Homeschooling can be very relaxing or highly stressful– all in the same day! Whether you make it overly-complicated or have too little structure, causing stress in your homeschool day is probably not your goal. I was quite stressed as a new homeschooler. Let me explain, then help you with some ideas to reduce stress in your homeschool.
My Story
It was our second year homeschooling, and I was still using a classroom set-up (a nod to my previous life as an elementary school teacher). I was trying to get the girls finished with the core part of their day, but my five-year-old kept getting up and down from the little table she and her seven-year old sister shared. Finally, as she popped out of her chair AGAIN to go and get a drink of water, I almost shouted at her: “WHY do you think you can just get up and leave the room whenever you want to?!” She stopped, stared at me, then burst into tears as she replied, “Because it’s HOME!!!”
My heart broke as I realized how hurt she must feel as I, her mother, the one she should be able to run to to receive love, kindness, and gentleness, was the one completely annoyed at her just for doing something that comes naturally. It was I who needed an attitude change.
Though I didn’t at once become the perfect homeschool mom (actually, that NEVER happened), that day, I resolved to tone down my overly-strict, classroom-focused expectations and trust the process. We would finish the day, the week, the month, the homeschool year, successfully–but it didn’t mean every month, week, or even day would look the same.
Homeschool Looks Different
Homeschool is NOT like school. Oh, there are some similarities… we study the required subjects, our days revolve around school, we take breaks. But studying at home should be more casual, comfortable, and loosely structured. You don’t need a perfectly-timed schedule at home because you don’t have a class of twenty students to manage. You don’t have the same interruptions or responsibilities as a classroom teacher. The students are YOUR children, and you already know them. The following steps may help you relax and be a calmer, more pleasant mother and leader of the little kingdom that is your homeschool:
Simple Steps to Reduce Homeschool Stress
- Create a loose structure– one that is more routine-focused than timed-schedule focused. As much as you can, do things in the same order each day, but don’t get stressed about the exact times.
- Clean up breakfast and straighten the house before you start the school day. Involve your children in these chores… even toddlers can help with simple chores. Starting the day with a more organized space creates a more peaceful environment.
- Embrace distractions as a part of your day. Leave wiggle room in your schedule so you have time to make up activities or subjects that were skipped due to interruptions.
- If something isn’t going right or working smoothly, find out why and work to help that child. In my case, my five-year-old needed shorter focused times and more breaks.
- Go to a mom’s group, or invite another homeschooling friend and her kids to the park with you and yours. You can chat while the children play. Everyone can benefit from the perspective of someone else going through the same thing. It’s nice to know you’re not alone!
- What is your reason for homeschooling? Whatever it is, write your “why” down and put it where you can see it every day. Refrigerator, bulletin board, post-it note. Reminding yourself why you’re doing something can help you stick with it for the long haul.
Homeschool is different from regular school in many ways. That’s a good thing! A calm, loosely-structured routine will benefit you AND your children. You’ve got this, one step at a time.