She Was Raised to Be the “Perfect” Homeschool Daughter

This week in the clubhouse, I'm sitting down with Lydia to unpack what it was like growing up homeschooled in a large “Fundy-lite” Christian family deeply influenced by Vision Forum culture, purity culture, and Quiverfull-adjacent ideology.Lydia shares her experience being the oldest of seven children, navigating homeschool co-ops, modesty culture, conservative Christian college, and the immense pressure of becoming the “obedient oldest daughter.” Together, Jacob and Lydia explore how homeschool isolation can exist even inside large communities, the hidden emotional burden placed on oldest daughters, and the long process of deconstructing beliefs that shaped adulthood.This conversation dives into homeschooling culture, Christian nationalism, purity culture, social isolation, and the struggle to build an identity outside of the expectations placed on homeschool kids.Some Of The Things We ReferencedI Kissed Dating GoodbyeHomeschool Legal Defense AssociationDoug PhillipsShiny Happy PeopleConnect with LydiaTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@90shomeschooler Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/90shomeschooler/If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who might benefit from hearing this story. Follow Ex-Homeschoolers Club on Instagram and TikTok for updates, and send us a message – we’d love to hear from you!Connect with JacobInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclubEmail me at [email protected]:00 Let's Meet Lydia01:03 Growing Up On A Fundie Lite Homestead03:42 Is Virginia The Homeschool Hub05:33 Why Lydia's Family Homeschooled09:48 Did Your Homeschool Curriculum Prepare You For College13:12 I Went To College To Meet My Husband14:35 What Is Vision Forum19:00 Were Are Parents Even Reading What They Were Giving Us22:05 Did You Have A Homeschool Community27:17 Socialization Isn't The Same As Real Friends28:50 Did Big Family Dynamics Lead To Parentification33:22 Was College A Culture Shock37:58 Why College Didn’t Change Me40:43 Moving Out Was The Catalyst For My Deconstruction45:16 My Therapist Made Me Start A TikTok50:31 Today's Risks Of Homeschooling53:05 Embrace the Weird