Do you have what it takes to Home school?
Over the past 10 years of Home schooling our children, I’ve experienced a full spectrum of emotions. I’ve gone from truly inspired to completely worn down, barely able to muster up the effort to get through the day. Still 10 years later here we are, still home schooling, and I know we will never throw in the towel.
When you choose to home educate your child or children, you are taking on a big responsibility. It is understandable that sometimes you may be under stress. You have chosen to take on a very important and special task and I’m here to assure you that you can do this.
There will be moments where you may doubt your ability to teach a subject, to get your child to listen to you, and you may feel fearful that you will mess things up. I can tell you that all home school parents experience this emotion at some point in their home school journey. I mean we’ve been almost brain washed, in thinking that only a trained teacher can educate our kids. We’ve been told that there is a timing for all education and if our child isn’t following the school standards to a T, then some how they are behind, or perhaps even slow.
I’ve come to find that these ideas are truly false. Not one of our children learned everything on the timeline given to us by public education, or followed the typical standards. For years I stressed out daily, in fear that we weren’t keeping up to the standards. But then something shifted inside of me, as I began to witness them learning the things they needed to know, but at their own pace. Year by year we continue to learn along side one another and I’m amazed to see their natural progress unfolding.
When ever that question pops into my head, “Can I do this? Do I have what it takes to continue home schooling?” I have to put myself in check. Sometimes I have to give myself a mental slap, to snap out of this attitude. Sometimes I need to take a deep breath and remind myself that I’m fully capable and we will succeed.
No matter where you’re at in your home school journey, remember it’s not a race. Anxiety and stress comes when we try to go too fast, or when we expect things to be perfect, but perfection isn’t obtainable. Instead give yourself small goals and take baby steps with you kids.
And always remember…”What better person to home educate your kids, than the person who gave birth to them!”