Why I Will Never Tell You To Homeschool Your Child

I love talking with other moms.

Ever notice how they have the best stories?

How it’s always so reassuring to hear you aren’t the only one having a bad day? That when their kids act up, it is super funny but when yours do it, no so much.

Yeah, us moms, we need each other. To laugh, encourage, inspire and support.

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Unfortunately when you start wearing the “homeschool” label this kind of interaction can seem awkward, especially with moms who aren’t homeschooling.

The other day a mom confronted me and I am so glad she did. She said, “You aren’t like the other homeschool moms I know. You’ve never said I should homeschool my kid.”

She’s right.

And I don’t plan on changing.

Why will I never tell you to homeschool your child?

The reason is simple. Education should be a choice. You have options. (at least where I live)

You are a parent and as such then you are trying to make the best decisions for your children. If that’s public school, private school, homeschool, RV schooling, online schooling, tutoring or a mix of them all then so be it.

You know your child. You know them best. If something isn’t working or won’t work, then finding a solution, doing the research, facing the “problem” head on is brave, courageous and smart of you!

Whatever you choose for your child if it is what you want and it is working then who am I to judge?

Even when Public School isn’t working.

Sometimes we have issues with the type of education we chose for our children. Even homeschooling. We have a curriculum that isn’t working. Our life goes crazy. Plans go out the window. You name it, it can happen.

Does that mean we give up? Not usually.

I had a mom tell me about her beautiful six-year-old daughter. She just started school this year. She seems to be enjoying it but she is struggling. By the end of the school year, her daughter is expected to  not only read and write but to be able to write a whole paragraph! I’ll admit I was shocked.

The mom felt like she had let her daughter down by playing and exploring too much when she was younger.

We talked for a while. Then I told her how impressed I was with her daughter. Even in the face of this daunting task, the little girl was using the very skills her mom had taught her while exploring and playing. She wasn’t giving up. She kept trying her best determined to figure out this reading and writing “thing”.

Where did she learn to do that? Where did she get the skills to learn to break down large tasks into doable bite size pieces? Where did she get the confidence to keep trying over and over again?

From her mom. 

The mom who felt like she failed her daughter, really hadn’t. How many of us have felt that way?

We are all doing our best.

Sometimes you might feel that you can’t complain about public school problems because you will think I’ll tell you to homeschool.  Trust me. I won’t.

What I will do is listen. I’ll try to understand to the best of my ability. I’ll remind you that you are doing your best. I’ll show you the good things you might be missing. I’ll encourage you.

Even IF I think homeschooling is best for you and your family.

See, I trust you. You are the mom. You know what is best for you, your child, your family.

Also, homeschooling isn’t for everyone. Just like public school isn’t for everyone. Neither is for forever. Some do public school, homeschool, back to public school and so forth. They are adjusting as life changes.

As amazing as homeschooling is, it isn’t always easy. Being a working homeschool mom for 10 years, I know this with all my heart. It takes work. It takes determination. And not everyone wants to do that. Which is perfectly okay.  

Homeschooling Support:

If you want to homeschool and you have questions then you are in the right spot. I would love to answer your questions or point you to some awesome homeschool moms that can share insight with you, for example:

Maybe you are a mom of boys if so you will love to connect with Amy of Rock Your Homeschool. She is a mom of 5 boys! She also has an amazing facebook group!  How about Michelle from Homeschool Your Boys another boy mom who shares encouragement and fun ideas?

Or maybe you are a mom of teens and want to know how homeschooling teenagers work? Meet Annie of Annie and Everything.  She focuses on teens and saving money!

Maybe you need a real look at homeschooling, you know nothing sugar-coated? Amy from The Hmmmhomeschool Mom shares the good, bad and ugly of homeschooling.  She wrote a book about it called The Homeschool Highway: How To Navigate Your Way Without Getting Carsick

Or maybe you have a large family, like 11 children large, and aren’t sure about trying to homeschool all of them! Then you will love Shelly from There’s no place like home.  She is juggling 11 children and homeschooling.

Maybe you like Art and Science?  Then please meet Amanda, a secular homeschooling mom who shares her story at Raising da Vinci . Jodi from The Kitchen Table Classroom makes art simple and fun, so be sure to check her out as well.

Or maybe you have gifted children? Then meet Cait from My Little Poppies. Mom to 3 who is an accidental homeschooler.

Are you just starting out in the homeschool journey? Find encouragement in abundance with Jackie at You Really Can Homeschool.

Are you a working mom thinking of homeschooling and trying to figure out how to juggle it all? If so, join the club! Homeschooling is challenging. Working and homeschooling have unique challenges of its own.

And last but certainly not least the one site every homeschooler will love, SimpleHomeschool.net. Jamie has a great group of writers that contribute to her site all about homeschooling, curriculum and more. Be sure to check it out.

So there you have just a drop in the bucket of homeschooling moms who have decided homeschooling is best for them, their children, their families.

Now you know why I will never tell you to homeschool your child.

You are the parent and you know your child best. You have a choice, just like I do, just like the moms above. We chose to homeschool for different reasons. You chose what is best for your child out of love. What’s right for you is just that…right. Whatever that may be.

Can you homeschool? Absolutely! Should you…well you’ll have to ask yourself that one 🙂

If you are wondering how homeschooling works, start here. 

Take care,

Jen

PS. Are you working and homeschooling? I run a free, private Facebook group with the most positive, supportive, and kick butt working homeschool moms out there. It’s the perfect place to get feedback, make friendships, and ask questions. You can join right here!