The science experiment made the floor sticky and didn’t work, there were tears during math, eye rolling during chores, and that overwhelming feeling of failure just won’t go away. Hard days happen. They seem to be part of the package that comes with homeschooling. So, how do we keep going? There are no easy answers, but here are a few ideas that may help. Know why you’re doing this.
Why did you choose to educate your children at home?
Listing your reasons for why you homeschool might begin with all the educational reasons: the individualized learning you have planned, the style of how you want to teach, or the special educational needs of your children. But don’t stop there. Your reasons probably include ideas about behavior, how time is spent, relationships, lifestyle, and calling. For those of you who are starting in the middle, having pulled your kids out of public school, your list might include a lot of what you don’t want. It might sound like, “I don’t want it to look like what we left.” That’s an OK place to start, but don’t stop there. Put some thought into your far-reaching reasons for what you DO want.
Write down your list of reasons so that when you have a difficult day you can remember why you’re doing this. Homeschooling is a countercultural decision, and swimming upstream is hard. Being intentional about reminding yourself why you are doing this will help you succeed. It helps to keep the big picture in view, so it doesn’t get lost in the messiness of today. I recommend that you write down your reasons, revisit them from time to time, and allow them to help you meet your goals.
Transitioning from public school, or just beginning to homeschool your littles for the first time can be challenging. If you’re new to this homeschooling adventure I want to encourage you.