Homeschooling on the Road: Finding Our Rhythm in Full Time RV Life

It’s hard to believe we’ve been living full-time in our RV for a little over a year now. In that time, we’ve learned so much — about ourselves, about what our son needs, and about what it really looks like to make a home wherever you park it. This first year was all about navigating this new way of life: figuring out how to balance travel days with work, finding routines that fit, and learning what it means to slow down. We didn’t fully commit to homeschooling right away — we were still finding our footing — but now, as we’ve settled into this lifestyle, we’re really starting to figure it out. And we’ve seen so much progress.

Homeschooling while living full-time in an RV sounded amazing — leisurely mornings, learning through real-world experiences, and creating memories... and while that is all sometimes true, the fact is that it’s also messy, unpredictable, and full of pivoting- so much pivoting!

Our son is seven, curious, funny, and always asking questions. Some days that curiosity makes learning flow naturally — like when we start our day outside and see a group of deer within arms reach, or when we find a baby snake under our RV and have to investigate the best way to handle it (apparently screaming isn’t the answer) Other days, it’s a little less magical. The Wi-Fi cuts out mid-lesson, or I’m trying to balance work calls while helping him sound out new words or my favorite- when someone knocks on the door asking for repair services RIGHT NOW. 

Running the business side of Cozy Camper while being a full-time homeschool mom means my days rarely look the same twice. I’ve learned to plan loosely and give myself a lot of grace. Some weeks, we’re ahead in math and behind in handwriting. Other weeks, we’re learning patience, adaptability, and how to work as a team — and honestly, those lessons might be the most important ones- but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. 

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from this season of life is that flexibility isn’t optional — it’s everything. We don’t always stick to a perfect schedule. There are days where “school” looks like playing at the park with friends or going to a children’s museum instead of sitting down and working on our handwriting. I’ve had to let go of a lot of traditional expectations of what learning “should” look like and trust that our version is still enough. 

It is not lost on me that I am fully in charge of his learning and the responsibilities that come with it, so recently we decided to enlist a little help just to make sure our son was getting what he needed. We found a small part-time enrichment program nearby that fits beautifully into our lifestyle and gives him opportunities to learn and grow in ways I couldn’t provide on my own. It’s been such a gift — not just for him, but for me too. Watching him thrive in that environment, make new friends, and explore subjects that light him up has taken a huge weight off my shoulders and reminded me that it’s okay to ask for support. Homeschooling doesn’t have to mean doing everything alone (Same with being a mom) 

If you’ve ever thought about homeschooling, know that it’s okay if it doesn’t always look like the perfect social media version. What matters is that you’re showing up and learning together.

Comment your experience with homeschooling below ⬇️ We're all in this together!