I think the first thing to consider when thinking about homeschooling is:
It’s important to solidify your reasons for deciding to homeschool because doubts WILL arise. There WILL be bad days. {Sorry if this is bursting your bubble. . . I just want to keep it real!}
During our third week of school I was talking to a veteran homeschooling mama of five. She asked how school was going, and I told her things had been going well, overall–except that the night before I’d been crying to my husband, wondering if I’d REALLY made the right decision. She laughed, and said, “You’ve only felt that way ONCE? I’m impressed.”
There may be days when your child refuses to do his work and emphatically claims going to school would be more “fun.” Or days when you act like a madwoman and take all the visible toys hostage–only to be returned when an extra chore ransom is paid–because you can’t stand the mess that comes with staying home with the kids all day. Hypothetically, of course. I wouldn’t know for sure because our homeschooling days are all picture perfect. *cough*
So before deciding to homeschool, be clear your reasons for wanting to. Write those reasons down, post them somewhere, make it cute if you have to–so that you can remind yourself why you wanted to homeschool in the first place.
Then when those tough days hit, you can look back at your goal for perspective shift, encouragement, and motivation.
Homeschooling friends, what to you do to keep going when the days get tough?
Sending you a bunch of supportive hugs… As I can’t help with the homeschooling ideas.
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pameladonnis Reply:
October 18th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
I’ll take them!! <3
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Why do we homeschool……well we started so many years ago mainly as an alternative to less than stellar schools. And the longer we kept up the more reasons we found for doing it. Here are a few reasons…..
*we can tailor the education to the needs of our children
*we don’t have to leave God out
*we don’t have to include things that go against our morals and or principles
*minimize peer pressure
*allow our children to be just that and for longer than if they were in traditional school.
*It allows more family time
those are just a few.
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The best thing that I can tell you that I do is that I still take time for me. I pencil it in so that my husband knows when he needs to be home for me to go on a Mom’s Night Out with my homeschool group. Sometimes, my parents might want some grandparent time with the kids and that is good for catching up on housework, an occasional nap or even sitting in Starbucks with coffee and a book
….With four kids, it’s hard to get a complete break more than occasionally. I understand. I have four of my own. However, just a little break can be refreshing….The other thing I make sure I never to is to neglect my Bible time. The day does not go right if I don’t have a little bit of quiet time with the Lord in the mornings!
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pameladonnis Reply:
October 25th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
This is really good advice, and although I’ve always done better with “me” time and scripture time, I’m relying on it even more since we started homeschooling!
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