Unlock Success: Homeschoolers Overcoming Any Challenge

Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, MD, has been inspiring people for decades to face change with courage, adaptability, and sometimes even a little cheese-related humor.

While this book wasn’t written specifically for homeschoolers, its lessons are fitting for families who live in a world where the “cheese” (curriculum, educational goals, daily routines) is continually moving.

Understanding the Cheese: What Are We Really Chasing?

The book tells a story of two mice, named Sniff and Scurry, and two tiny people, Hem and Haw, who live in a maze and search for cheese.

The maze represents where you spend time looking for what you want, like in your job, your community, or your relationships.[1]

The cheese represents what you want in life, like happiness, health, recognition, etc.

In homeschooling, your “cheese” might be

• curriculum that works for your kids

• success in school

• a well-balanced daily routine

• a specific educational philosophy

• the fostering of curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.

Clarifying your “cheese” can help you make decisions in the face of change—and remind you that your goals might not look like everyone else’s.

The Cheese Moves… A Lot!

One of the big takeaways from Who Moved My Cheese? is that change is constant, and resisting it only makes things harder.

Homeschool parents know this all too well.

Maybe you’ve finally found a history curriculum that everyone seems to enjoy, and suddenly, your 10-year-old declares he hates history.

Or perhaps you’ve just managed to nail down a routine that works, only to discover a growth spurt, or a new interest in competitive chess, has thrown it all off.

The characters in Who Moved My Cheese? face similar frustrations when their cheese is moved. Each one reacts differently to this dilemma.

• Sniff quickly detects change and is ready to adapt.

• Scurry takes quick action to find new cheese.

• Haw is initially resistant but learns to adapt and enjoy the journey.

• Hem denies and resists change, fearing the unknown.

Change is inevitable, and adapting to it quickly can lead to greater success and happiness.

The flexible mice change their habits and find new cheese, while the little people struggle to let go of the old ways.

Johnson’s advice is simple yet powerful: Instead of staying stuck, adapt!

For homeschoolers, this might mean being willing to abandon the “perfect plan” for something that better meets your child’s needs.

It could also mean embracing the idea that no homeschool day—or year—will look exactly like the last.

Flexibility isn’t just a bonus in homeschooling; it’s essential.

Recognizing the "Scurrys" and "Hems" in Your Own Family

Homeschooling often feels like one long lesson in adaptation. Just when you think you’ve got the hang of things, a new developmental stage or academic challenge shows up and shuffles everything around.

And not everyone readily adapts to change.

Some of us are Scurrys who switch gears at the drop of a hat, and some of us are more Hems, finding it tough to let go of the things we’ve planned.

Recognizing these different personalities in your household can make the journey smoother.

Maybe you have a child who’s a Hem, attached to the routine and upset by sudden changes, and another who’s a Scurry, always ready for something new.

Who Moved My Cheese? reminds us to embrace these differences rather than force everyone into one mold.

Acknowledge your Hems by giving them a heads-up on upcoming changes. Let your Scurrys run with new ideas when they’re inspired.

Creating space for each person’s adaptability style can reduce resistance and make homeschooling a less stressful experience for everyone involved.

The Perils of Staying Stuck

In Who Moved My Cheese?, Hem’s refusal to accept the changed situation leaves him cheese-less and frustrated.

In homeschooling, staying “stuck” can look like clinging to a curriculum that clearly isn’t working or insisting on a teaching style that doesn’t match your child’s needs.

Johnson’s characters remind us that sometimes, it’s better to cut our losses and pivot. If a curriculum isn’t working, don’t be afraid to swap it out. If a particular approach is causing more battles than breakthroughs, it might be time to adjust.

As homeschool parents, we’re not failing if we change course; we’re responding to real-time feedback from our kids. The maze is always shifting—our job is to keep moving with it.

Reframing Change as Adventure

One of the most appealing aspects of Johnson’s story is the way it reframes change. Instead of seeing it as something terrifying, choose to view it as an adventure, an opportunity to try something new.

In homeschooling, changes are inevitable, whether they come from shifting interests, learning styles, or even family dynamics.

Next time your “cheese” moves—when your teenager decides they want to study astrophysics instead of zoology, or your six-year-old wants to take a break from reading for a while—try framing it as a new path in the maze rather than a setback.

Who knows? It might lead you and your child to discover something wonderful.

Teaching Kids to Embrace Change

One of the unsung benefits of homeschooling is the opportunity to model adaptability for your kids.

When they see you reacting to challenges with flexibility and a positive attitude, they learn to do the same. Who Moved My Cheese? reminds readers that adapting isn’t just something you do for yourself; it’s something you can teach your kids to do.

Homeschooling provides the unique chance to turn life’s curveballs into learning moments. Maybe one day, your child will encounter their own missing cheese in the form of a job loss, a move, or some other unexpected life change. By modeling resilience and adaptability, you’re giving them tools they can use for a lifetime.

🧀 Key Lessons for Homeschooling

1. Change Happens—They keep moving the cheese.

• Homeschool reality: Educational needs, interests, and family dynamics constantly shift.

• Application: Expect to revise your approach—what worked for your 8-year-old may not work when they're 12.

2. Anticipate Change—Get ready for the cheese to move.

• Homeschool reality: Kids outgrow curriculums, interests evolve, and life circumstances (health, income, etc.) change.

• Application: Build flexibility into your planning. Have backup plans or alternate resources ready for tough days.

3. Monitor Change—Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old.

• Homeschool reality: Is your child still engaged? Is this method still producing growth?

• Application: Regularly assess whether your tools and routines are still effective. If burnout is setting in, take it seriously.

4. Adapt to Change Quickly—The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy new cheese.

• Homeschool reality: Sticking with a failing curriculum out of guilt or sunk costs wastes time and energy.

• Application: Let go of what’s not working—even if it was expensive or recommended by others.

5. Change—Move with the cheese.

• Homeschool reality: Shifts might be toward more self-directed learning, joining a hybrid program, or adjusting to a parent going back to work.

• Application: Embrace new opportunities as they arise, even if they’re different from your original vision.

6. Enjoy Change!—Savor the adventure and enjoy the taste of new cheese!

• Homeschool reality: Trying out a new method (like unit studies, co-op classes, or online classes) can be exciting.

• Application: Celebrate flexibility as one of homeschooling’s greatest advantages.

7. Be Ready to Change Quickly and Enjoy It Again

• Homeschool reality: There will be more changes—new seasons of life, teens, college decisions.

• Application: Build a mindset of resilience and openness to continual growth.

🧠 For Parents

• Be like Sniff and Scurry when your child’s needs shift.

• Avoid being a Hem who sticks to a rigid plan because “that’s how we started.”

• Let your child be a Haw—they may resist change at first, but can grow and thrive with support.

Chasing (and Enjoying) New Cheese as a Homeschool Family

Who Moved My Cheese? offers homeschool families a refreshing perspective on change. In a lifestyle where the only constant is unpredictability, learning to embrace the new “cheese” is essential.

Instead of trying to make every homeschool year look the same, allow each season to have its own unique rhythm, direction, and flavor.

So, next time someone changes the “cheese” in your homeschool—whether it’s an unforeseen life event or simply a change in your child’s interests—remember that it’s okay to pause, re-evaluate, and even laugh a little.

After all, homeschooling is one big adventure, and there’s no wrong way to navigate the maze.

[1] Spencer Johnson, Who Moved My Cheese? (New York, NY: G.P. Putnam Son’s, 1998), 14.