional guidance, consider homeschool consultants or podcasts like Homeschool High School on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Overcoming Resistance to Homeschooling

Morgan acknowledges that not all spouses may embrace homeschooling immediately. Her husband was supportive but initially hesitant to suggest she leave her job. She recommends open communication and gradual steps to address resistance. Felice shares her own story of overcoming her husband’s skepticism by trying homeschooling for six months, which led to significant progress for her son and solidified their commitment.

Balancing Homeschooling and Work

Morgan’s transition from corporate life to homeschooling involved going part-time and hiring a nanny for a few hours daily. This balance allowed her to maintain her passion for work while spending more time with her children. She encourages homeschool curious moms to explore flexible work arrangements and leverage community support to make homeschooling accessible.

The Value of Homeschooling: A Personal Perspective

Felice, a 32-year homeschool veteran, reflects on the lasting benefits of homeschooling. Despite initial challenges, she built strong relationships with her now-adult children, who remain close and seek her support. Morgan echoes this, noting that homeschooling offers unique opportunities to bond with children and tailor their education to their needs.

Connect with Morgan and BasecampEd

To learn more about Morgan’s journey and homeschooling tips, visit basecamped.com, where you can download the BasecampEd app and access her podcast, Homeschool Curious. The app is available on both Android and iOS platforms. Follow Morgan’s podcast for weekly interviews with homeschooling parents, educators, and business owners sharing their expertise.

About Vintage Homeschool Moms

Vintage Homeschool Moms, part of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network, has been a trusted resource for homeschooling families for 12 years. Felice Gerwitz, a pioneer in homeschooling and podcasting, hosts the show to inspire and equip parents. Visit vintagehomeschoolmoms.com for show notes and additional resources.

Recommended Episodes from Vintage Homeschool Moms

For more homeschooling inspiration, check out these episodes from Vintage Homeschool Moms:

  1. Episode 565: A Great Start to Your Homeschool Day – Felice shares strategies for new homeschoolers to build confidence, take control of chaos, and create a personalized routine for a successful day. Listen here.
  2. Episode 541: Homeschooling the Next Generation – Explore the growing homeschool movement and tips for homeschool curious parents passing the torch to the next generation. Listen here.
  3. Episode 550: Parenting That Works – Practical advice for homeschooling families on effective parenting philosophies that align with your values and daily life. Listen here.
  4. Episode 524: Top Ten Time Savers – Discover time-saving tips for busy homeschool moms to boost productivity without compromising family time. Listen here.

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Vintage Homeschool Moms. Whether you’re homeschool curious or a seasoned homeschooler, we hope Morgan’s story inspires you to explore homeschooling with confidence. God bless, and we’ll see you next time!

If We Could Turn Back Time

If We Turn Back Time - Things We'd Tell Our Younger Selves about HomeschoolingWhat if we could turn back time?

Seriously. What if we could turn back time? That was a topic of conversation.

THSC in The Woodlands is always a fun conference. One of the reasons I love it so much is that I get to hang out with two of my favorite ladies on the planet, Arlene and Jamie. We even wore the same NAME on our nametags all weekend and enjoyed the confused looks we received.

We decided it would be fun to chat about the things we would tell our young selves (if we could) about this homeschooling gig.

We definitely had some laughs and shared some pretty cool stuff.

Here are the highlights:

  1. Lighten up.
  2. Don’t try and do everything.
  3. Only plan for the next year.
  4. Don’t compare.
  5. Trust your gut.

Homeschooling is a journey. It is a marathon. Some days will be great. Some days will be disastrous. Hang in there. We all agreed that we are thankful we did and think our kids would say the same.

If you aren’t a part of a co-op or moms group, start one. We all need like-minded people around us to encourage us on the tough days. Contact your state or local homeschooling organization if you aren’t sure where the cool homeschool kids hang out in your area.

 

You’ve got this!

Thank you to this podcast episode sponsor:  Route 60 – The Biblical Highway. In theaters September 18th & 19th only. Please check the website to learn more about this wonderful movie.


Find a way to #sayyes today.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast and leave a review on iTunes!!!

Thank you to The Homegrown Preschooler for sponsoring this Podcast! Check out the blog post Kathy mentioned, Farmhouse Schoolhouse, to read more about A Year of Playing Skillfully.

Also, to thank you for listening, you can receive a 10% discount on any purchase at

The Homegrown Preschooler by using the code, THEREALKATHYLEE.

 

Getting Kids On Board With Your New Homeschool – MBFLP 252

New to homeschooling, and maybe your kid's not thrilled yet?

