One parent’s honest take on organising, chaos, and learning the hard way
When I took over organising our local home ed watersports group, I thought I was just helping out. The mum who’d run it for years was stepping back — her daughter was off to university — and it all seemed pretty straightforward.
But very quickly, I realised there was so much more to it than just showing up on the day.
Planning a home education activity is rewarding, but also demanding — and no one tells you how much quiet admin, chasing, and last-minute scrambling is involved.
Here’s what I didn’t expect:
- People saying “we’ll come!”… but not paying.
- Chasing payments through PayPal, trying to match real names to usernames I didn’t recognise.
- Last-minute cancellations — sometimes the night before — with requests for refunds.
- Spending hours answering questions I’d already posted (twice).
- Worrying the event wouldn’t fill, then being overwhelmed by bookings all at once, days before it started.
The activity itself ran beautifully.
But behind the scenes? I was constantly checking my phone, updating spreadsheets, and wondering if I’d ever just be able to enjoy it again.
I started writing it all down...
Not to rant — just to get my thoughts straight.
To figure out what I’d do differently next time.
And to capture the stuff I wish someone had told me before I ever said “Sure, I’ll do it!”
I’ve pulled it together into a short, honest guide for other home ed parents who’ve somehow become event organisers — sometimes by choice, often by accident.
Whether it’s your first home education activity or you’ve been running groups for years, I hope it helps.
✨ It’s called: “What I Wish I’d Known Before Running My First Home Ed Event”
It’s full of real tips from someone who’s been there:
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What to do when bookings are slow
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Why friends & family payments can cost you
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Why parents do want advance notice — but still book last minute
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And how to make things smoother (without burning yourself out)
There’s even a quick checklist to run through before your next event.
📩 Want a copy?
Just pop your name and email in below, and I’ll send it straight over.
You’ll also get a few extra organiser-only tips over the next few weeks — because let’s face it, we all need a bit of backup.
💬 What do you wish you’d known?
If you’ve ever run a home education activity — a trip, a club, a workshop, or a regular meet-up — I’d love to hear what you learned the hard way.
Post in the comments or drop me a message — we’re all figuring it out as we go, and I really believe we can make it easier together.
This guide comes from my experience in the home education UK community, but I hope it helps wherever you’re based.
