Terrible at Math and Still Homeschool – Here’s How

I still remember the first time I panicked over homeschooling. It wasn’t the curriculum catalogs or the socialization questions from my mom. And it definitely wasn’t the idea of being home with my boys—being with them all day was one of the biggest perks. What gave me pause, what made me sweat, was this one looming fear:

I was terrible at math.

Not just kind of bad. I failed college algebra three times before I finally clawed my way to a C—and let me tell you, I celebrated that C like it was summa cum laude. Math just never made sense to me. The moment math started mixing letters with numbers, my brain bailed out. It never clicked. It wasn’t a lack of trying. It just… wasn’t my language.

So when the idea of homeschooling became more than just a daydream, I wasn’t doubting my ability to love my kids, or to teach them values, or to read all the books and do all the science experiments. I was doubting whether I could teach them math while being someone who was genuinely terrible at math myself.

And to be honest, there was more than just the fear of math. I had built a thriving recruiting business. I had clients, income, and a rhythm I was proud of. Choosing to step away from that wasn’t a light decision. It was deliberate. Purposeful. I knew it was the right choice. Because we only have 18 summers when they are in traditional school. We only get 18 summers of time off, time together, time to breathe. I wanted more than 18 summers. I wanted it all.

Those early years of homeschooling?

Honestly, they were fun. I loved it. Everything was hands-on, creative, and playful. Math was manipulatives and baking and measuring and counting bugs on nature walks. We were building a beautiful foundation, and I felt confident and connected with my boys. Being terrible at math didn’t really impact my ability to teach math at this point.

But even then, I wished I had something structured. Something that could anchor all the enrichment I was adding. A solid math spine that I could rely on while we chased the wonder and embraced all the freedoms of homeschooling. Because I knew what was coming.

Eventually, they’d hit the point where math was over my head. Not fractions or long division—I could handle that. I’m talking about the point where letters start mingling with numbers. Where x suddenly needs to be solved for, and no one knows who invited y to the party. That’s when I started to panic.

I remember one afternoon standing at the kitchen table doing math and just knowing—it was time. Being terrible at math was becoming a hindrance to teaching my children math. It was time to dig in, research, and compare every math curriculum I could find. I needed something that would work for all three of my boys.

Believe me, we tried so many. Some were too babyish, some so dry it felt like the Sahara Desert, some so incoherent you needed a road map to navigate them. Others were so overloaded with bells and whistles that they felt more like a carnival ride than a curriculum. It was exhausting. One felt like it assumed I had a PhD in number theory. I was looking for something clear, something consistent, something that wouldn’t make my kids—or me—dread math time.

It took me years and so much trial and error to find the curriculum that finally fit. I’m telling you this not to overwhelm you, but to help you navigate around all those same rocks. Because there is an easier path.

As someone who was terrible at math, I needed something that wouldn’t make me feel overwhelmed before the lesson even started. Something clear, consistent, and confidence-building. Something my kids wouldn’t dread. And something that didn’t make me feel like I was failing just by trying to follow the teacher’s guide.

CTCMath wasn’t just another math curriculum. It felt like someone had created it with people like me in mind—the moms who knew how to teach creatively but needed structure, clarity, and support when the concepts got tough… and were terrible at math 🙂

Here’s what won me over:

• Short, clear video lessons taught by someone who makes math sound shockingly reasonable (and yes, the Australian accent does make everything feel less intimidating).
• Self-paced format, which means my boys can work ahead when they’re flying—or rewatch when something doesn’t quite stick.
• Automatic grading, so I’m not stuck checking worksheets while second-guessing myself or Googling, “how to subtract mixed numbers.”
• One subscription for the whole family, so I didn’t have to choose which child got a solid math education and which one learned by osmosis.

We tried the free trial. My boys didn’t complain. I didn’t hyperventilate. That alone felt like a miracle.

But you know what I’m most excited to tell you about? Their 365-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked. No fine print. No stress. You can try it—really try it—with zero risk. If it’s not the right fit? You get your money back. Period.

And here’s the truth: I am still not good at math. But I am really good at setting my kids up for success. That’s what homeschooling is, at the core. It’s not about knowing all the things—it’s about knowing how to find the tools that fill in the gaps.

CTCMath became one of those tools. A big one. I feel like I’m finally giving them the math education I wish I’d had.

And I’ll be honest: sometimes I watched the videos too because we get our own account and I love to learn right alongside my children!

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I can teach history. I can do the read-alouds. I can rock science experiments. But math? No way”—then I want you to hear this:

You’re not alone.

You don’t have to be a great math teacher to be a great homeschool mom. You just have to be willing to find the right help.

So if you’re on the edge, wondering how you’re going to survive algebra without losing your mind—or your kid’s trust—do yourself a favor. Check out CTCMath. Let them teach the math. You just keep being the anchor, the encourager, the champion of your homeschool.

Even if you never want to see another equation again.

(Which I absolutely don’t.)