Are you starting homeschooling this fall? Was it always your plan, or did the pandemic make this an unexpected “best option”? Either way, are your kids on board with the decision?

Parents have the responsibility and the perspective to make this choice for their family, but sometimes the children aren’t thrilled. Even if it’s the best thing for them, it’s always more pleasant if everyone’s in accord about the plan. What can you do to help your kids understand and accept the lifestyle change you’re making? How is it different for young kids, middle schoolers, and teens? This episode, we’re talking about working toward harmony with your new homeschooling project!

An Avalanche of New Homeschoolers

The sudden shutdown of practically all public education in March, and the prospects of very restricted school reopening this fall, have prompted a lot of families to reconsider homeschooling as an option. How many? Several states are reporting double-digit increases in new homeschools, and when North Carolina opened its website for new homeschool filings in July, the rush crashed the site for an entire week. In June, researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 1200 families in Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio, and found 12% already planned to keep at least one child at home this fall. Another survey of 2000 families by OnePoll found that 43% are “seriously considering the option of homeschooling” this year. Vermont had a 75% increase already!

With so many new families beginning homeschooling, a large percentage are taking children out of classroom schools. Their kids have already had some experience of school culture, developed friendships at school, and formed relationships with teachers. The change in school approach is going to be more disruptive for them than their pre-school and kindergarten-age siblings. That means you’ll need to approach the idea differently with the older kids. Even elementary school kids may complain, “I haven’t seen my friends in for-e-ver,” — though to be honest, that’s been heard in homeschooling families, too, during the lockdown!

So it’s important to acknowledge that your kids’ fears, concerns, preferences, and objections do matter, even if the decision has been made already. Take the time to listen and engage them on their levels–you’ll be glad you invested in the relationship. This episode, we’re talking about practical ways to address some of those concerns. Not incidentally, we’re also addressing some concerns you might be having as an unexpected homeschool parent, yourself–like socialization, your qualification to teach, and college prospects at the end! So join us —

Skeptical young girl thinking about her parents' idea

Articles Dealing With This Explosive Growth

[Side note: Many of the news reports on this subject have misread or misrepresented the actual findings; for once, they tend to overestimate how many people are choosing homeschooling. Some media reported the UofM findings, for instance, as “A third of parents may homeschool,” but the actual study says 12% plan to homeschool, and 21% were undecided. That’s a different picture. Still, 12% is a huge increase over the 3-to-4% homeschooling rate nationwide last year.]

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If WE Could Turn Back Time

If We Turn Back Time - Things We'd Tell Our Younger Selves about HomeschoolingTHSC in The Woodlands is always a fun conference. One of the reasons I love it so much is that I get to hang out with two of my favorite ladies on the planet, Arlene and Jamie. We even wore the same NAME on our nametags all weekend and enjoyed the confused looks we received.

We decided it would be fun to chat about the things we would tell our young selves (if we could) about this homeschooling gig. We definitely had some laughs and shared some pretty cool stuff. Here are the highlights:

  1. Lighten up.
  2. Don’t try and do everything.
  3. Only plan for the next year.
  4. Don’t compare.
  5. Trust your gut.

Homeschooling is a journey. It is a marathon. Some days will be great. Some days will be disastrous. Hang in there. We all agreed that we are thankful we did and think our kids would say the same.

If you aren’t a part of a co-op or moms group, start one. We all need likeminded people around us to encourage us on the tough days. Contact your state or local homeschooling organization if you aren’t sure where the cool homeschool kids hang out in your area.

 

You’ve got this!

 

Find a way to #sayyes today.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast and leave a review on iTunes!!!

Thank you to The Homegrown Preschooler for sponsoring this Podcast! Check out the blog post Kathy mentioned, Farmhouse Schoolhouse, to read more about A Year of Playing Skillfully.

Also, to thank you for listening, you can receive a 10% discount on any purchase at

The Homegrown Preschooler by using the code, THEREALKATHYLEE.

 

Easy Start Guide to Homeschooling – MBFLP 137

MBFLP - Quick Start Plan for Homeschooling
Labor Day is approaching and the decision to start homeschooling, that decision that was so exciting and sparkly back in May, suddenly looms like a late summer thundercloud. Relax! This episode, we talk about some key things we learned about starting homeschooling – whether you’re beginning with a 5-year-old who’s never seen a schoolroom, or bringing home an eight-grader from the local public school. The first year offers some great opportunities – and some great challenges – that will make the difference in your home education experience. And even if you’re already a veteran homeschooler, you might find a principle or two that you haven’t considered before!

 

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MBFLP - Easy Start to Homeschooling