Many people consider homeschooling, but let fear or uncertainty about their own ability to educate their children stop them. I’m here to encourage you that you CAN successfully homeschool your children (if you want to). I educated all my children at home, starting when the eldest was in first grade. I did some things right and made many mistakes, and I can tell you with confidence I would 100 percent do it all over again.
1. You don’t have to have it all together to start.
“…the hardest part of any job is getting started.” — Mary Kay Ash
You do not need a degree in education, an expensive curriculum, or even a co-op membership to start homeschooling. What you do need is some focused time to prepare and a heart willing to give up a good part of each day. It sounds overwhelming, as any new task does. But it also gets easier, as things do when you repeat them over and over.
I recommend you research the homeschooling laws in your state, and follow them. Then just start homeschooling!
2. Each child has a different learning style and different needs.
When I started homeschooling, I thought the rigid, traditional curriculum I was using was good for each and every child. What I didn’t realize was that every child has a different learning style and needs. One of mine was definitely more “out of the box.” She needed more focused time outside of textbooks, interacting with the world and listening to stories or “living books.” Reading with Mama and playing outside, exploring the wonders of nature. I knew nothing of this type of learning, called the Charlotte Mason method, until much later. When I learned of it, I implemented as many principles as possible. (My children were then in high school and middle school.) But oh, how I wish I had started with that method when my children were small! My middle child especially would have enjoyed school so much more. Take some time to evaluate each child’s needs. This happens over time as you practice learning together.
3. Homeschooling is not regular school at home.
This is a common misconception. In a crisis situation, doing regular school lessons at home may be necessary, but this is not what I mean when I say the word “homeschooling.” The good news is that this frees the homeschool parent! You don’t have to create a classroom environment in your home. (I did this at first!) You are educating your children in a way that works for and is comfortable for your family. (More on that later.)
4. You don’t have to stick to a rigid schedule.
Again, freedom. You are not bound to a minute-by-minute schedule, simply because you don’t need to be. You are not sharing restrooms, playground, and lunchroom with 12 other classes. Flexibility reigns in homeschooling! Up late one night? Start later in the morning. Dentist appointments? Bring the books into the waiting room. Have teenagers who like to sleep in or a Dad who works during the day but wants to help with homeschooling? Try night classes!
5. It’s ok if some days you don’t accomplish all your goals.
As a recovering perfectionist, I know these days can be hard. You feel like you’re falling behind, or worse- failing. You’re not.
Some days, your children work hard and have great attitudes. All the assignments get finished and they do their chores without being asked. The house (somehow) stays clean and you still have energy at 4:00.
I think I had maybe one of those days every other year at the most in my seventeen years homeschooling.
The homeschool life is a marathon, not a sprint.
(If you need ideas on how to entertain younger children while working more in-depth with older ones, check out this post.)
6. School and real life can flow together.
Here is an example of what I mean by school and real life flowing together:
You go through your morning routine and get the children started on some independent work. Now you go and throw a load of laundry into the washing machine. When you get back, you listen to one child read or recite while you nurse the baby. The baby goes down for a nap, and you put that load of laundry in the dryer. You return to do math lessons with the younger children. Everyone takes a break for outside play, snack, or chores. Back to school work and you’re reading a history lesson together. School and the rest of the day are intertwined, reducing stress and making it easier to accomplish the things that need to be done.
7. Support from other homeschooling moms is vital.
When I first started homeschooling, I thought I was going it pretty much alone. Then I went to my first homeschool moms meeting. The hostess had all of us bring a snack, and we sat around munching and talking for hours! I realized I needed a sounding board (and to be one myself) for all that a homeschool mom experiences. How refreshing to hear, “Oh! You had that kind of day, too?!” or “Ah, so we are not the only ones who struggle with ______.” Everyone needs a community of like-minded humans. This is vital to a homeschooler!
8. What other people think doesn’t matter.
I worried that others would think I was weird or that I was trying to shelter my children too much.
Guess what I learned to say?
So what.
My real friends may have some questions for me, especially if they did not fully understand what it means to homeschool. But they would never judge or condemn me for it. Anyone who did wasn’t a true friend.
I decided to do what was right for my family, and ignore the doubters.
I’m so glad I did.
9. Delegating will save your sanity.
You simply can not do it all– homeschooling, cleaning the house, laundry, grocery shopping, etc– then feel badly when it doesn’t all get finished.
You must delegate to someone, starting with your own family.
This is what worked for us. It will probably look differently for your family, but I wanted to show you an example:
- My husband taught some classes after work (subjects he enjoyed– for him it was art and Bible classes). This took some of the pressure from me and gave him more time with the kids. It also helped him feel more connected to and involved in the homeschooling process.
- I involved my children in housework by giving them chores. The earlier this starts, the better! The purpose of chores is much more than simply having some help around the house. Studies by multiple researchers have shown that involving children in the work of the household contributes positively to their growth and development. It’s a win/win for everyone.
- These days, you can do grocery pickups (what a lifesaver!). Sometimes, I order groceries and have my husband stop by and pick them up on his way home. When I was homeschooling, this was not yet an option in our area, but would have been an additional time-saver!
- If you can afford it, get some cleaning and organizing help from a local high school student. Just a couple hours a month could help you feel more on top of things, and help a young person who is trying to earn some money.
10. Homeschooling can change your family’s life for the better.
I didn’t know when I started homeschooling how it would change our life. We went from being rushed every morning and dropping kids off in different places to being together in a way that unified our family. We worked together, played together, learned together. My girls developed close relationships with both parents and each other because of our decision to homeschool. Homeschooling was a huge sacrifice– of time, finances, and my own other interests.
It was so worth it, and I would do it again.
— Kim
What about you? Were you homeschooled, or do you plan to homeschool? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below– I’d love to hear them!
For more on getting started homeschooling, check out my friend Tricia’s book, Help! I’m Homeschooling and her website. Both are valuable resources!