Whether it’s your first year or your tenth, we all have doubts. ALL OF US. You know you are a good mom, but are you a good homeschool mom? I don’t think you would be questioning it if you weren’t. Remember when you became a mom? I bet you questioned yourself then too and even still do. That’s just what moms do. We want the best for our kids.
I can’t promise these homeschool doubts will go away, but maybe I can help you navigate through them. So go grab your coffee or tea or maybe some wine and breath! Because questioning yourself is not only ok, but normal. We have done it since the day we brought them home. Many days we struggled, but we learned to trust our instincts and somehow, we always found the answer.
As you find your way, here are some things I’d like you to know.
- You are not alone. Sure, it can feel that way because in our classrooms we work alone. But it’s a big homeschooling world out there and it’s only growing.
- Homeschooling is hard. I’m not gonna sugar coat and pretend it’s all sunshine. There are definitely some clouds. Maybe when you began to homeschool, you didn’t realize just how hard it can be. Most of us have a difficult time accepting that we can not have a perfect homeschool. That not every day is a meaningful learning experience. We want them to love it and stay engaged. Isn’t that how everyone else is operating? That’s a big NO! No school operates that way, not home, public or private. Because you know what? Every child has a subject they don’t like. No amount of Pinterest surfing is going to change that. Every child has days they just don’t want to do school. I remember when my children were in public school I would get a note or a call that they didn’t do something or weren’t paying attention. They still do that. But I get to decide how that gets handled. We definitely aren’t going to skip recess because of it.
- Ask for help. I can promise this, whatever your doubts others have or had them too. Talk to other Homeschoolers. It’s ok to ask for help, you can truly benefit from their experience. I know I have.
- Don’t compare. Asking for help is so beneficial, but don’t compare yourself to others. Homeschoolers are not above appearing like they have it all together. If you meet a Homeschool mom who says I have it all figured out … .Run!
- Your children will thrive. When it comes to your child, there is not a person on this planet who is more passionate than you. Can you think of anyone more invested? Who would care more about the outcome? Imagine them in a classroom with 20 other kids being taught by someone who will never know or love them like you.
Fun fact- Multiple studies suggest that Homeschooled students outperform their counterparts. - Remember why you chose this. At the start of the year write down all your whys. You might be surprised how the list grows the longer you homeschool. Keep it as your source of encouragement. It’s so easy to forget when it feels like things are falling apart.
- Keep records. Maybe you live in a state that doesn’t require this. Do it anyway! This is for you! This has helped me tremendously! When you have something to look back on, a visual representation of all you have accomplished, it makes the hard days, a little less hard.
